While there are more online businesses hosting websites, applications, and channels on the internet, there will be even more vulnerabilities in these systems waiting to be exploited. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for gaps in the infrastructure that has gone unnoticed and unpatched so that they can orchestrate a breach attempt and capitalize on the business assets through fraudulent activities. A recent survey reports that over 60% of the data breaches occur due to the lack of vulnerability patching in the critical company IT systems.

Vulnerability Scanning In Short

 

Vulnerability scanning is a process that uses automated or manual scanning software to detect weaknesses and security gaps in the IT systems before they pose a risk to the security posture of the company.

Which businesses need vulnerability scanning?

 

All companies that rely on the internet to do business require vulnerability scanning to reduce the risk of data breach accidents. These are usually IT systems that companies use to connect to people or other IT systems over private or public networks. Hosting many channels to boost the productivity and profitability of the business sounds great provided that all the security measures are taken to reduce the increased risk of vulnerabilities within these systems.

 

If a business is developing an application, there could be a number of vulnerabilities that are introduced in error by the development team or the third-party company taking part in the enterprise venture. Another common use case of this software is the e-commerce sector and websites that hold sensitive payment information of their customers. If a web system like that contains vulnerabilities, a company risks losing its credibility as a business but also suffering the repercussions from non-compliance with the relevant standards for safe payments. There is also a third use case that has become very common in the digital transformation age of remotely operating businesses and the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) operating model. Connecting endpoint devices that are not well protected and patched to the corporate networks and application suites can put your business data at risk as well as your whole credibility as a trusted company.

Vulnerability Scanning In More Detail

 

The process of scanning for system vulnerabilities is exploited not only by cybersecurity professionals but also by malicious actors. Hackers use the same automated tools to find gaps in security, which they can benefit from before they are found and patched to ensure system security. This explains why it is so important to perform these scans timely and effectively in order to ensure that there are no vulnerabilities, remaining to be exploited by bad actors.

There are many advanced vulnerability scanning tools that allow companies and providers to run these assessments timely before the issues occur. The best way to ensure that these processes are effective is by following a schedule that the IT team plans ahead.

If you are an independent software vendor and you need a vulnerability scanning tool. you can look into a software solution that can get integrated into your new application development. This ensures that there are no harmful practices in the programming process that can introduce vulnerabilities in your IT systems.

Final words

 

Vulnerability scans are useful when done meticulously by skilled professionals who understand the complexity of the scanners and the nature of the findings generated by the search. With that said, using an automated solution is not always your best option if you are looking for a quality solution that gives your company a real sense of security and knowledge of the weaknesses in the company systems. When you are on the lookout for a solution that meets your needs as a business, your provider should give you an accurate estimate that considers everything including the size, nature of your business, and secondary factors that can improve your systems’ security as a whole.