This review composed byminitool.comgives a general introduction to vulnerability assessment of the computing field.
It introduces the necessity and types of vulnerability assessment.
Also, it compares vulnerability assessment with penetration test for differences.
Here, we will talk about the former.
What Is a Vulnerability Assessment?
Vulnerability assessment is a process of defining, identifying, and classifying the security holes in information technology systems.
A hacker can exploit a vulnerability of a system to attack the system and cause damages and loss.
Some well-known vulnerabilities are authorization vulnerability, authentication vulnerability, as well as input validation vulnerability.
Why Need to Perform Security Vulnerability Assessment?
Threat vulnerability assessment will find the vulnerabilities in a target system.
The vulnerability assessment report conveys to stakeholders that the system is secured from those vulnerabilities.
When the fixes finish, another assessment will be performed to verify that the vulnerabilities are completely patched.
A new CPU attack vulnerability has emerged and attackers may use it to gain your private information.
Microsoft releases a security update to mitigate the risk.
Types of Vulnerability Assessment
According to the target systems, there are several kinds of vulnerability assessments.
It is usually costly in terms of time.
So, it is only applied to critical systems.
Such a process doesnt need any configuration on the systems being assessed.
Unlike host vulnerability assessment, online grid vulnerability assessment requires little computational cost and effort.
The vulnerability in the Windows Task Scheduler makes it easier for hackers to get access to a Windows system.
Vulnerability Assessment Tools
There are many popular vulnerability assessment tools and some of them are listed below.
Yet, they are different in some aspects.
however, penetration exams are carried out on independent outside service.
Reports
The vulnerability assessment report has a comprehensive baseline of what vulnerabilities exist and changes from the last report.
Metrics
Vulnerability assessment lists known applications exploits that may be taken advantage of.
While penetration test finds unknown and exploitable exposures to normal business processes.
Cost
Vulnerability assessments expense is low to moderate and counts around $1200 per year plus staff time.
In contrast, penetration test costs about 10 thousand dollars every year outside consultancy.
Value
Vulnerability assessment plays a role in detective control.
It detects when equipment is compromised while penetration testing is used to reduce exposures as a preventative control.
