You may hear that vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are very similar. While both are essential to strong cybersecurity practices, they serve different purposes.
- Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to identify known vulnerabilities across networks or systems, providing an overview of potential weaknesses.
- Penetration testing goes a step further by actively exploiting vulnerabilities to assess the potential impact on your organization. Penetration testing requires skilled cybersecurity professionals who use various tactics to mimic real-world attack scenarios.
In short, vulnerability scanning can identify potential weaknesses, while penetration testing determines if those weaknesses could lead to a significant breach. Allowing you to prioritize which one should be taken care of first.
