One of the first steps to preventing a potential cyber attack is eliminating any holes a hacker could penetrate. The best IT security services will include vulnerability scanning, which is designed to identify those holes so hackers have a much harder time gaining entry into your network. Vulnerability testing and penetration testing are different, but are both valuable to include in your proactive IT management strategy. SOC services should offer both types of testing, but here’s what you need to know specifically about vulnerability scanning.
Identifying Vulnerabilities
The first component of a vulnerability scan is identifying any vulnerabilities that are present. The scan will include open ports, software, devices and any similar components within an infrastructure. Many vulnerability scans use a significant amount of bandwidth, so they are often completed outside of normal business hours when bandwidth is not stretched as much. When the vulnerability scan is complete, you can review the results and determine what actions need to be taken depending on your risk level.
Evaluating Potential Risks
The best SOC services will do thorough vulnerability scans, which often bring back an overwhelming amount of vulnerabilities. This doesn’t mean you have to completely overhaul your IT security services, but it does mean you need to evaluate each result to determine the biggest risks and threats. You need to think about the potential ramifications of exploitation and what actions need to be taken to eliminate them. Depending on your budget and other factors, it may be best to handle the potentially serious vulnerabilities first and then prioritize the others in accordance with their level of risk.
Fixing Vulnerabilities in Systems
It’s also possible for a vulnerability scan to be overaggressive and point out false vulnerabilities. While this can be frustrating for some IT staff members, it’s better to know about them rather than being blindsided by an attack. Any legitimate vulnerabilities should be addressed immediately, and working with a Managed Security Service Provider can ensure that happens. There are times when certain vulnerabilities are best left unaddressed, which can be decided by the business owner and the IT security services.
Single Point of Contact is here to help small and mid-size businesses develop the perfect proactive IT management strategy that works for their company. The infrastructure of every organization is different, so our SOC services are flexible and adaptable to meet your needs. Vulnerability scanning is an essential component of a great IT security plan and we can help you with it. Never hesitate to contact us at any time if you’re concerned about any aspect of security within your company.
