The vulnerability assessment is a core facet of all cyber security solutions. The process is essentially a cyber security risk assessment designed to evaluate existing systems, security controls, configuration settings and any other factors that impact how secure your online structure is. After completion, assessments are followed with reports and recommendations for next steps.
This piece will explore the average vulnerability assessment framework, giving valuable insights into how it works and what it can achieve for your business.
The difference between a vulnerability assessment and penetration testing
A vulnerability assessment is basically a lighter, less aggressive form of penetration testing. Vulnerability assessments are focused on the use of automated systems to identify and rank vulnerabilities. Penetration testing is the logical next step, actively exploiting those vulnerabilities to stimulate what a cyber attack might look like.
Steps in a vulnerability assessment
- Asset discovery
First, the assets of a system and its infrastructure must be identified. This means checking over network diagrams, asset inventories and any other relevant information.
- Tool determination
Next, the cyber security team must determine what tools and techniques to use in the vulnerability assessment. Tools and techniques used can include:
- Automated scanners
- Manual testing devices
- Social engineering tasks
- Vulnerability scanning & prioritisation
Once the plan is laid out, the assessment itself must be scheduled and curated to ensure it doesn’t disrupt typical business processes. Now, blind spots, weaknesses and vulnerabilities like old software, misconfigured systems and unsecured network ports are identified. The identified vulnerabilities are then prioritised by severity and potential impact.
- Reporting & remediation
The prioritised vulnerabilities are reported to the clients, outlining any details along with recommendations for addressing them. This part should involve developing an ongoing management plan to prevent future incidents, along with implementing an ongoing review system.
The particulars of the technology, tools and techniques might differ within and between these stages, but almost all vulnerability assessments will follow this basic skeleton.
Benefits of conducting a vulnerability assessment
Vulnerability assessments are necessary for businesses of all shapes and sizes, regardless of how much of their operation takes place in the digital realm. With over 7 million cyber attacks to UK businesses a year, its nothing short of irresponsible to not take precautions.
Benefits to vulnerability assessments included:
- Improved security
Once the vulnerabilities have been identified, the next steps for enhancing security become a lot clearer. The more aware you are, the less likely you are to suffer a breach. - Enhanced compliance
Many compliance standards and regulations require regular vulnerability assessments to be enacted. Keeping your business up to date is a surefire way to avoid potential fines and penalties. - Optimised allocation & investment
With more understanding of vulnerabilities, it’s a lot easier to allocate resources and budget towards solutions. A good cybersecurity company should guide you throughout the allocation process. - Increased staff education
A side effect of vulnerability assessments can be increased awareness among your staff. Your team can feel more confident in making safe, intelligent decisions after the results of the assessment and next steps have been explained to them. - Competitive advantage
Third-party security testing is an attractive selling point to customers and clients. Getting assessed by a respected agency is a great way to differentiate your business and build unique trust with your customers.
These benefits are effective for both internal and outward-facing elements of operation. If you’ve never had a vulnerability assessment or have doubts about your cyber security, make sure to get one booked in soon to secure the digital future of your business.
Also Read: Elevate Enterprise Security with Continuous Vulnerability and Exposure Management
