What is it?
The vulnerability assessment is an activity that consists in identifying and evaluating the possible vulnerabilities present in a system or in a computer network. The main purpose of this activity is to identify the weak points of the system or network and to propose the necessary measures to mitigate the risks.
The penetration test, on the other hand, is a more advanced activity which consists in simulating an attack by an attacker external to the network or system, with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the security measures adopted. In practice, a penetration tester tries to penetrate the network or system using the same techniques that a hacker might use to carry out an attack, in order to identify any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a real attacker.
In summary, the vulnerability assessment is a more general activity aimed at identifying the vulnerabilities present in a system or a network, while the penetration test it is a more specific activity aimed at assessing the effective resilience of the system or network to a targeted attack by an external attacker. Both activities are essential to ensure the security of networks and computer systems.
Knowing your vulnerabilities is the first critical step in fixing them
A system error, incorrect configuration, unintentional disclosure of a sensitive document, or a user with excessive access privileges are just some of the circumstances that can put a company's security at risk.
The vulnerability assessment and penetration testing services offered by Safecore they integrate traditional analyzes with intelligence actions, such as OSINT research, the interpretation of results in relation to the specific context of the customer and the assessment of the actual level of risk for the company.
Vulnerabilities can affect any company that uses information systems. Vulnerability assessment is crucial because it allows you to intervene promptly, preventing possible cyber attacks. In particular, the estimation of severity is fundamental, i.e. the evaluation of the risk of compromise associated with each identified vulnerability.
Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Test services aim to identify, verify and categorize vulnerabilities in information systems, which may concern IT assets on internal networks or the Internet, wireless networks, VoIP or teleconferencing platforms, focusing in particular on the network level.
Network Security
The aim is to provide the customer with the elements necessary to understand and evaluate critical issues and feasible countermeasures, through detailed reports and analyzes that constitute the output of our Offensive Security services.
How network vulnerability assessments and penetration tests work
The process known as Vulnerability Assessment examines all the components of a network, both the physical ones such as routers, switches and firewalls, and those linked to services such as web and application servers, mail servers, databases, ERP (for example SAP) and other systems backend.
This process requires a detailed methodical approach. For each network component, it is essential to establish, identify and catalog potential or actual vulnerabilities.
This same process must also be applied to the entire network infrastructure, as some vulnerabilities can emerge from the combination of various devices.
This is a meticulous analysis that considers not only the critical issues already known and documented, but also the specific configuration and operational context of each component.
Once the potential weak points of the infrastructure have been detected and classified, our protocol involves presenting them in order of priority, providing the customer with the information and criteria necessary to evaluate the risk associated with each and to develop effective strategies to mitigate the vulnerabilities detected.
Generally, a Vulnerability Assessment uses network scanning tools, mostly automated. This process involves interacting with the analyzed targets to identify active IP addresses, open ports, versions of operating systems or services (such as the versions of Apache or IIS in use) and then identifying and cataloging as many vulnerabilities as possible.
How does an NVAPT happen?
For this reason, if requested by the customer during the engagement phase, Safecore perform a Network Penetration Test, simulating an attack computer scientist who exploits these problems to violate the system, with a point of view more aimed at going deeper:
for example by obtaining unauthorized access to one or more targets (exploitation);
running vertical privilege escalation, to obtain system administrator privileges;
or by performing lateral movement horizontally, replicating the attacks on neighboring targets.
All practices usually implemented by anyone who really intends to take possession of a network or an infrastructure, precisely exploiting the weaknesses that Safecore is able to identify thanks also to the preparatory phase of the Vulnerability Assessment, which in the order of execution anticipates the Penetration Test.
The phases of a Network Pentest
Information gathering: We ask our customers the purpose of the penetration test, whether to carry out an internal or external pentest and the type of test they intend to carry out (White, Gray or Black box) and the information necessary for its execution.
Reconnaissance phase: A network port scan of the systems is performed. The purpose of this phase is to have an overview of the network, the devices on the network and the existing vulnerabilities.
Discovery stage: Once the information you were looking for is found and processed during the reconnaissance, a path is devised to breach the network.
Running the attack simulation: Thanks to the information obtained in points 2 and 3, the real simulation of an IT attack against the network is carried out.
Report: Drafting of the detailed report on the simulation and on the identified vulnerabilities, with recommendations and advice.
VA and PT are two sides of the same coin
While Vulnerability Assessment and Network Penetration Test are sometimes considered a similar practice, there are some differences.
The main purpose of the Vulnerability AssessmentIs that of discover weaknessesof a network, or of a system, and above all of provide remediation indications, i.e. how to reduce or eliminate the risk associated with a specific problem.
This happens with the use of a wide range of instruments, for the most part automatic, the results of which are then scrupulously examined by our experts and condensed into a report that highlights the various possible vulnerabilities, risks and possible solutions.
This type of activity should be carried out periodically to obtain the maximum benefit, but also and above all when changes are made at the infrastructural level, in the presence of critical updates, or after the insertion of new devices or services within the information system.
The Penetration test instead it is characterized by investigate the vulnerabilities present using simulation techniques: our cybersecurity experts will operate exactly like cybercriminals, trying to force the security of the system and understand if and which weaknesses translate into a real possibility of attack.
Who can benefit?
Any organization that operates business-critical or sensitive services, whether publicly or internally accessible, including WiFi networks, VoIP or video conferencing systems, must subject its technological infrastructure to thorough checks to assess risk. This is not only an advisable management practice, but is also necessary to ensure compliance with national laws, international standards and industry best practices.
