A vulnerability assessment is a crucial tool your business can use to help prevent cyber incidents. Not only do these assessments highlight areas where your security is lacking, but they also provide a roadmap for strengthening your defenses. With the information acquired in the assessment, you can then create a strategic plan to enhance your security infrastructure.
However, there is utility in understanding the technology/process behind a vulnerability assessment. The more informed you are about a service you’re incorporating into your budget, the better decisions you can make. Here is a step-by-step summary of what to expect during a vulnerability assessment run by SWK Technologies.
What is a Vulnerability Assessment?
Before diving into the details, it’s critical to define what a vulnerability assessment actually is.
A vulnerability assessment brings a systematic approach to online security by identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing security vulnerabilities in systems, applications, and networks. Routinely conducting regular assessments offers valuable insights into your organization’s security standing and enables proactive measures to address weaknesses before they can be exploited.
Essentially, vulnerability assessments are a comprehensive service included either standalone or within a broader network security review . They leverage a software scan to identify vulnerabilities within your systems, testing your exposure to both internal and external risks.
Additionally, these assessments are often required for compliance with industry regulations, and falling victim to a cyber-attack can severely damage your business’s reputation. Conducting a vulnerability assessment can prevent such attacks, thereby protecting and preserving your business’s reputation.
The Vulnerability Scanning and Assessment Process
Here’s an overview of the process your business will undertake when working with SWK to conduct a vulnerability assessment
Identification
- The process starts with the identification, quantification, and ranking of weaknesses within networks.
- Then, we will conduct something called a “vulnerability scan”
- This involves an automated vulnerability scanner testing the organization’s network environment for security threats that are present and immediately visible from a network perspective.
- Unlike a penetration test, this scan does not simulate the actions of a hacker.
Assessing the Stakes
- Next, our team will explain any potential consequences of security soft spots that have been assessed.
- Hypothetical scenarios will be brought up relating to the vulnerabilities discovered.
- Vulnerabilities are identified through automated testing and scanning, and could pertain to…
- Failed authentication
- Patching issues
- Configuration weaknesses
- Other issues that could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems
Plan of Action
- A plan is then created to address the identified weaknesses.
- A vulnerability report provides a comprehensive list of security vulnerabilities for each host.
- Can be used alongside other deliverable documents to effectively remediate threats identified during the assessment.
- While a technical report may demonstrate proof of a vulnerability across multiple hosts, the vulnerability report offers a more detailed list of affected assets.
- Executive Summary Report: This includes a high-level summary of the security vulnerabilities identified.
Moving Forward
- Our team of cybersecurity experts prioritizes your business’s safety. So, contact us to schedule a vulnerability assessment today!
Schedule a Consultation with SWK
At SWK, we understand that in the constant battle against hackers with malicious intent, knowledge is often your best asset. A vulnerability assessment provides invaluable information on the state of your network security. Contact SWK today and schedule your vulnerability assessment– it might be the difference between a breached network and business as usual.