Types of Vulnerability Scans and When to Use Them

Created by Peter Bassill, Modified on Thu, 20 Mar at 6:27 PM by Peter Bassill

In the world of cybersecurity, vulnerability scanning plays a crucial role in identifying weaknesses within an organisation’s infrastructure. However, not all scans serve the same purpose. There are various types of vulnerability scans, each designed to address different aspects of an organisation’s security needs. Understanding these scan types and when to use them ensures that your organisation can adopt a well-rounded, effective vulnerability management strategy.

This article will explore the key types of vulnerability scans and provide guidance on when and how each type should be used.

1. Network Vulnerability Scans

Network vulnerability scans are designed to identify weaknesses across an organisation's network infrastructure. These scans focus on devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and endpoint devices. The primary goal is to detect misconfigurations, outdated protocols, open ports, and software vulnerabilities that may allow unauthorised access.

Key Features:

Scans both internal and external networks.
Detects common network vulnerabilities such as insecure services, outdated SSL/TLS protocols, and open ports.
Identifies devices that are missing security patches.

When to Use:

Regular Maintenance: Schedule network scans on a monthly or quarterly basis to maintain an up-to-date inventory of vulnerabilities.
After Network Changes: Perform a scan after deploying new devices or making significant configuration changes to verify security.
Compliance Audits: Use network scans to demonstrate adherence to security standards such as PCI-DSS and ISO27001.

2. Web Application Vulnerability Scans

Web application vulnerability scans focus on identifying security issues in web-based applications. These scans are essential for uncovering vulnerabilities related to user input validation, authentication mechanisms, and data handling.

Common vulnerabilities detected include:

SQL injection
Cross-site scripting (XSS)
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
Broken access control
Insecure direct object references (IDOR)

Key Features:

Simulates attacks to test for vulnerabilities listed in the OWASP Top 10.
Identifies both server-side and client-side security flaws.
Tests for secure transmission of sensitive data (e.g., HTTPS configuration).

When to Use:

During Development: Conduct scans during the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to catch vulnerabilities early.
After Deployment: Perform scans before going live and after major updates to ensure continued security.
For High-Risk Applications: Frequently scan applications handling sensitive data, such as e-commerce, financial, and healthcare platforms.

3. Internal Vulnerability Scans

Internal scans are performed within an organisation’s network perimeter. These scans simulate an attack originating from inside the network, targeting vulnerabilities that could be exploited by insiders or compromised devices.

Key Features:

Focus on assets not exposed to the public internet.
Identifies weaknesses such as weak credentials, misconfigured access permissions, and unpatched systems.
Provides insight into risks from insider threats.

When to Use:

Routine Security Checks: Perform internal scans on a regular basis to detect vulnerabilities within internal systems.
After Internal Changes: Run scans following system upgrades, migrations, or reconfigurations.
Incident Investigation: Use internal scans to assess the security of systems after a breach or security incident.

4. External Vulnerability Scans

External vulnerability scans assess the security of systems that are publicly accessible from the internet. These scans simulate an attack from an external threat actor and are essential for protecting internet-facing assets.

Key Features:

Scans websites, VPN gateways, cloud services, and other internet-exposed infrastructure.
Detects vulnerabilities that could be exploited by remote attackers.
Tests for common issues such as open ports, weak encryption protocols, and exposed sensitive information.

When to Use:

Regular Security Assessments: Conduct scans on a quarterly basis to identify new vulnerabilities.
Before Public Launch: Perform scans before deploying new internet-facing services or applications.
Threat Monitoring: Use external scans to detect vulnerabilities introduced by external factors, such as supply chain risks or cloud misconfigurations.

5. Compliance Scans

Compliance scans are designed to verify that an organisation’s systems meet the security requirements of various regulatory frameworks. These scans often follow predefined templates that align with standards such as PCI-DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, and NIST.

Key Features:

Generates reports tailored for compliance audits.
Focuses on vulnerabilities and controls specified by regulatory frameworks.
Assists in meeting security obligations related to data protection, privacy, and risk management.

When to Use:

Audit Preparation: Conduct scans in advance of compliance audits to identify and remediate issues.
Ongoing Compliance: Schedule periodic scans to maintain continuous compliance with regulatory requirements.
For High-Risk Industries: Regularly scan systems in industries with stringent compliance mandates, such as finance, healthcare, and government.

6. Agent-Based Vulnerability Scans

Agent-based scans use lightweight software agents installed on endpoint devices to perform vulnerability assessments. These scans provide detailed insights into system configurations, installed software, and patch status.

Key Features:

Scans from the device's perspective, bypassing network-level restrictions.
Provides granular details about software vulnerabilities and system misconfigurations.
Enables continuous monitoring of endpoints.

When to Use:

Endpoint Security Management: Use agent-based scans to monitor laptops, desktops, and servers.
Remote Workforce Security: Scan devices used by remote employees to ensure compliance with security policies.
Continuous Assessment: Implement agents to provide real-time vulnerability detection and reporting.

7. Cloud Environment Scans

Cloud environment scans are tailored to the unique security challenges of cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). These scans assess cloud infrastructure for misconfigurations, insecure APIs, and unauthorised access risks.

Key Features:

Integrates with cloud platforms to scan resources such as virtual machines, storage buckets, and databases.
Detects common cloud vulnerabilities, including publicly accessible resources and weak identity permissions.
Supports both Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) models.

When to Use:

Cloud Security Reviews: Perform scans regularly to detect and mitigate misconfigurations.
After Cloud Deployments: Scan new cloud resources and services to ensure secure implementation.
Hybrid Environments: Include cloud scans as part of a comprehensive security strategy that also covers on-premise infrastructure.

8. Penetration Testing Integration Scans

While not strictly vulnerability scans, these scans are often used to support penetration testing efforts. They provide a preliminary list of vulnerabilities that penetration testers can further exploit.

Key Features:

Identifies potential attack vectors for manual testing.
Supports red team operations by highlighting areas of interest.
Integrates with tools such as Burp Suite and Metasploit.

When to Use:

Penetration Testing Engagements: Use scans to inform and prioritise manual exploitation activities.
Red Team Exercises: Provide initial reconnaissance data for simulated attack scenarios.
Security Maturity Assessments: Use scans to assess the effectiveness of existing security controls before launching a full test.

9. Custom or Targeted Scans

Custom scans are tailored to an organisation’s specific security needs. These scans allow security teams to focus on particular systems, applications, or types of vulnerabilities.

Key Features:

Fully configurable scan parameters (e.g., scan depth, targets, vulnerability types).
Allows exclusion of non-relevant systems to reduce scan time.
Supports unique environments with specialised security requirements.

When to Use:

Special Projects: Use custom scans for one-off assessments of critical infrastructure.
Security Investigations: Tailor scans to investigate specific vulnerabilities or incidents.
Complex Environments: Customise scans to account for unique configurations and business needs.

10. When to Combine Scan Types

In many cases, organisations benefit from combining multiple scan types to gain a comprehensive view of their security posture. For example, pairing internal and external scans can reveal both insider and outsider threats, while network and web application scans address different attack surfaces.

Example Scenarios:

Annual Security Audit: Use both compliance and network scans to meet regulatory requirements.
New Application Deployment: Conduct web application and external scans to verify secure deployment.
Cloud Migration: Combine cloud environment scans with network and endpoint scans to ensure end-to-end security.

Conclusion

Effective vulnerability management requires the use of multiple scan types tailored to different security needs. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each type, organisations can develop a comprehensive scanning strategy that addresses both internal and external risks. Regular scanning, combined with manual validation and continuous monitoring, helps reduce the attack surface and improve overall security resilience.

For more information or to schedule a vulnerability scan, contact our support team today.