Differences between Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment
There are differences between penetration testing (pentest) and vulnerability assessment. Vulnerability assessment involves a systematic check of the organizational IT system to identify and measure the severity of any vulnerability identified. Such assessments usually result in a comprehensive list of vulnerabilities which get prioritized according to business criticality or seriousness. On the other hand, penetration tests involve simulation of the actions and processes of would be hackers or cyber attacker with the aim of identifying possible weaknesses in the organizational IT infrastructure that real hackers and cyber attackers would exploit.
Vulnerability assessments are carried out using automated testing tools such as web and network security scanners. The results of this scanning equipment are collected, analyzed, and forwarded to the network development and administration teams to utilize in enhancing organizational network security. The process of information collection and evaluation is usually process-oriented as in-depth assessment proceeds comprehensively. Penetration testing also uses automated web and network scanning equipment but the information or results collected are treated differently. Instead of a comprehensive evaluation for vulnerabilities, the result-oriented pentest seeks to evaluate the network’s ability to counter attacks by analyzing its response to a simulated one and how long and smooth it would be to gain access and cause damage.
Due to the application of simulations and the result-oriented approach to web and network security of penetration testing, it pentests apply to organizations with high-security maturity. This scenario means that organizations which employ penetration testing usually have a high level of web and network defense. Comparatively, vulnerability assessment uses process-oriented approaches to gauge the exposure level of an organization’s web and network systems. This process applies more to organizations with medium-to-high security maturity. In other words, organizations that use vulnerable assessment still need development in their web and network security infrastructure.