How Are They Different: Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Scanning

Vulnerability scanning is a type of security assessment that is frequently confused with penetration testing.

When it comes to information security, there are many different types of tests and scans that can be performed. Two of the most common are penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. Vulnerability scanning is a type of security assessment that is frequently confused with penetration testing. While they have several linkages, they also have certain distinctions. So, what are the distinctions between them? And which one is best for your company?

In this blog post, we will explore the differences between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, and explain why you might need both in your organization's security arsenal.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as software penetration testing, is a method of assessing the security of your systems and networks in order to see whether they can resist an assault. This can be done by using both automated tools and manual processes, but often includes some level of human-driven exploitation. The end goal is to identify vulnerabilities in your environment that real attackers might exploit for malicious purposes. After penetration testing has been completed, you should have an enhanced understanding of the threats facing your organization's information security posture and how best to address them.

Pros And Cons Of Penetration Testing

Pros:

Penetration testing is a valuable tool for businesses, as it can help them identify vulnerabilities before attackers do. Some of the benefits include;

• Prevent data breaches and other cyberattacks from happening by identifying vulnerable systems within your organization that might be exploited by malicious actors seeking access to sensitive information such as customer records or financial details.
• Provides insight into how well protected your network perimeter really is with regards to external threats such as hackers attempting an intrusion through SQL injection attacks on web servers running outdated software versions which lack current security patches or have known exploits publicly available online (e.g., Heartbleed).

Cons:

• Penetration tests are more expensive and time-consuming than vulnerability scans; but cheaper in the long run because they save money on lost data or business downtime.

What Is Vulnerability Scanning?

Vulnerability scanning is another form of security assessment where software scans are used to detect known weaknesses within an environment or system configuration settings that do not comply with industry best practices or regulatory requirements such as PCI DSS or HIPAA. Vulnerability scanning can be automated or manual, but unlike penetration testing, the goal is not necessarily to exploit vulnerabilities but rather just identify them so that they may be remediated at some point in time.

Pros And Cons Of Vulnerability Scanning

Scanning for vulnerabilities is a technique that can be used by businesses to detect system inadequacies and configuration problems. Some benefits include;

• Helps ensure systems are configured in accordance with best practices, industry standards, or regulatory requirements such as PCI DSS and HIPAA.
• Can help reduce the risk of data breaches and other cyberattacks.
• Vulnerabilities seem easier to fix than exploits.

As with any tool, vulnerability scanning has its own set of pros and cons which should be taken into account before deploying it within your organization's security program. Listed below are a few key points to consider;

• Scans can take up time when planning tests are expensive because they involve the services of an expert consultant team.
• Scanned systems may be vulnerable to known threats that haven't been identified yet by the scanner's database (e.g., zero-day exploits).

Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Scanning: Key Differences

Penetration testing is the more in-depth of the two security assessment types and is considered a "white hat" hacker attack against a system to find unknown vulnerabilities with the goal of exploiting them. Vulnerability scanning on the other hand uses automated tools to scan systems for known threats and issues.

It should be noted that while vulnerability scanners are very good at finding certain types of vulnerabilities, they often do not identify all possible exploits that may exist on a scanned system. Penetration testers use manual methods (e.g., using exploit code) to try and exploit any vulnerabilities identified during their testing process.

The main difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing is their purpose: one seeks to discover vulnerabilities by running tools against a target system, application, or network while another attempts to actually exploit those weaknesses using various tactics such as social engineering (e.g., phishing emails).

A Few key differences are listed below for your reference:

• Vulnerability scans look for known threats; pen tests find unknown ones too!
• Vulnerabilities seem easier to fix than exploits.
• Penetration tests are more expensive and time-consuming than vulnerability scans; but cheaper in the long run because they save money on lost data or business downtime.
• Vulnerability scanning can be done by non-technical employees; pen testing requires expert staff.

Popular Tools For Penetration Testing And Vulnerability Scanning

There are many popular tools that can be used for both penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. Some of the most common ones include:

• Nessus – a widely-used vulnerability scanner with over 80,000 registered users.
• Metasploit – an open-source exploit development framework used by security professionals worldwide.
• Burp Suite – a Java-based platform for performing web application security assessments.
• Nmap – a popular network discovery tool with many features. Its name stands for "Network Mapper" and it was originally written by Gordon Lyon (aka Fyodor Vaskovich). The software is free to use without restrictions; however, some users choose not to do so due to its license which allows redistribution of modified copies only under certain conditions.
• Wireshark – a network protocol analyzer (or "packet sniffer") that can capture traffic on wired networks and wireless networks alike. It's available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms as well as Android devices running version four or higher of Google's mobile operating system. Its name is derived from two words: wire (as in ethernet) plus shark (because it sniffs packets).
• Astra's Pentest Suite: Astra's penetration testing process is designed to deliver the most accurate, high-quality results for our customers. They utilize a proven pentesting methodology that has been refined over years of conducting hundreds of tests across every industry imaginable – from banking and finance companies like Muthoot Finance, Dream11, etc.

So which one is right for you? The answer to this question depends on your organization's specific needs and what kind of data it holds. One thing to keep in mind is that both types of tests should be done regularly (e.g., at least once per year) so that any new vulnerabilities can be found before they're exploited by hackers or other malicious actors. If you're not sure where your firm is today, ask yourself these questions: What is our risk appetite? Do we have an incident response plan?

What Are The End Results Of A Penetration Testing And Vulnerability Scanning?

The end results of penetration testing and vulnerability scanning will differ depending on the goals of the organization. Some common outcomes include:

• A determination of which systems are vulnerable to attack should be fixed first.
• Vulnerabilities in different areas are ranked by the vulnerability management team.
• Recommendations for mitigating discovered vulnerabilities.
• Proof-of-concept exploits code demonstrates how a given vulnerability could be exploited.
• An understanding of your organization's risk posture after assessing its security controls.

There is no "right" answer when it comes to choosing between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning; both have their benefits and drawbacks, as we've seen above. The important thing is to make sure that you're doing both – not just one or the other.

Vulnerability scanning is a great way to identify your organization's "low-hanging fruit" and get started on securing them quickly. It can also help find new vulnerabilities before they are exploited by hackers or other malicious actors, which saves time and money down the road when dealing with an emergency situation like a data breach. Penetration testing allows for deeper visibility into how well systems hold up against real-world attacks from skilled professionals who know exactly what they're doing (as opposed to automated tools).

Both types of tests should be done regularly – at least once per year – so that any new problems can be found before they become major issues. The frequency will depend upon how often changes occur within an organization such as adding new employees or equipment, implementing new software upgrades etcetera.

Penetration testing should not be confused with penetration detection because they are two very different types of tests that serve opposite purposes: While one aims to identify vulnerabilities in order for them to be fixed before any damage occurs – it's more about prevention than anything else; the other seeks out possible weaknesses so as soon as something goes wrong there is already an established procedure on how best respond accordingly.

Conclusion

Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are two very different processes that serve opposite purposes. While one aims to identify vulnerabilities in order for them to be fixed before any damage occurs – it's more about prevention than anything else; the other seeks out possible weaknesses so as soon as something goes wrong there is already an established procedure on how best to respond accordingly.

The end result will differ depending on what your organization needs most at this point in time but both should be done regularly (e.g., at least once per year) so that any new problems can be found before they become major issues.

The best way to protect your organization from cyber-attacks is by using a combination of penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. While both have their benefits, they should not be used in isolation – always use them together for the most comprehensive assessment. Don't forget to check for new security updates on a daily basis.

Author Headshot:

Author Bio: Ankit Pahuja is the Marketing Lead & Evangelist at Astra Security. Ever since his adulthood (literally, he was 20 years old), he began finding vulnerabilities in websites & network infrastructures. Starting his professional career as a software engineer at one of the unicorns enables him in bringing "engineering in marketing" to reality. Working actively in the cybersecurity space for more than 2 years makes him the perfect T-shaped marketing professional. Ankit is an avid speaker in the security space and has delivered various talks in top companies, early-age startups, and online events.

You can connect with him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankit-pahuja/

Gravatar Link: https://en.gravatar.com/ankitpahujaastra