Introduction
This post delves into two crucial cybersecurity techniques: vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. At CyberContego, clients often turn to us for advice on these topics. To provide clarity, we’ve created this blog to highlight the key aspects of each approach and share insights from our work with clients.
What is vulnerability assessment?
A vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying, classifying, and prioritising security vulnerabilities in computer systems, applications, and network infrastructure. It involves systematically evaluating an organisation’s IT environment to discover potential weaknesses that could be exploited by cybercriminals.
The vulnerability assessment process typically includes the following steps:
Vulnerability identification: Using automated tools and manual techniques to discover security weaknesses.
Vulnerability analysis: Determining the severity and potential impact of the identified vulnerabilities.
Risk assessment: Prioritising vulnerabilities based on their potential threat level and business impact.
Remediation planning: Developing strategies to address or mitigate identified vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability assessments are crucial for organisations as they:
- Provide knowledge and awareness of potential security threats.
- Help close existing security gaps in IT infrastructure.
- Ensure compliance with cybersecurity regulations and industry standards.
- Enable a proactive approach to identifying and addressing security weaknesses before they can be exploited.
Organisations use various tools and techniques for vulnerability assessments, including network security scanners, penetration testing, and automated vulnerability scanning tools. These assessments should be conducted regularly to maintain an up-to-date understanding of an organisation’s security posture and address new vulnerabilities as they emerge.
What is a penetration test?
A penetration test, also known as a pentest, is an authorised simulated cyberattack on a computer system, network, or web application to evaluate its security. It is performed by ethical hackers or security professionals who use the same tools, techniques, and processes as malicious attackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
The main goals of a penetration test are to:
- Discover security weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures.
- Provide actionable insights to strengthen an organisation’s defences.
Penetration tests typically follow these phases:
Reconnaissance: Gathering information about the target system.
Scanning: Using technical tools to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Gaining access: Exploiting discovered vulnerabilities.
Maintaining access: Persisting within the target environment.
Covering tracks: Clearing any traces of the simulated attack.
By simulating real-world attacks in a controlled environment, penetration testing helps organisations identify and address security flaws before malicious actors can exploit them.
Vulnerability Assessment vs Penetration Test
A key distinction between a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test lies in their objectives and methodologies. A vulnerability assessment identifies and reports on weaknesses discovered during a scan, while a penetration test goes further by attempting to exploit these weaknesses (much like a hacker would) to gain access to a system. Because penetration tests simulate real-world attacks, they can introduce system instability or even downtime. Conducting a penetration test without first performing a vulnerability assessment is risky and unlikely to provide a complete picture of an organisation’s cyber risks.
The most effective approach is to combine both a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test. This provides a comprehensive snapshot of a system’s security posture. However, it’s important to note that many providers label their services as “penetration tests” when, in reality, they only conduct vulnerability assessments. This omission leaves a critical gap in the overall security review.
Additionally, only running an external penetration test is unlikely to yield actionable insights for most SMEs. Scanning or testing an SME’s externally facing network—typically just a firewall—overlooks the more significant risks that often reside within the internal network.
Our approach
At CyberContego, we take a thorough approach by combining multiple internal vulnerability assessments with both internal and external penetration tests.
We’ve encountered several scenarios that highlight common pitfalls in cybersecurity testing for SMEs:
External penetration test only
Many clients’ previous tests focused solely on external penetration, a method better suited to large organisations with multiple locations or a substantial web-facing presence. For the average SMEs, this approach, when conducted in isolation, is unlikely to identify critical vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability assessment misrepresented as a penetration test
In some cases, the previous “penetration test” was merely a vulnerability assessment. Ironically, this can be more useful for SMEs since it often includes an internal network scan, which tends to provide actionable data.
Limited combined testing
Other engagements included a mix of an external test, a basic internal firewall log review, and perhaps a cursory examination of their Microsoft 365 tenant. While this can be a reasonable starting point, most of the reports we’ve reviewed lack the depth necessary for a thorough security analysis.
The CyberContego way
Our methodology at CyberContego goes beyond these common shortcomings. We conduct a full cybersecurity risk review aligned with the NIST framework, perform multiple vulnerability assessments, and execute comprehensive internal and external penetration tests. This process, which takes 4–8 weeks, involves close collaboration with our clients every step of the way. We also work closely with each client’s IT department or IT provider to ensure a holistic understanding of their systems, allowing us to provide tailored and effective advice.
We have invested in the latest technology to allow us to automate much of the “grunt work” normally associated with vulnerability and penetration testing meaning we can focus our time delivering actionable outcomes for your organisation, not just another tedious report that does little or nothing to bolster your cybersecurity resilience. This automation also means our services are very competitively priced when compared to other offerings in the market.
Get in touch
If you like to learn more about how vulnerability assessments or penetration testing can help your organisation become more cyber secure please reach out to Seamus today or head over to our contact page to get in touch.
