Business leaders today recognize that the efficiency and security of their organization relies on technology. But most business leaders aren’t technology experts, which can make it difficult to know all of the tools available. Add to that the alphabet soup of IT acronyms and it can get confusing.
I get it!
At Kelser, we pride ourselves on making complex technology topics easy to understand.
In this article, we’ll explore vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) cybersecurity tools, so that you know what they are, what they do, why they are important, and the benefits they offer.
(And before we go any further, don’t worry, this isn’t a hidden sales ploy, just reliable information you can use to decide whether these tools would help your organization.)
Here’s the thing: you have lots of options when it comes to IT support. Rather than convince you that our offering is the best for you, we want to provide you with educational tools you can use to make educated technology decisions.
What Are VAPT Cybersecurity Tools?
As the name suggests, VAPT cybersecurity tools are two parts of a comprehensive vulnerability evaluation.
What Do VAPT Cybersecurity Tools Do?
These tools provide information about existing vulnerabilities in a technology infrastructure. There are two primary components to VAPT tools:
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Vulnerability Assessment
A vulnerability assessment is typically an automated scan of the elements in a technology infrastructure (including network, application, access points, wireless networks and more). A vulnerability scan (or "vulscan") also identifies open ports that are putting the network at risk.
Related article: What Is IT Vulnerability Scanning? Pros & Cons
Following the scan, a report is generated that outlines existing weaknesses and compares the information gathered to a database of known vulnerabilities.
While the report is helpful in identifying an organization’s exposures, the real benefit comes when the exposures identified become the basis for a systematic remediation of the security gaps.
Vulnerability scans can be performed using commercially available software or by hiring a professional IT team.
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Penetration Testing
When an organization undergoes penetration testing, they basically hire an outside IT expert to identify security vulnerabilities and see what damage could be caused if those weaknesses were exploited by someone with malicious intent.
In effect, penetration tests are authorized hacks of an infrastructure (within guiding parameters) to understand the full effect a real cyber event could have on the organization.
Related article: What Is IT Penetration Testing? What Are The Benefits? Do I Need It?
Why Are VAPT Cybersecurity Tools Important?
Using the comprehensive information gathered by VAPT tools, organizations learn their potential exposure to cyber threats and can proactively mitigate the identified threats in a systematic way, plugging known security gaps and reducing the risk of a cyber incident.
What Are The Benefits Of VAPT Cybersecurity Tools?
VAPT tools put organizations ahead of the curve when it comes to cyber events. They are stepping stones to a safer network and help minimize risks of a real attack.
Having said that, neither one can improve the security of your network unless you develop and implement a comprehensive remediation plan to plug the gaps.
Proactive attention to cybersecurity risks is always a good thing and helps shore up weaknesses before they can be fully exploited, minimizing the impact of cyber incidents before they happen.
What’s The Bottom Line?
In this article, we’ve fully defined the concept of VAPT tools. With this new knowledge, you are prepared to decide if these tools are right for your business. These tools combine to expose vulnerabilities and help you develop an action plan to address the weak links in your infrastructure.
While many business leaders often express relief that they aren’t contractually obligated to perform these tests, that could be a missed opportunity. Just because your contracts don’t require them, it doesn’t mean they won’t add value for your business.
Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve on an almost daily basis.
We understand that time and financial resources are limited, but consider the lost time and financial impact a cyber incident would have on your business.
We recommend regular vulnerability scans on a monthly or quarterly basis, with more frequent scans for high-risk organizations. But if your risk is high and you can afford it, daily vulnerability scanning is the safest option.
And, a word of advice: don’t assume that if a vulnerability scan doesn’t identify weaknesses your infrastructure is safe. Take the extra step to conduct a penetration test occasionally to ensure that there aren’t hidden or new vulnerabilities that your scanning software didn’t identify.
Wondering what else you can do to keep your infrastructure safe? Find out why it’s important to patch and update business software and operating systems.
Or, learn the most often overlooked (and most cost-effective) cybersecurity tool.
Whether you have an internal IT team or need to rely on external resources, routine maintenance and VAPT tools can help keep your infrastructure safe.
If you are considering exploring external options for IT support, evaluate several providers to find one that is the right fit for you. Here are 10 of the best questions to ask any external IT provider.
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