TechDogs-"The What, Why And How Of Vulnerability Assessment Services"

IT Security

The What, Why And How Of Vulnerability Assessment Services

By TechDogs Editorial Team

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Overview

Let’s travel back in time – imagine you’re watching the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Argentina is taking on Croatia for a place in the finals. Ten minutes into the match, Lionel Messi gets fouled and injured (yes, we know he lifted the World Cup – this is just a hypothetical scenario!).

Whether or not you’re a football fan, let alone an Argentina supporter, you’d want Messi to play in the final, right? However, it depends on the severity of his injury. So, the medical team needs to assess how vulnerable Messi is before he plays in the final. They run checkups, diagnostics and take multiple X-rays. They also evaluate the severity of his injury after each training session. If there is more damage, he can't participate in the final. However, if the response to the treatment is good, Argentina will have their best player on the pitch!

This is similar to how IT teams (read: medical teams) assess the vulnerability of their IT ecosystem (read: Leo Messi). We mean, the IT infrastructure is the star player of every business and keeping it in top shape is crucial.

So, read on to learn how Vulnerability Assessment Services help you do exactly that!
TechDogs-"The What, Why And How Of Vulnerability Assessment Services" Don'T Let Vulnerabilities Sneak Up On You!
According to a survey conducted by the Ponemon Institute in 2019, 60% of security incidents could be traced to vulnerabilities that were known but not corrected by businesses in time. This means more than half of such incidents could have been prevented had the business and its IT team been more proactive in rectifying vulnerabilities. This puts the focus on regularly assessing the health of IT ecosystems for vulnerabilities – but how can businesses do that?

The answer is Vulnerability Assessment Services; these services help businesses systematically review their IT ecosystem for security weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The service provider evaluates if the enterprise system is susceptible to known vulnerabilities, assigns a severity level to the recognized risks and recommends ways to remediate or mitigate if needed. The best part is businesses do not need to divert valuable resources and productive time as the entire process is outsourced to the service provider!!

So, let’s look at Vulnerability Assessment Services in more detail.
 

Understanding Vulnerability Assessment Services


Vulnerability Assessment Services provide a set of diagnostic tests for enterprise devices, applications and networks to collect data, analyze it and identify areas for improvement based on urgency and risk. Service providers can also recommend better cybersecurity services, software and process changes to resolve vulnerabilities and ensure optimal security across the enterprise.

To evaluate the state of the IT environment, Vulnerability Assessment Services can provide manual or automated services. Automated services leverage databases with known vulnerabilities to help identify the company's exposure and susceptibility to them. The primary benefits of this strategy are its quickness and comprehensive coverage of security vulnerabilities. Manual services detect and assess threats manually to eliminate false positives and guarantee accurate reports with confirmed security lapses.

Yet, as you may know, IT vulnerabilities are constantly evolving. To keep up with new threats, so did Vulnerability Assessment Services – let’s look at how it has changed in the last few decades.
 

Evolution And Origins Of Vulnerability Assessment Services


Vulnerability Assessment Services have been in development for over two decades. When it first appeared in the 1990s, the intent was to conduct annual vulnerability scans to understand security operations. This was limited to servers within the enterprise that was deemed critical. Visibility was only available for a point in time through a list of vulnerabilities within the IT environment – without any context about why and how.

TechDogs-"Evolution And Origins Of Vulnerability Assessment Services" A GIF Showing A Security Guard Checking Visitors
This is pretty much how they worked (just kidding)!

Then, in the early 2000s, businesses started realizing the importance that vulnerability scans brought to the table. In 2000, there were only 1,020 published vulnerabilities in the newly created Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE) database. Yet, threats were developing much faster than they were being documented.

Hence, in the mid-2000s, one of the major changes was in the frequency of vulnerability scans. Businesses went from annual scans to periodic scans to get better visibility into the security posture of the business infrastructure, understand what had changed since the last scan and remediate the issues accordingly. At this time, Vulnerability Assessment Services started scanning everything from enterprise servers and endpoints to network devices and databases.

In the 2010s, enterprises moved toward a more integrated approach that made vulnerability scanning a continuous and integral process of the overall security policy. Businesses realized that effective and regular scanning led to a significant reduction in risk. Hence, efforts were made to scan vulnerabilities across the enterprise ecosystem which expanded to include the complete hybrid infrastructure, i.e., servers, endpoints, containers, applications, OT/IOT assets, etc. The result was the creation of a prioritized list of vulnerabilities with extensive context for effective remediation.

This is how most modern VA Services operate – but let’s look at what this service actually does for businesses.
 

How Do Vulnerability Assessment Services Work?


TechDogs-"How Do Vulnerability Assessment Services Work?" A GIF Of Messi Dribbling Past Players
Although we’ve seen Messi dribble past 5-6 players with ease; the fact is he is part of a team.

Similarly, Vulnerability Assessment Services may be your star player but it is not standalone. That is, businesses must work with service providers in conjunction with enterprise security tools to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of their security health. Your business may already have software that can counter security risks actively. The service, on the other hand, helps you identify potential risks to the business ecosystem that were undetected by security tools. #TheDreamTeam

Hence, combined with Vulnerability Assessment Services, businesses are kept aware of undetected threats in their systems and can readily respond with the tools available to them. This service forms a crucial part of the security detection and response strategy. Here are the steps involved:
 
  • Vulnerability Identification

    The goal of this stage is to create a thorough list of vulnerabilities. Security analysts use either automated tools or manual testing to evaluate and check the security status of applications, servers, networks and other systems using vulnerability databases and threat intelligence feeds.

  • Vulnerability Analysis

    The goal of this step is to locate the origin and underlying cause of the vulnerabilities that were discovered in step one. It entails determining which system components are to blame for each vulnerability as well as the fundamental cause of the vulnerability. For instance, an outdated and unprotected version of an open-source library might be the cause of a vulnerability, which then offers a straightforward path for correction.

  • Risk Assessment

    The goal of this stage is to prioritize vulnerabilities. It entails security analysts ranking or scoring each vulnerability according to criteria including the systems involved, whether sensitive data is in danger, which business functions are impacted, the severity of the attack, the potential for harm, etc.

  • Remediation

    The goal of this stage is to plug any security holes. It is the stage where security teams choose the best course of action to address or mitigate each vulnerability. This could include taking actions such as the creation and implementation of a vulnerability patch or the introduction of new security protocols.


Although every service follows these steps, you can choose from various service providers based on your business needs. Here’s all you need to know!
 

Types Of Vulnerability Assessment Scans


Modern Vulnerability Assessments Services primarily rely on automated scanning tools, although manual testing may be used in some cases. Whatever your needs, here are the main types of scans offered by Vulnerability Assessment Service providers:
 
  • Network-based Scanning

    This is used to identify potential security attacks or vulnerabilities on wired or wireless networks within the enterprise.

  • Host-based Scanning

    This is used to identify vulnerabilities on servers, workstations, network hosts, etc. This scan also identifies vulnerable open ports, while providing insights into the configuration and security history of the scanned systems.

  • Wireless Network Scanning

    This is used to scan an organization's Wi-Fi and other wireless networks to look for security weaknesses and malicious access points. This is especially useful for businesses that want to ensure that their wireless networks are configured securely for transmitting sensitive data.

  • Application Scanning

    This is used to scan enterprise websites, mobile applications and software applications for known software vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

  • Database Scans

    This is used to scan and identify vulnerabilities in databases that might allow attacks such as SQL and NoSQL injection. It also discovers other vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in a database server.


TechDogs-"Types Of Vulnerability Assessment Scans" A GIF Showing Messi Being Cool
We bet this is how you feel now that you know what Vulnerability Assessment Services are, how they evolved, how they work and their types!

Next up – the benefits of Vulnerability Assessment Services.
 

Benefits Of Vulnerability Assessment Services


Surely, these services are critical when it comes to enterprise security and threat intelligence. Yet, Vulnerability Assessment Services offer more than that:
 
  • Proactive Security Strategies

    Using Vulnerability Assessment Services helps businesses identify known security exposures in their systems before attackers find them.

  • Enhanced Security Details

    Vulnerability Assessment Services help create an inventory of devices, nodes, ports, etc. across the IT environment which includes security and system information, history of vulnerabilities, risks associated with a specific device, etc. for enhanced security.

  • Faster Remediation

    After creating an inventory of security risks within the enterprise ecosystem, Vulnerability Assessment Services help generate a priority list to enable better planning of upgrades and remediation strategies. 

  • In-Depth Security Health

    By defining the level of risks and vulnerabilities that exists on the network, Vulnerability Assessment Services help in understanding the current security health.

  • More Cost-effective Security Planning

    Vulnerability Assessment Services establish a business risk/ benefit curve to optimize security investments and upgrade costs, which helps in remediating risks on a budget and avoiding overspending.


Well, now you get why we compared this software to Messi, right? What’s more, just like the Argentinian soccer player, this service is bound to get better with time – read on to know what we mean!
 

What’s The Future Of Vulnerability Assessment Services?


Risk-based vulnerability management will soon be a prerequisite for all businesses. As a result, Machine Learning-based automated security will become crucial for risk-based prioritization and vulnerability management. Modern Machine Learning algorithms will enable the deployment of preventive measures and assist in identifying vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are most likely to exploit in targeted attacks.

The CSAF 2.0 will also be adopted as the benchmark by Vulnerability Assessment Service providers. The Common Security Advisory Framework (CSAF) aims to standardize the creation and distribution of structured machine-readable security advisories, which will support the automation of vulnerability detection and management. This will ensure that Vulnerability Assessment Service providers are informed about the most recent risks and vulnerabilities. Hence businesses opting to leverage these services will be more secure and resilient in the future.
 

It's A Wrap


Vulnerability Assessment cannot be a one-off activity as the scope for assessing vulnerabilities is massive. To regularize this process, organizations can rely on Vulnerability Assessment Services. They work with businesses to mitigate security breaches, risks and vulnerabilities by identifying areas that are under risk and need remediation. If you’re worried about your organizational IT Security, you definitely need to invest in Vulnerability Assessment Services!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Vulnerability Assessment Services and How Do They Help Businesses?


Vulnerability Assessment Services offer businesses a systematic approach to reviewing their IT ecosystems for security weaknesses and vulnerabilities. These services involve diagnostic tests conducted on enterprise devices, applications, and networks to identify areas for improvement based on urgency and risk. By leveraging either manual or automated methods, service providers analyze data, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend cybersecurity solutions and process changes to enhance overall security. Businesses benefit from the expertise of service providers, who assess susceptibility to known vulnerabilities, assign severity levels to risks, and propose remediation strategies, all while saving valuable time and resources.

How Have Vulnerability Assessment Services Evolved Over Time?


Over the past few decades, Vulnerability Assessment Services have evolved to adapt to changing cybersecurity landscapes. Initially developed in the 1990s for annual vulnerability scans targeting critical servers, these services have expanded in scope and frequency. Businesses transitioned from periodic scans to continuous monitoring, with a focus on scanning various components of the enterprise ecosystem, including servers, endpoints, network devices, and databases. This evolution reflects a shift towards a more integrated approach to vulnerability management, with an emphasis on real-time detection and prioritization of vulnerabilities for effective remediation.

What Are the Steps Involved in Vulnerability Assessment Services?


Vulnerability Assessment Services typically involve several key steps to ensure thorough identification and mitigation of security risks. Firstly, security analysts identify vulnerabilities using automated tools or manual testing, leveraging vulnerability databases and threat intelligence feeds. Next, they analyze the origin and underlying causes of vulnerabilities to understand their impact and severity. Following this, vulnerabilities are prioritized based on factors such as potential harm and system criticality. Finally, security teams devise and implement remediation strategies to address identified vulnerabilities, which may include deploying patches or updating security protocols. This structured approach enables businesses to systematically manage their security risks and strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture.

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