Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are both important measures for maintaining network security. However, this doesn't mean that there is no distinction between the two. Vulnerability scanning cannot replace the importance of penetration testing, and penetration testing alone cannot fully secure the entire network. So, how do we differentiate vulnerability scanning from penetration testing?
Both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are crucial at their respective levels and are required by standards such as PCI, HIPAA, ISO 27001, etc. Penetration testing exploits vulnerabilities in the target system architecture, while vulnerability scanning (or assessment) checks for known vulnerabilities and generates a risk assessment report.
The key factors to differentiate between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are:
- Scope
- Risk and criticality of assets
- Cost and time
Penetration testing is targeted and often involves a human factor. There is no such thing as fully automated penetration testing. While tools are used in penetration testing and sometimes multiple tools are employed, it still requires highly skilled experts to conduct the testing.
Experienced penetration testers often write scripts, modify attack parameters, or adjust tool settings during the testing process. Penetration testing can be performed at the application layer or network layer, targeting specific functionalities, departments, or specific assets. Alternatively, it can encompass the entire infrastructure and all applications. However, due to cost and time constraints, testing the entire infrastructure in its entirety is often impractical in the real world.
The definition of scope primarily depends on asset risks and importance. It is not practical to spend a significant amount of time and money on penetration testing low-risk assets. After all, penetration testing requires highly skilled personnel, which contributes to its high cost.
Furthermore, penetration testers often leverage new vulnerabilities or discover unknown security flaws in normal business processes, which may take several days to weeks to complete. Given the cost and above-average probability of service disruption, penetration testing is typically conducted once a year. All reports are concise and to the point.
On the other hand, vulnerability scanning is the process of identifying potential vulnerabilities in network devices such as firewalls, routers, switches, servers, various applications, etc. It is an automated process that focuses on potential and known vulnerabilities at the network or application layer. Vulnerability scanning does not involve exploiting vulnerabilities. Vulnerability scanners only identify known vulnerabilities and are not designed to discover zero-day exploits.
Vulnerability scanning is conducted across the entire company and requires automated tools to handle a large number of assets. Its scope is broader than that of penetration testing. Vulnerability scanning products are usually operated by system administrators or security personnel with good network knowledge, requiring specific knowledge of the product for effective use.
Vulnerability scanning can be performed on any number of assets to identify known vulnerabilities. The scan results can then be used in conjunction with the vulnerability management lifecycle to quickly address more critical vulnerabilities impacting important resources.
Compared to penetration testing, vulnerability scanning has lower costs and serves as a detective control rather than a preventive measure.
Both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are more effective when used together, and using them separately helps differentiate between the two. This approach allows for better maintenance of network security. Shanghai InsightSec Network Technology Co., Ltd. is a technology service company specializing in providing information security solutions for enterprises. Follow us to learn more about information security knowledge.