Pen Test vs Vulnerability Scan: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?

In our latest article we’re diving into a topic that often causes confusion but is crucial for keeping our digital worlds safe: Penetration Testing / Pen Test vs Vulnerability Scan. Whether you’re new to these terms or just need a refresher, this post is for you. Let’s unravel these two essential security practices.

What is Penetration Testing?

Let’s start with the Pen Test. Think of it as hiring a friendly hacker to break into your system before the bad guys do. The goal? To identify and exploit vulnerabilities, giving you a detailed look at your security weaknesses. There are various types of pen tests, like external, internal, white, grey, blackbox, and targeted tests, each with its unique focus.

The process involves several stages:

1. Planning and Reconnaissance: Gathering information to plan the attack.
2. Scanning: Identifying potential entry points.
3. Gaining Access: Exploiting vulnerabilities to break in.
4. Maintaining Access: Seeing if they can stay in the system undetected.
5. Analysis and Reporting: Summarizing the findings and suggesting improvements.

Why should you care about pen tests? Because they simulate real-world attacks, helping you understand how a hacker might breach your defenses. It’s an in-depth, hands-on approach that provides actionable insights to boost your security posture.

Understanding White, Grey, and Black Box Testing

When it comes to testing the security of software and systems, the terms white, grey, and black box testing refer to different methodologies based on the level of knowledge the tester has about the system being tested. Let’s dive into what each type entails and their respective benefits.

What is White Box Testing?

White Box Testing, also known as clear box testing, open box testing, or transparent testing, involves a comprehensive examination of the internal workings of a system.

• Knowledge Level: The tester has complete knowledge of the internal structures, source code, architecture, and configurations of the system.
• Objective: The goal is to thoroughly test the internal logic, paths, and structure of the code to ensure that all internal operations perform as expected and to identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities.
• Process: Testers use techniques like code coverage analysis, path testing, data flow testing, and control flow testing. They can write specific test cases to cover as much of the codebase as possible.
• Benefit: This method ensures a high level of detail in testing, allowing for a deep understanding of the system’s functionality and security, and helps in identifying hidden vulnerabilities that might not be obvious in a black box test.

What is Black Box Testing?

Black Box Testing focuses on testing the system without any knowledge of the internal workings.

• Knowledge Level: The tester has no access to the internal code, architecture, or detailed design of the system. They only know the inputs and expected outputs. This type of testing requires more time to try and break in through the front door or various vulnerabilities.
• Objective: The goal is to evaluate the functionality of the system by testing it from an external perspective, simulating the experience of an end-user or an external attacker.
• Process: Testers use techniques such as equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, decision table testing, and exploratory testing. They input data and observe the system’s responses, looking for discrepancies between expected and actual results.
• Benefit: This method is beneficial for identifying functionality issues and user interface problems, ensuring that the system works as intended from an end-user perspective. It also helps in assessing the system’s behavior under various conditions without bias from internal knowledge.

What is Grey Box Testing?

Grey Box Testing is a blend of both white box and black box testing approaches. It is the most common type of pen test we perform at Bright Defense due to benefits below.

• Knowledge Level: The tester has partial knowledge of the internal workings of the system. They might have access to some design documents, architecture diagrams, or limited source code, but not complete access. They’ll have authenticated access to the platform so time isn’t spent at the front door.
• Objective: The goal is to test the application from both an internal and external perspective to identify vulnerabilities that might be missed with a purely black box or white box approach.
• Process: Testers focus on functional testing with an understanding of how the system operates internally. They use techniques from both white and black box testing, such as boundary value analysis and integration testing.
• Benefit: This approach provides a balanced perspective, leveraging the strengths of both white and black box testing to uncover vulnerabilities that could be missed by using only one method.

Why Use These Testing Approaches?

Each testing approach has its own strengths and is suited for different purposes:

• White Box Testing: Best for in-depth security assessments and code quality checks. It ensures that all paths and logic in the code are functioning correctly.
• Grey Box Testing: Ideal for a balanced assessment that combines internal knowledge with external testing perspectives, useful in integration and functional testing.
• Black Box Testing: Essential for usability testing and validation of end-to-end system functionality. It helps ensure that the system meets user requirements and handles inputs correctly.

Understanding and utilizing white, grey, and black box testing methodologies can provide a comprehensive security and functionality assessment of your systems. By combining these approaches, organizations can ensure robust security measures and reliable system performance, addressing vulnerabilities from multiple perspectives. Choose the method that makes the most sense for your business needs.

What is Vulnerability Scanning vs Pen Testing?

Now, let’s talk about Vulnerability Scanning. Picture it as a regular check-up for your system’s health. These scans are automated and aim to identify known vulnerabilities. You can run different types of scans, we offer them as External, Internal and Cloud.

Exploring Types of Vulnerability Scanning

External Vulnerability Scanning

External Vulnerability Scanning focuses on identifying vulnerabilities from an outsider’s perspective. This type of scan targets the systems and services exposed to the internet, such as websites, web applications, email servers, and any other public-facing assets.

• Objective: To identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by external attackers attempting to breach the network perimeter.
• Scope: Includes publicly accessible IP addresses, domains, and services.
• Process:
  • Scanning: Automated tools scan the external assets by CIDR range or domain name for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and exposed services.
  • Reporting: The scan results highlight vulnerabilities, providing details on the severity and potential impact.
  • Remediation: Security teams use the reports to prioritize and fix vulnerabilities, often starting with the most critical ones.
• Benefits:
  • Protects against external threats and reduces the attack surface.
  • Helps ensure compliance with security standards and regulations.
  • Provides a clear picture of how an external attacker views your network.

Internal Vulnerability Scanning

Internal Vulnerability Scanning targets the systems and devices within the organization’s internal network. This type of scan is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already bypassed the external defenses.

• Objective: To detect vulnerabilities within the internal network that could be exploited to move laterally, escalate privileges, or access sensitive data.
• Scope: Includes internal servers, workstations, network devices, and other infrastructure.
• Process:
  • Scanning: Tool is installed locally to scan the internal network to identify vulnerabilities in operating systems, applications, and configurations.
  • Reporting: Detailed reports are generated, listing vulnerabilities, their severity, and recommendations for remediation.
  • Remediation: IT and security teams prioritize and address the vulnerabilities to secure the internal environment.
• Benefits:
  • Identifies vulnerabilities that could be exploited by insiders or malicious actors within the network.
  • Enhances overall network security by ensuring internal systems are secure.
  • Helps maintain compliance with internal security policies and industry regulations.

Cloud Vulnerability Scanning

Cloud Vulnerability Scanning focuses on identifying vulnerabilities within cloud environments. As organizations increasingly migrate to the cloud, ensuring the security of cloud assets becomes paramount.

• Objective: To detect vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in cloud infrastructure, services, and applications. These are typically performing best practices scans against AWS, GCP and Azure standards.
• Scope: Includes cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), virtual machines, containers, storage, databases, and cloud-native applications.
• Process:
  • Scanning: Automated tools scan the cloud environment for vulnerabilities, including misconfigurations, insecure APIs, and exposed data.
  • Reporting: Comprehensive reports highlight vulnerabilities, potential risks, and suggested remediation steps.
  • Remediation: Cloud security teams address identified vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, often working closely with cloud service providers.
• Benefits:
  • Ensures the security of cloud infrastructure and services.
  • Identifies and mitigates cloud-specific vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
  • Helps maintain compliance with cloud security standards and best practices.

Incorporating external, internal, and cloud vulnerability scanning into your cybersecurity strategy provides comprehensive coverage of potential vulnerabilities. By regularly performing these scans, organizations can proactively identify and mitigate risks, enhancing their overall security posture and protecting against a wide range of threats. Vulnerability scanning typically drives your patch management strategy. Each type of scan complements the others, creating a layered and robust defense against cyberattacks.

Pen Test vs Vulnerability Scan: Key Differences

So, how do these two compare? Here are the key differences:

• Depth of Assessment: Pen Tests are in-depth and manual (most start with automated scans), while Vulnerability Scans are automated and broad.
• Approach and Methodology: Pen Tests require human expertise; Vulnerability Scans use automated tools.
• Frequency: Pen Tests are typically done annually or bi-annually; Vulnerability Scans are more frequent, often monthly or quarterly.
• Cost: Pen Tests are pricier due to the human effort involved; Vulnerability Scans are more budget-friendly.
• Reporting and Remediation: Pen Tests offer detailed exploit verification; Vulnerability Scans provide lists of vulnerabilities.

When Should You Use Penetration Testing?

Pen Tests are your go-to when you need a deep dive into critical systems and applications. They’re essential for compliance with regulations like PCI DSS or HIPAA. Also, consider a pen test after significant changes to your infrastructure or when you want to simulate real-world attacks.

When Should You Use Vulnerability Scanning?

Vulnerability Scanning is ideal for regular security maintenance. It helps you manage known vulnerabilities and ensures continuous monitoring and compliance. It’s particularly useful during the early stages of security assessments.

Conclusion of Pen Test vs Vulnerability Scan

Both Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Scanning are crucial for a robust security strategy. While pen tests give you an in-depth, realistic view of your security weaknesses, vulnerability scans keep you informed about known vulnerabilities regularly. Together, they form a comprehensive approach to safeguarding your digital assets.

If you’re unsure which one you need, consider integrating both into your security plan. Pen tests can be your periodic deep dives, and vulnerability scans can be your routine check-ups. Bright Defense offers both Vulnerability Scanning as a monthly service and Penetration Testing services.