Key Takeaways on Vulnerability Scanning

Vulnerability scanning is an effective technique that reveals the flaws in systems and networks, but it is not a solution by itself. Post-identification, it is critical to act on the findings, such as updating or patching the vulnerable systems, or implementing controls that address risk or minimize exposure.

Internal vulnerability scanning is performed from within your business’ firewalls. The idea is to get insights about the attackers (step into their shoes) once they have gained entry into your network or systems after breaching external security measures.

External vulnerability scanning is done to identify issues in your network firewalls, and simulates the effect of users attempting to access a network. This method can detect threats such as cross-site scripting and unpatched servers.

Scanning for vulnerabilities should occur frequently to ensure security compliance, mitigate risk, and disallow unauthorized changes.

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