Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are both crucial additions to overall penetration testing services. For instance, penetration testing comprises a vulnerability assessment component, given that it tests how secure an IT system is by trying to bypass its defensive mechanisms.
The key difference between penetration testing vs. vulnerability scanning is that a vulnerability scan is performed on software to uncover the vulnerable loopholes without taking advantage of the system weaknesses, while a penetration test is performed to exploit the loopholes and shortcomings. This is a way to make sure that detected vulnerabilities can be exploited negatively. It could range from stealing back-end content to distorting the whole software.
Breaking the components of these tests will help you decide which one is best for you. Read on to learn key differences between pen testing and scanning processes.
Penetration testing and vulnerability scanning processes
Let’s dive a little deeper into these topics so you can decide how to allocate your security testing budget.
Penetration testing
Pen testing is a testing method run on a software or web application in the form of “legal hacking” to identify the vulnerable loopholes in its security. It can be seen as a simulation of a real cyberattack to spot those shortcomings that could be exploited by hackers if overlooked.
The primary aim of a pen test is to identify and access loopholes in the application. It can also be employed in testing the effectiveness of a company’s security practices and alertness, in other words its ability and procedures, in spotting and reacting to security issues.
For example, the Defense Department’s cyber contractors must have the right system, ready to combat cyber-attacks (real or test), on Unclassified Data. This is part of the Cyber Security Maturity Certification. Performing a pen test will test the lengths of their security prowess and give reports for necessary changes.
The IT team uses these reports to make decisive plans and remedy the situation as soon as possible. It is also helpful to developers in better understanding how hackers exploit a system. With this knowledge, developers will be able to create more secure applications in the future, avoiding recurrence.
Vulnerability scanning
Vulnerability scans are very detailed examinations of an application or operating system to spot the weaknesses and loopholes that could prove fatal.
After detecting and classifying the potential threat inlets, the scan also estimates the safety measures’ efficiency.
The scan may be done independently, by the company’s IT team, or by an external security service provider. Either way, the objectives and aim remain the same.
For example, when a payment card network is set up or updated, an Approved Scan Vendor comes in as external security to scan the whole application network and ensure user information safety. Hackers also run vulnerability assessments to find loopholes for entry points.
Read our blog post to understand how ethical hackers carry out penetration testing and its benefits to system’s security.
What is the difference between pen tests and vulnerability assessments?
Grouped below are some general differences between vulnerability assessment/scanning and penetration testing.
- Area of Focus
When performing a vulnerability assessment, the surface security is considered more than the in-depth coding structure. Whereas with penetration testing, the coding structure and in-depth security are more in focus.
- Cost
For vulnerability assessments, the cost is relatively low or can be seen as moderate. With penetration testing, there’s more intricate work to be done, and therefore, the cost of testing is higher compared to vulnerability scanning.
- Tester knowledge
Doing a vulnerability scan doesn’t require a vast understanding of the tools or the application to be tested; just the basics will do.
Running a pen test requires that the tester be highly skilled in hacking and testing to beat the attackers at their own game.
- Frequency of test runs
The vulnerability scan should be performed after any equipment is uploaded. The penetration test shouldn’t be run as frequently as the vulnerability scan, mostly because of the cost. But having it done monthly is ideal, or according to the regulatory guidelines.
- Final report
After vulnerability scanning, the details are given only to partially solve the problem. There are no measures given on how to go about tackling it.
After a pen test, you’ll have full details of the loopholes and how to go about preventing any attacks from the same vulnerabilities.
- Time
While a vulnerability scan is usually fully automated (but can also be done manually) and can last anywhere from some minutes to a few hours, a pen test is normally done manually, and lasts from a couple of days to several weeks.
- Test methods
Methods for carrying out penetration testing include:
- Black box testing
- White box testing
- Gray box testing
Vulnerability scan techniques include:
- Authenticated testing
- Unauthenticated testing
Examples of penetration testing vs. vulnerability scanning
Below are some examples of penetration testing that apply to different scenarios.. Test scenarios include:
- Checking if an application is capable of spotting spam attacks on the website’s contact form.
- Checking if proxy servers properly safeguard the traffic on the website network. These servers make it hard for malicious attackers to obtain private network data.
- Verifying that all unwanted/spam emails are blocked off by keeping a close watch on the traffic going in and out. A lot of email client services already have spam email filters on by default.
- Ensuring that the systems and network are entirely safeguarded by a software/hardware that blocks off anyone trying to gain anonymous access or sends out unauthorized data.
- Checking the loopholes that have been worked on one more time to be sure you’re not susceptible to the same threats.
Some vulnerability assessment cases include:
- Verifying if the system or application is foolproof against the “trial and error” method of hacking.
- Verifying that passwords should contain a minimum of 8 characters (including a number or a special keyboard symbol).
- Ensuring that usernames aren’t stuck to easy words like “user” or “admin.”
- Ensuring that an error message is specific, instead of having reasons like “wrong email” or “wrong password.”
Which security test strategy supersedes?
Whether to leverage penetration testing or vulnerability testing depends on the actual needs of the organization. To better understand such needs, let’s consider the best time
When to go for penetration testing?
Performing a pen test should not be a one-time activity. Since networks and applications are dynamic (meaning that they change over time), pen testing should be done whenever there’s an update or new development process.
Sometimes, companies perform the penetration testing too soon, even before the prototype is ready to be sent down for production. At the point of deployment, so many changes are still bound to happen, and so taking a pen test will only result in missing the issues that come up later. The only time this is acceptable is if another pen test is run just before production. But that is an unnecessary expense because a single test at the end can catch all security issues. Generally, the test should be performed when there’s no other change to be made in the application’s core.
Most companies don’t adhere to this because they want to get their investment returns from sales as fast as possible. Or perhaps they are running behind on the deadline or budgeted resources. Even at that, it is still very risky to push straight to production without the proper security tests.
When to perform vulnerability scanning?
Ideally, a vulnerability scan should be performed monthly to maintain a high level of security. But it still depends on factors such as: the official standards to be met, changes and updates, and the security program aims.
After any system update or organization changes, it’s best to perform a vulnerability test and a pen test before anything else. This way, any new loopholes are fished out immediately.
Usually, compliance rules give any period between one year to one month (sometimes weekly) to run a mandatory test. Popularly, companies are required to perform their tests every 4 months, and although this means that a lot of issues will be uncovered eventually, a lot can still go unnoticed for a long while.
At UTOR, we recommend that vulnerability scans be performed monthly and on a good budget. This gives you a clearer shot at apprehending any vulnerabilities before the malicious hackers do.
Vulnerability scanning benefits
- By performing a vulnerability scan before final production and release, you get a head start, spotting out any loopholes before any hacker or cyber-attacks force you to do so.
- Running frequent vulnerability assessments will help you know your security coverage’s length and efficacy on the application.
- Automated tests and assessments are easy to iterate several times and will relatively cost you less than a hack-attack eventually would.
- Even with cyber insurance, you’d still need to hold up your ends by performing regular scans.
- Performing regular vulnerability tests means that your application remains within the specifications of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Penetration testing benefits
- Penetration testing reveals and tries to take advantage of loopholes in your system. This encompasses even day-to-day actions by your staff that could result in a security breach.
- Performing a penetration test with a specialist’s help reveals the vulnerability and the real level of threat that the vulnerability poses to the application. The tests are performed just how a hacker would do. Therefore some “high-level” risks may turn out impossible to practicalize.
- Penetration testing will help you to know your cybersecurity strength truly. Normally, the average system security is supposed to detect attacks and respond by blocking them off immediately, in real circumstances, and even during the test.
- Regular penetration testing will retain your clients’ trust and ensure that your company continues strong.
- In the end, you get a report on uncovered gaps so you know what preventive steps to take.
Pen testing and vulnerability assessment tools
Examples of Vulnerability testing tools
- Qualys Vulnerability Scanner
- Nessus**
- Nmap**
- Netsparker**
- Burp Suite**
- Metasploit**
- W3AF**
Examples of Penetration testing tools
- Wireshark
- Fuzzdb
- John The Ripper (JTR)
- Nikto**
- Aircrack**
- Browser Exploitation Network (BeEF)
- Hydra
Conclusion
The advantage of conducting penetration testing and vulnerability assessment is the ability to proof-check the security state of software during and after it goes into production. While both tests are essential, getting an idea of how much they cost ensures you have a budget planned for the things you need and the things that are important to you.
To compare and contrast costs across the testing landscape, read our post on the average penetration testing pricing in 2021. It easily illustrates prices based on skills, geography, and experience of the penetration test engineers.
