The document explains the differences between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing within IT security. Vulnerability scanning serves as a quick automated check for potential weaknesses in systems, while penetration testing is a more thorough manual evaluation simulating real cyberattacks to assess vulnerabilities. Both offer distinct insights and recommendations for improving security, with penetration testing typically providing deeper analysis and remediation guidance.

1. PENTESTING VS
VULNERABILITY
SCANNING

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3. WHAT IS VULNERABILITY
SCANNING?
Imagine Your It Network As A Castle. A Vulnerability Scan
Works Like A Protection Who Walks Around The Castle Walls,
Checking For Weaknesses – A Loose Stone Here, A Creaky
Gate There. Vulnerability Scanners Are Automated Equipment
That Systematically Scans Your Systems For Recognized
Weaknesses, Such As Outdated Software, Misconfigured
Settings, Or Weak Passwords.
A Badly Planned Scan Can Be As Disturbing As An Outright
Attack. Scoping A Vulnerability Scan Project Can Occasionally
Be An Exploratory Process. Several Procedures And Other
Tasks, Like Bank Transfers, Production Rollouts, And Backup
Jobs, Happen Outside Business Hours.

4. WHAT IS PENETRATION
TESTING?
Penetration Testing Is Like A Security Drill For Your Business. It
Involves Ethical Hackers Trying To Break Into Your Systems
And Networks To See How Vulnerable They Are. But Before You
Unlock These Ethical Hackers, There Are Some Crucial Things
To Consider
Physical Protection Testing Is Perhaps A Very Risky Practice,
And It Is Crucial To Have Completed Recorded C-level
Support. Whether The Physical Perimeter Is Being Tested Or
The Purpose Is To Prove That An Individual Achieved
Completed Access To The Office Are, The Shares Can
Become Highly Risky In Case Not Carefully Scoped. This Can
Control Any Unintended Results.

5. KNOW THE
DIFFERENCES

6. SPEED OF EXECUTION
Vulnerability Scanning – Think Oil Change. It’s A Quick Check-up That Can Be Done Regularly.
Vulnerability Scans Use Automated Tools To Identify Potential Security Weaknesses In Your
Systems, Like Outdated Software Or Weak Passwords. They’re Fast And Affordable.
Penetration Testing – More Like A Full-engine Diagnostic. It’s A More In-depth Examination
That Takes More Time And Effort. Testers Manually Try To Exploit Vulnerabilities, Mimicking
Real Cyberattacks.

7. DEPTH OF TESTING
Vulnerability Scanning – It Focuses On Identifying Potential Problems, Not Necessarily How
Severe They Are. It’s Like Finding A Cracked Taillight – It Needs Fixing, But It Won’t Stop The Car
Entirely.
Penetration Testing – Goes Deeper, Trying To Exploit Vulnerabilities And See How Far An
Attacker Could Get. It Can Reveal Hidden Weaknesses And How Much Damage They Could
Cause. Imagine Finding A Loose Wire That Could Stall The Engine – A More Critical Issue.

8. RISK ANALYSIS
Vulnerability Assessment – Provides A General Idea Of The Risks Based On The Identified
Weaknesses. It’s Like A Mechanic Saying, “these Issues Could Lead To Problems Down The
Road.
Penetration Testing – Offers A More Precise Risk Assessment By Showing How Vulnerable Your
Systems Are To Real-world Attacks. It’s Like The Mechanic Actually Simulating Engine Failure
To See How Likely It Is To Happen.

9. REMEDIATION SUPPORT
Vulnerability Scanning – Typically, It Doesn’t Provide Specific Recommendations On How To
Fix The Problems. It’s Like The Mechanic Giving You A List Of Parts That Need Replacing, But
You Might Need To Find A Separate Repair Shop.
Penetration Testing – Often Includes Recommendations On How To Address The Identified
Vulnerabilities. It’s Like The Mechanic Not Only Diagnosing The Problem But Also Suggesting
Specific Repairs. Some Pen Testing Services Might Even Help With The Fixes.

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11. THANK YOU