A vulnerability scanner, as the name implies, is something that can be used to scan your system like computer, router or server or network. It also identifies and then reports back on the open ports, active IP addresses & log-ons.
It has become SOP for organizations to conduct penetration testing and vulnerability scans on a regular basis. Such practice is even endorsed by most IT specialists since an attack could lead to disastrous outcomes. Penetration testing assesses an IT infrastructure’s security by safely exploiting vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities may exist in incorrect configurations, hazardous end-user behavior, operating systems and application flaws.
If you are a security professional, you are most definitely familiar with what vulnerability assessment and penetration testing are. These two are types of vulnerability testing in order to complete a vulnerability analysis. Both are valuable tools for information security and are integral components of the process of managing threat and vulnerability of network systems.
The success of an enterprise wide vulnerability assessment program depends on many factors such as planning, budgeting, resources, technical solution and others, but the most important is the ability to analyse vulnerability scanning reports. Properly identified and categorised vulnerabilities will help organisations to get the most benefit from the program and achieve more Return on Investment. This article will cover some of the points to consider when analysing network and web application reports.