Cybercriminals and hackers can find ways into your systems, networks, applications and more with just a little bit of work. One window slightly cracked or a door left barely ajar is all they need. Do you know if the windows and doors to your entire IT infrastructure are shut and locked? If not, you can find out with vulnerability and penetration testing. 

These tests, while different, seek to reduce the attack surface of your organization and should be performed by an expert cybersecurity consultant. Keep reading to find out which one of these tests is best for your organization. 

Vulnerability Testing 

What Are Vulnerability Tests?

A vulnerability test is an assessment used to identify the adequacy of your security measures, identify any deficiencies in those measures and confirm the mitigations are working. As the name implies, the main goal of a vulnerability test is to find flaws within your system. The results will help you identify areas of improvement to reduce your organization’s attack surface. 

Vulnerability tests tend to be broad and comprehensive in coverage but narrow in overall scope. For example, all of the workstations in an enterprise are tested but don’t go deeply into the context of organizational risk. 

When you use vulnerability testing, it is possible to cover vast numbers of systems and vulnerabilities. 

Process and Results

The process for conducting these tests follows a “scoping > scanning > analysis > reporting > repeat” cycle. Testing can be done as a standalone event or on a regularly scheduled basis.  Along with your results, you will get a detailed list of vulnerabilities with associated risk levels. Your results should also include remediation recommendations and a roadmap to guide the remediation process. 

Costs and Limitations

While there is no average cost (because every organization’s needs are vastly different), vulnerability testing is generally less expensive due to automation. The bulk of your costs may come from tool licensing and the hours involved in analysis and reporting. 

There are limitations to this type of security testing. It may yield a high number of false positives that will require more manual review and it won’t reveal the impact of these vulnerabilities if they are exploited. 

Penetration Testing

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing is a simulated attack on your system, network or application that is designed to identify and measure the risks associated with the exploitation of a target’s attack surface. This type of test shows the ways a cybercriminal would gain access to your network and what they can gain access to once inside. 

The goal of this type of test is also to reduce the risk to your company’s attack surface. 

These tests are targeted, they focus on specific systems, applications, networks or a goal, like gaining access to sensitive data. 

Process and Results

A vulnerability test process typically follows this process: “Scoping > Planning/Reconnaissance > Scanning/Enumeration > Exploitation > Post-Exploitation > Reporting > Delivery/Cleanup.” Those conducting your tests will use a combination of automated tools, manual techniques, custom/OTS scripts, social engineering tactics and more to attempt to hack into your network. Cybersecurity experts may even emulate well-known hackers’ techniques or use their tools for infiltration. 

The test is a point-in-time assessment that is usually conducted annually for compliance requirements or if there are significant system changes. 

Your results report will detail the vulnerabilities that were discovered, what was exploited and the criticality of compromise. The report will also include a roadmap for remediating the identified issues.  

Costs and Limitations 

Penetration testing tends to be more expensive than vulnerability testing. There are more unique skills needed and testing is time-intensive. 

This type of test only captures what your security systems look like at the time of testing versus assessing ongoing changes over a period of time. It may not find all of your vulnerabilities, depending on the scope of the project. 

When to Use Each Service

It can be difficult to determine which is the right service for you. Here’s how to know which test to use: 

Choose vulnerability testing if: 

• Your organization requires a broad understanding of system/asset weaknesses. 
• You need to establish a baseline security posture. 
• You need to comply with industry standards/regulations, such as ISO 27001or NIST frameworks. 
• You are implementing or enhancing a vulnerability management program. 
• You want regular monitoring and management of vulnerabilities. 
• You’ve made critical system changes.
• You need a budget-friendly option.

Penetration testing could be a better option if: 

• You need to complete a real-world attack simulation.
• You have an application or system that requires testing before deployment.
• You want to test the protection of high-value assets/data. 
• You need to test specific systems or applications for security flaws.
• There are compliance requirements that require periodic testing, such as with PCI/DSS or HIPAA. 
• You need to assess the effectiveness of security control implementation and incident response. 

Vulnerability vs. Penetration Testing: An Analogy 

Think of vulnerability testing as a home inspector, they make sure the locks on the windows and doors work and that the fence around your home is secure. If not, they’ll tell you and give you ideas on how to fix it. 

Penetration testing is like having a professional home security company try to break into your home, tell you the ways a burglar would be able to break in and give you solutions to fix these issues. 
Both types of tests are valuable to the safety of your business, and may be needed at different times. Need an expert consultant to help you decide or to complete one of these tests? We can help. Book a meeting with us today to get started.