Introduction
The world of cybersecurity is evolving, and organizations need to protect themselves against the latest threats. As more businesses move their IT infrastructure to the cloud, it’s easy to assume that their IT services are protected by firewalls and other security measures. Unfortunately, that assumption is wrong. According to research by Forrester Consulting on cloud security strategies for 2020, "Most customers lack visibility into what data is being accessed and how secure it really is." This lack of visibility makes it difficult for businesses to determine if they are meeting compliance requirements or managing risk appropriately.
It's no secret that the cybersecurity landscape is rapidly changing.
It's no secret that the cybersecurity landscape is rapidly changing. Cybersecurity threats are increasing, but so are the tools to combat them. Vulnerability scanners are an essential part of this solution because they help organizations better manage their risk profile from a cybersecurity perspective.
Vulnerability scanners provide an accurate picture of how well their networks and systems are protected against known vulnerabilities, giving them visibility into where they need to improve their defenses or patch holes in order to reduce risk exposure.
All about Vulnerabilities
Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in software or hardware that can be exploited by attackers. They are often the result of a programming error, and they can be discovered by either manual review or automated scanning. Vulnerabilities may also be disclosed publicly through coordinated disclosure programs (e.g., the Zero Day Initiative), which allow vendors time to release patches before details about the vulnerability become public knowledge.
CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) are identifiers for publicly disclosed computer security vulnerabilities that have been assigned by CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs). There are currently over 30 CNAs worldwide who manage their own databases of CVEs for their specific domains (e.g., Microsoft manages one set of CVEs for Windows operating systems). The National Institute of Standards and Technology maintains an official list with links to each CNA's respective database(s) on its website at https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/. This site allows users searching for information about a particular CVE identifier or set thereof; however, it does not provide details regarding how those identifiers were generated (i..e., what methodology was used) nor do they indicate whether any changes were made since initial publication date listed on each record page."
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is a framework used to assess the severity of security vulnerabilities in software systems. The CVSS score is a numerical representation of the severity of a vulnerability, ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more severe vulnerabilities. The score is calculated based on metrics that assess the impact and exploitability of the vulnerability, which are grouped into three categories: base metrics, temporal metrics, and environmental metrics.
CVSS has evolved over time, with the most recent version being CVSS v3. The main differences between CVSS v2 and CVSS v3 include the addition of new metrics, changes to the formula used to calculate the score, and greater emphasis on environmental metrics. CVSS v3 is considered more comprehensive and accurate than CVSS v2, and it is recommended that organizations transition to using CVSS v3 to assess vulnerabilities in their systems.
Vulnerability scanners are an essential part of the solution, but they can't do it alone.
Service vulnerability scanners are software programs that scan your network for weak spots. They're typically used to identify security holes in services or applications (that are identified by a protocol and a port).
Service vulnerability scanners help you meet compliance requirements by finding vulnerabilities that could lead to a data breach or other types of cyberattacks. They can also help you manage risk by identifying weaknesses in your systems that could be exploited if they aren't fixed.
An organization's IT services exposed to the Internet are under more scrutiny and a frequent scan policy of those services will help with your security posture. The risk profile of your organization, as well as its culture, will determine how often you should scan for vulnerabilities. It may be daily or weekly, depending on your industry and size. In addition to having a service vulnerability scanner in place (and knowing how to use it), you should consider one with built-in reporting capabilities so that you can measure how well your scanning efforts are working over time.
But it is also true that vulnerability scanners are only one part of the solution to improving your organization's cybersecurity posture. To be effective, you need to have a comprehensive approach that includes:
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Preventing attacks by using tools such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to block malicious traffic before it reaches your network
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Detecting and responding to attacks by using IDSs and other monitoring tools like SIEM (security information and event management) or log analysis software
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Recovering from attacks by having backups of critical systems so they can be restored quickly when needed
Choosing the Right Scanner: Enhancing Compliance and Cybersecurity for Your Organization
A service vulnerability scanner helps organizations better manage their risk profile from a cybersecurity perspective. It helps identify vulnerabilities to be fixed in order to prevent attacks, ensures compliance with security standards, ensures network availability and reduces risk of data loss.
A service vulnerability scanner is an automated tool that scans the services running on your servers or cloud instances to detect security issues such as:
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Missing patches
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Open ports with no firewall rules defined for them
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Unused accounts with access privileges (e.g., root)
A service vulnerability scanner will help you meet security standards like ISO 27001/27002/27005 or NIST SP800-53 with their built-in checklists for assessing information security practices in accordance with industry best practices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, service vulnerability scanners can be a great tool for organizations looking to improve their cyber security. They allow you to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited by hackers or malicious actors allowing your organization's digital infrastructure remains strong and resilient against attack.
Bokeh Solutions offers a Vulnerability Scanner solution. This solution provides weekly scans of your Internet Edge services, which are constantly exposed to bad actors looking to exploit vulnerabilities for their personal gain. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing recommendations for remediation, Bokeh Solutions can help you mitigate the financial and reputation damages that can result from a security breach. You can find more information about their vulnerability scanner at https://www.bokehsolutions.com/services/online-service/port-vulnerability-scans.html.
In addition of our Vulnerability Scanner solution, Bokeh Solutions offers a range of professional services that can help your organization establish and maintain a strong security posture. Our security audits are comprehensive and cover any systems that your organization requires. By assessing your security posture, identifying risks, and providing actionable recommendations, Bokeh Solutions can help you improve your overall security. You can find more information about their security audit services at https://www.bokehsolutions.com/services/professional-services/security-audits.html.