Introduction
Cyber-attacks keep growing in both number and complexity, with attackers often hiding in networks for months undetected. According to a 2025 report1, there was a 34 percent increase in attackers exploiting vulnerabilities to gain initial access and cause security breaches compared to previous year’s report.
When did you last test your infrastructure for vulnerabilities to reduce possible attack risks?
What is Vulnerability Testing?
Vulnerability testing, also called vulnerability assessment, is a process of finding, analyzing, and fixing security weaknesses in IT infrastructure. It examines systems, applications, networks, and devices to discover security gaps attackers could exploit.
The goal is to identify and reduce threat risks by fixing vulnerabilities, improving overall security of your IT setup before they are exploited by hackers.
Pro Tip:
Don’t confuse vulnerability testing with penetration testing. Vulnerability testing shows what could be exploited, while penetration testing actually tries to exploit vulnerabilities to demonstrate real impact
What Should Be Assessed?
You should regularly test your endpoints, headless devices, network infrastructure, servers, and applications for vulnerabilities. To get a complete picture of possible attack surfaces, it’s essential to check the entire network infrastructure, including:
| Asset Type | Examples | Why it Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Endpoints | Workstations, laptops, mobile devices | Often the first entry point for attackers |
| Devices | IoT, OT, and ICS | Can be missed by centralized security tools |
| Servers | Physical, virtual, cloud-based | Store critical applications and data |
| Applications | Web apps, databases, internal tools | Can contain code flaws allowing data access |
| Network Infrastructure | Switches, routers, firewalls, WiFi | Critical for segmentation and traffic control |
| Cloud Resources | IaaS, PaaS, SaaS | Often overlooked in security checks |
What Causes Vulnerabilities?
Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in your infrastructure that can be exploited:
- System vulnerabilities include hardware/software flaws, outdated software, or misconfigurations in applications, servers, endpoints, and network infrastructure.
- User behavior creates vulnerabilities when insiders expose sensitive information, click malicious links, or use weak passwords.
- Existing breaches may already be present, with attackers hiding for months, creating backdoors or preparing for ransomware attacks.
Types of Vulnerability Testing Methods
Vulnerability testing uses two main approaches: passive and active testing.
Passive Testing
- Monitors network traffic and system configurations without direct interaction
- Low impact on systems, doesn’t disrupt operations
- May miss vulnerabilities requiring active probing
- Best for initial assessments and sensitive environments
Active Testing
- Includes port scanning and authentication testing
- More thorough, finding vulnerabilities passive testing might miss
- Could affect system performance if not done carefully
Specialized Assessment Types
- Network Infrastructure Scanning – Identifies vulnerabilities in network devices directly associated with supporting the environment.
- Wireless Network Assessment – Detects WiFi security weaknesses and rogue access points
- Host & Endpoint Assessment – Checks for open ports, unsafe services, and patch levels
- Application Testing – Tests for issues like SQL injection and broken authentication
- Cloud Infrastructure Validation – Focuses on misconfigurations in cloud environments
The Vulnerability Testing Process
Effective vulnerability testing follows a four-step process:
- Planning and Preparation
The planning phase establishes a solid foundation by defining test scope, identifying critical assets, selecting appropriate tools, and securing stakeholder approvals. This preparatory work ensures testing efforts target the most important systems while preventing unexpected business disruptions. - Vulnerability Identification and Scanning
During scanning, security teams deploy appropriate tools to systematically check systems for weaknesses. This combines automated scanning with manual testing, guided by current threat intelligence. All findings are thoroughly documented to support the next analysis phase. - Analysis and Risk Assessment
In this phase, teams review scan results to eliminate false positives, determine root causes, and assess business impact of each vulnerability. This critical analysis produces a prioritized list of security issues based on severity, exploitability, and potential damage to the organization. - Remediation and Verification
The final phase focuses on fixing vulnerabilities according to priority, testing each solution to confirm it works, and documenting the results. This remediation process should include scheduling regular follow-up testing to catch new vulnerabilities as they emerge over time.
Vulnerability Testing Best Practices
Establish a Regular Testing Schedule
- Run scans quarterly to maintain security baselines
- Set up monitoring for critical systems to catch issues early
- Test after major changes that could introduce vulnerabilities or after a significant breach
Use a Multi-Tool Approach
- Deploy commercial scanners for broad coverage
- Add open-source tools for specific threats
- Include manual testing for complex scenarios
Prioritize Smartly
- Focus first on internet-facing and critical systems
- Consider both severity and actual exploitability
- Create remediation timelines based on business risk
Document Everything
- Record testing methods and results for comparison
- Document remediation actions with ownership
- Track exceptions with proper approvals and review dates
Foster Cross-Team Collaboration
- Include development and operations teams
- Engage business stakeholders
- Create shared responsibility for security
Common Challenges in Vulnerability Testing
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| False positives | Use multiple validation techniques |
| False negatives | Don’t rely only on automated tools |
| Scope limitations | Gradually expand testing scope |
| Resource constraints | Focus on high-risk areas first |
| Production impact concerns | Schedule testing during maintenance windows |
| Remediation bottlenecks | Create clear ownership of findings |
Pro Tip:
The most dangerous vulnerability reports are those gathering dust. Set up a tracking program that escalates long-standing issues.
How CyberScope Can Help
NetAlly’s CyberScope provides multiple, unique capabilities at the network edge that many centralized security solutions do not offer:
- Comprehensive Discovery: Identifies endpoints and network devices that other tools might miss with integrated Nmap vulnerability scanning
- WiFi Security Validation: Finds rogue devices and confirms wireless security
- Cybersecurity Assessment Workflow: Steamlined six-step process to simplify vulnerability testing
- Segmentation Testing: Validates network segmentation implementation
- On-Site Configuration Testing: Quickly verifies security controls
- Automated Discovery Monitoring – Quickly detect new, missing, or changed devices
According to a recent IDG survey, 44% of IT decision-makers mentioned lack of visibility into network endpoints as a major security challenge. CyberScope addresses this by providing physical presence at the edge, where visibility gaps are most common.
Conclusion
Vulnerability testing is essential for strong cybersecurity. By finding and fixing vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them, organizations reduce their attack surface significantly.
The stakes are high—cybercrime costs are projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, with data breaches averaging $4.45 million per incident.
To implement effective vulnerability testing:
- Set up a regular testing schedule
- Use multiple testing methods
- Follow a structured process
- Focus remediation based on risk
- Build cross-team collaboration through Link-Live™
For organizations looking to strengthen edge network security, NetAlly’s CyberScope provides unique capabilities for finding vulnerabilities that traditional tools may miss.
For more information on CyberScope, visit our product page.
1Verizon Business 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report
