Vulnerability scanning is an essential cyber security practice that ensures people with malicious intentions don’t get access to your network or systems. Traditionally, cyber security assessments in companies were done manually by the IT teams raising the security operations costs.
However, introducing vulnerability scanners has raised the bar on cyber security matters. These tools can automatically search and report any detected security weakness on networks and systems.
Vulnerability scanners have substituted the tedious traditional manual assessments with a more accurate, reliable, and fast automated process that preserves systems’ integrity, availability, and confidentiality. There are specialist Cyber security companies that provide secure vulnerability scanning services that can take the load of your own IT team.
How It Works
Vulnerability scanners are cyber security tools that search for flaws and weaknesses within a system to prevent malicious intrusions. These scanners work by keeping an updated database list of all the possible vulnerabilities, which they use to detect, and classify system flaws and prioritize how to fix them.
Best vulnerability assessments in the market are enabled to scan and automatically patch any detected vulnerability within an application or system. This reduces the dependence on manually needing a technical team to perform this tedious cyber security protocol.
Vulnerability scanning of a system can be done in two ways. First, the scan can be external in an attempt to locate and patch any vulnerability that can arise from external attempts to exploit a system or network maliciously. The scan can also be internal by logging into the network or system to identify security flaws.
Types Of Vulnerability Scanners
The market is flooded with many vulnerability scanners. However, they can be grouped based on their mode of operation and the asset type they scan. Here are five common groupings according to the asset types they assess.
- Network-Based Vulnerability Scanners
Network-based vulnerability scanners search and patch loopholes on wireless and wired network systems. These vulnerability scanners can identify unauthorized systems and devices on a network.
Network-based vulnerability scanners are used to keep the network safe and free from cyber-attacks by ensuring all access points are sealed and secured, avoiding the breach of the network’s perimeter.
- Host-Based Vulnerability Scanners
Host-based vulnerability scanners search and report on threats and loopholes in workstations, servers, and any network hosts. They scan for flaws and report on all system punctures and patches made in the system.
Host-based vulnerability scanners also give reports on potential breach points of the host systems and their possible effects
- Database-Based Vulnerability Scanners
The database is the key primary storage location of files and data of any system. Therefore, an attack on any database can be catastrophic. Database-based vulnerability scanners are used to keep off intruders and patch any security puncture within a database keeping all the sensitive information secure.
- Application Scanners
Application scanners are tasked with searching and identifying any weaknesses in websites that may create a gateway for cybercriminals to get into. These scanners keep web applications, and networks secure by patching erroneous configurations.
Most Common Vulnerability Scanners
Vulnerability scanners vary depending on the requirements of the user. However, a scanner must possess some basic features and capabilities to qualify as the best in the market. Here are features that must be contained in any vulnerability scanner:
- Have the ability to maintain and update a database of all known system vulnerabilities
- Have the ability to automatically and continuously scan for vulnerabilities within an application or system.
- Have the ability to generate analyzed vulnerability reports of a system and suggests suitable patch protocols.
Choosing the best vulnerability scanner in the market can be a very challenging task because the market is flooded with such tools. However, it is worth knowing the features you look for in a vulnerability scanner to determine which will adequately satisfy your needs.
Some opt to use more than one vulnerability scanner to ensure maximum coverage and protection of their systems and networks against cyber-attacks. The following are some of the best vulnerability scanners in the market.
- Acunetix
- BeSECURE
- Burp Suite
- GFI Languard
- Frontline
- Nessus
- Nexpose
- Nmap
- OpenVAS
- Qualys Guard
- Qualys Web Application Scanner
- SAINT
- Tenable
- Tripwire IP360