Vulnerability Scanning
Vulnerability scanning is the automated process of probing systems, networks, and applications to identify known security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and missing patches that could be exploited by attackers.
Vulnerability scanning is a cornerstone of proactive security management. Scanners maintain databases of known vulnerabilities, including CVEs, and test target systems against these entries to produce reports detailing identified weaknesses, their severity ratings, and remediation guidance. Popular vulnerability scanning tools include Nessus, Qualys, OpenVAS, and Rapid7 InsightVM.
Scans can be performed in authenticated or unauthenticated modes. Authenticated scans log into target systems with valid credentials, providing deeper visibility into installed software, configurations, and patch levels. Unauthenticated scans simulate an external attacker's perspective and identify issues visible from the network. Both approaches are valuable and complement each other.
Effective vulnerability management goes beyond simply running scans. Organizations should establish a regular scanning cadence, prioritize findings based on risk context rather than raw severity scores alone, track remediation progress through defined SLAs, rescan to verify fixes, and integrate scanning results into broader security workflows. Continuous vulnerability scanning helps maintain an accurate understanding of the organization's attack surface and supports compliance requirements across multiple regulatory frameworks.