If you follow Auditeste's blog, you already know the importance of testing to ensure software quality, right? You must also be aware that there are various types of tests, each with its own specifications.

However, some people still confuse certain types of tests, believing they are the same thing. This happens a lot with Pentest and Vulnerability Scan. 

Despite these tools having the same objective, which is to identify cybersecurity risks in detail, they function differently. Moreover, they can be used together to further strengthen security.

In this content, we will demonstrate how Pentest and Vulnerability Scan work, their differences, and more. So, continue reading until the end to clear any doubts!

Understand Pentest

Pentest can be considered as the abbreviation of 'penetration test,' which in Portuguese can be referred to as 'teste de penetração' or 'invasão.' The main objective of this type of test is to identify vulnerabilities in a business's security system.

Pentest is conducted through a simulation of a hacker attack. In this process, the tester in charge of the action creates cyber-attacks on the company, solely with the purpose of identifying areas that are more vulnerable to cybercriminal attacks. 

There are three main types of Pentest, namely:

• White box: This type provides important company information to the party conducting the test. For example, IPs, logins, passwords, firewalls, among others. In this case, the focus of the test is to analyze what can be added and restructured to improve security.

• Black box: The black box test is the one that most resembles a real hacker attack. This is because, in this case, the tester simulates the attack without having any information about the company, just like a cybercriminal would.

• Grey box: Here, we have a middle ground. The tester has some information about the target they will "attack," but not all the information like in the white box test. This type is commonly used in web application testing.

Pentest can be divided into six stages, with the first being reconnaissance. In this stage, the tester conducts extensive research on the internet to gather all possible information about the target. 

Next, we have enumeration. Here, scanning techniques are used to detect external hosts. After that, comes the evasion stage, where the tester attempts to bypass common perimeter defenses.

Then, it's time for the initial attacks, where the first wave of attacks is launched to test the response of security protocols. After successfully executing this first attack, it's time for vulnerability attacks, aiming to gain access to internal servers and confidential information.

The last stage is continuous discovery, which involves searching for alternative methods of access.

What is Vulnerability Scan?

Vulnerability Scan, also known as vulnerability scanner, is a tool whose purpose is to monitor network applications in search of flaws or security breaches. 

This action is automated and performs scans in search of vulnerabilities. These scans are based on a database. After finding vulnerabilities, they are categorized into different levels of risk.

The vulnerabilities that the scan analyzes can include insecure coding patterns, password errors, authentication failures, among other actions that make the network vulnerable and attractive to cybercriminals.

During the vulnerability scanning process, the tool identifies the most critical threats and suggests possible fixes for these vulnerabilities and flaws. It also checks for software and firmware updates and protocols that could serve as entry points for attacks. 

Pentest or Scan: what are the differences?

According to a Kaspersky Lab, approximately 1 billion cyberattacks occur every four months across about 200 countries. This demonstrates how dangerous it is to rely on an ineffective security network. 

That's why it's crucial to understand the tools available in the market to improve this situation. In the topics above, you learned how Pentest and Vulnerability Scan work. Now, it's time to understand the difference between them.

The main difference is the depth of the assessments made by each of these tests. The Vulnerability Scan can identify a larger number of threats; however, it only organizes them into a list and suggests ways to fix them without delving into each one in detail.

On the other hand, the penetration test, in addition to identifying these threats, exploits them to the fullest to understand the exact risks they pose and how they can be best remediated. 

Even though it can detect a smaller number of threats, the Pentest explores them in a more comprehensive way than the scanner. 

Get in touch with Auditeste.

Now you know the difference between Pentest and Vulnerability Scan, as well as exactly what each of them is for and how they work. Both working together can be an enhancer for your business's security.

But, you can also use them separately. If you still have doubts about when to use each of them or how to implement them in your security network, know that Auditeste can help you!

To learn more about the available services and how Auditeste can help your business, touch!