LRQA Nettitude Blog

Vulnerability scanning is an essential tool for identifying potential threats and weaknesses within an organisation's digital infrastructure. However, this process is not without its challenges, notably the issue of false positives—incorrectly identifying benign elements as threats. These inaccuracies not only consume valuable time and resources but also undermine trust in security protocols, potentially leaving systems exposed to real threats. Addressing this issue requires a strategic approach that blends refined scanning techniques with expert analysis, a service model that quality-managed services are uniquely positioned to provide.

If you've ever taken a credit card as payment for anything, then you've probably heard of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This defines a set of requirements for merchants and service providers to protect their customers' payment card data. The importance of PCI DSS lies in the fact that it helps to protect sensitive data which could have huge ramifications should it fall into the wrong hands. This includes information such as credit card numbers, names, addresses, and other personally identifiable information.

When it comes to cybersecurity, one of the most important things you can do is test your system for vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity testing ensures you have all the necessary security measures in place and that they are functioning correctly. There are many ways to test the security of a system. Some are more thorough than others, and some take longer to complete. 

Many organisations struggle to quantify the full extent of their threat landscape and attack surface. This is compounded by issues surrounding vulnerability prioritisation, which has become a problem. It causes headaches due to several factors such as cost, disruption, and time. Organisations, therefore, need to start adopting a risk-based approach to influence where effort should be invested to reduce the attack surface and the risk posed to the organisation.

Organisations need to start asking themselves what might happen if an asset were to be compromised: what information does that asset hold and what problems could that cause to the organisation if it was suddenly unavailable (or worse stolen) and in someone else’s hands? This approach helps with the plight of remediation, but it’s not enough.

If you do not know your risks, how can you be safe? This reality is prompting many businesses to set up regular vulnerability scanning to defend against cybercrime.

A 2021 cybersecurity report by the UK Government states that 39% of UK businesses reported a security breach in the last 12 months. Apparently, 21% lost money, data, or assets. The risk is real and 77% say it is a huge priority for directors.

Cybercrime can be indiscriminate. Whatever size your business is, you need to know how to scan for network, system, and website vulnerabilities that leave you open to attack.

In today’s increasingly connected world, it can be challenging to keep on top of your organisation’s cyber-risks. You might have insufficient resources and knowledge to achieve this in-house, yet you appreciate it’s vital to remain one step ahead of cyber-attackers.

Vulnerability management and scanning provide total visibility of your organisation’s risk, helping you react to weaknesses before damage is done.