A vulnerability assessment is a formalized process of finding, classifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities on a system or network. Organizations can then take proactive actions to protect their assets from these cyberattacks by understanding these vulnerabilities.
Different Forms of Vulnerability Assessment
Network Vulnerability Assessment
OpenVAS: It scans your network devices (i.e. routers, switches, and firewalls), looking for any vulnerabilities.
Discovery of misconfigured services, weak passwords, and unpatched software
Assessment Vulnerability To A Web Application:
Analyzes web apps for weaknesses such as SQL injection, cross site scripting (XSS) and cross-site request forgery (CSRF).
Discovers security flaws in the application source code and configuration.
Wireless Network Risk Assessment:
Evaluates the security of wireless networks such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Recognizes weak encryption, rogue access points, and other vulnerabilities.
Penetration Testing:
Mimics real-world attacks, to detect and exploit vulnerabilities.
Offers complete insight into the security level of an organization.
Vulnerability Assessment Process Steps
Step 1: Information Gathering Collect information about the target system, such as its components, software, and network configuration
Vulnerability Scanning: Automated tools can be used to scan the system for known vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Analysis : Evaluate the identified Vulnerabilities for their Possible Impact
Risk Assessment — Evaluate the risk for each vulnerability (e.g., exploitability and its impact).
Remediation of vulnerabilities – create and execute a remediation program to cure existing vulnerabilities.
Reporting books: Report the assessment result and share recommendations for improvement
Pros of Threat Assessment
Improved Security Posture: Organizations can strengthen their overall security posture over their vulnerabilities if they can identify and remediate them.
Lowered Chance of Breaches: Conducting vulnerability assessment can avert cyberattacks and data breaches.
Regulatory Compliance: Several regulations also mandate organisations to perform periodic assessments to identify vulnerabilities.
Better Decision-Making: By deciphering the security threats that the organization faces, it is easier for companies to decide where-to invest security resources.
