All digital infrastructures have vulnerabilities – every single one. While a system’s vulnerability is not an inherent sign of failure, negligence in protecting those weaknesses can be devastating. Cybercriminals are moving faster than ever to exploit even the smallest exposures.
Once a system is exploited, it can do extreme damage to a company’s operations. The cost of incident response alone can constitute a significant financial loss – not to mention regulatory penalties, the embarrassment of having to tell customers their data has been compromised, and the reputational damage that follows a successful cyberattack.
Companies must take proactive measures to prioritize cybersecurity, not just to fall in line with compliance standards but to invest in a digitally secure future for themselves and their customers. It sounds reasonable, right? Can it be accomplished efficiently and within budget?
Vulnerability Scans: Internal vs. External
Vulnerability scanning is one of the most effective ways to uncover and address vulnerabilities within a company’s often massive network. There are two types of typical vulnerability scans: internal and external.
Internal scans focus on assets within the network parameter – workstations, servers, applications, and the systems connected behind the firewall. They are primarily used to identify unpatched software, system misconfigurations (which happen in every company), and other security blind spots, including weak and reused passwords.
Internal scans are important and should not be overlooked as a strategy to bolster network security – even if external infrastructure looks airtight. With that said, it’s an external vulnerability scan that acts as the very first line of defence against a cyberattack. External scans focus on the vulnerabilities of networks outside a company, i.e., the things that anyone on the internet can probe.
External scans are usually the first to pick up issues like misconfigured ports, cross-site scripting (XXS), injection vulnerabilities, broken authentication, and unsecured APIs. They check the house for unlocked windows and broken cameras – anything a hacker could exploit to get into a system.
The Pros and Cons of Vulnerability Scanning
Most companies need to conduct vulnerability scans for compliance. Standards like HIPAA, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS require semi-regular vulnerability scanning, with large financial penalties and potential legal action in the face of non-compliance.
Above compliance concerns, one of the biggest benefits of frequent and thorough vulnerability scans is that they help companies manage the risk and potential consequences of a full-blown breach. By identifying vulnerabilities early, companies can prevent widespread chaos in their systems, even if one component is compromised. Early detection can greatly influence the extent of a breach’s impact.
Clients are also more likely to feel protected and valued when they know their data is protected. Taking cybersecurity seriously, especially in this economy, can make or break a company’s reputation and abundance of public goodwill.
The only real downside is the cost. Vulnerability scanning is a service that comes with a price tag, and small organizations with tight budgets may feel the pressure. Yet, it’s a service that saves money in the long run. Compared to the expense of a full-blown breach, investing in thorough vulnerability scanning – both internal and external – is a low-cost, high-impact decision.
The More You Know
External system attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. Recent years have seen the very active exploitation of Log4j and the SolarWinds incident, not to mention various exposed DevOps tools like Jenkins, Git repos, and Kubernetes’ “IngressNightmare.”On average, roughly 100 CVEs are exposed on a daily basis.
If you’re scanning quarterly, you’re already behind. Frequent, even continuous, scanning is becoming the new standard. Cybercriminals certainly do not wait to take action until a company has become aware of a possible vulnerability. Threat detection strategy should also not wait.
Look for threat detection tools that offer both internal and external scanning. If possible, opt for services with automation, cloud integration, and actionable reporting. Make sure the tool you choose fits your environment and maturity level. Some platforms specialize in SMBs, others in complex hybrid or cloud-native architectures.
Most importantly, don’t sleep on the issue or wait until it’s too late to find a solution. Do your research, stay connected to the latest industry news, and talk to your team. If there’s one takeaway this year about combating cybercrime, it’s this: It’s everyone’s job to take threats seriously and proactively work to avoid unnecessary exposure.
