Penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are critical measures to keep your systems safe from the prying eyes of hackers.
When it comes to protecting your technology systems and confidential information, penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are essential tools. In fact, both are an integral part of your security and threat management process and are required by certain regulations, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). And both fall under vulnerability detection and are related.
However, although the processes are often confused and sometimes referred to interchangeably, they are separate and distinct.
What is the difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing?
So what exactly is the difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing?
Let's start with vulnerability assessments . This process involves discovering weaknesses – vulnerabilities – in your systems. The scan takes a high-level view of your technology and will evaluate all aspects of it before reporting what it finds. You'll be able to see everything the scan found, but that's where the vulnerability scan ends. Essentially, it will alert you to weaknesses in the system, but it won't actually resolve them.
Vulnerability scanning can typically be performed by an automated system.
On the other hand, penetration testing goes a step further. It will not only detect potential flaws, but also exploit these vulnerabilities, assessing whether and how a hacker could penetrate your systems.
Another difference between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning is that the former needs to be performed manually by a qualified and experienced cybersecurity expert. This specialist will require the help of numerous tools to continue to essentially “hack” the system to expose weaknesses.
Benefits of Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing
Both processes have many advantages. Here are just some of them.
Vulnerability assessment
- Ideal for newer companies evaluating their security infrastructure for the first time
- Able to identify thousands of potential threats
- Can be automated and completed quickly
- Can be booked in advance
- Cost benefit
You should also consider the limitations of a vulnerability scan. As you know, this is a much less detailed view than penetration scanning. There is also the possibility of false positives and you may need to manually check the assessment.
Penetration Testing
- Highly detailed and complete
- Greater degree of precision
- Targeted and rigorous
- False positives are less likely to occur
- Ideal for larger, more complex systems
Just like vulnerability scanning, this option has some disadvantages. For example, because it must be conducted manually by a trained professional, it will typically take much longer to complete than a less comprehensive vulnerability scan. It is also generally more expensive.
What is IDS/IPS penetration and vulnerability testing?
Intrusion detection system (IDS) and intrusion prevention system (IPS) are 2 types of cybersecurity tools or systems. They should be configured to meet your specific needs and can be used similarly as security measures – it really just depends on how you configure them, although the answers are a little different.
An IDS monitors your networks and systems. It will alert you to any suspicious behavior or activity it detects. Meanwhile, an IPS not only identifies attacks that are in progress, but also takes steps to actively prevent them from infiltrating and damaging your systems.
Both cybersecurity systems can work in conjunction with tools like firewalls for strong first-line defense.
How to perform penetration testing and vulnerability analysis
Now, let's look at how you can actually perform penetration testing and vulnerability analysis aimed at the larger goal of defending and securing your systems.
Vulnerability Analysis
Since a vulnerability scan is an automated process, after creating the script, simply start it. The duration varies – it can take minutes or hours, even longer.
Once the scan is successfully completed, it will generate a comprehensive report detailing the specific weaknesses identified. Keep in mind that this type of analysis is susceptible to false positives, so you may need to go back and perform some tests manually depending on the quality of the tools you use. The scanner can also categorize weaknesses according to threat level or assign a score to help you prioritize your efforts to resolve them.
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing, on the other hand, is a complex process that requires more knowledge and technology than the tools used to assess vulnerabilities. One person, called an ethical hacker or white hat hacker , will perform this exhaustive test. Of course, this professional must have a high degree of experience and skills.
The ethical hacker uses a series of tools to investigate your systems and discover weaknesses by looking at specific areas. This type of testing should be performed regularly, usually once or twice a year.
Which option should you choose?
It's not necessarily an either/or situation — many organizations use a combination of vulnerability services and penetration testing to help protect their systems . However, others may choose to focus on one cybersecurity measure over another.
That said, start by taking stock of your current situation and immediate needs. Budding startups, as we discussed, may not necessarily have an infrastructure that requires full penetration testing procedures yet – although some may. Furthermore, given the cost of this comprehensive option, a vulnerability scan could be the best choice.
Meanwhile, larger, established companies with complex infrastructures and systems may require the expertise of a white hat hacker – and therefore prefer penetration testing.
Either way, it's important to continue testing periodically to keep your systems secure.
If you don't have in-house expertise, there are many vulnerability assessment and penetration testing companies available to outsource the work. Just make sure you have carefully vetted your vendor and that they are a certified vendor in your technology or tool of choice.
