Difference between Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment

Penetration testing is a series of activities undertaken to identify and exploit security vulnerabilities. Formalized set of procedures designed to bypass the security controls of a system or organization for the purpose of testing that system’s ororganization’s resistance to such an attack. Penetration testing is performed to uncover the security weaknesses of a system and to determine the ways in which the system can be compromised by a potential attacker.

Vulnerability assessment (Vulnerability): Any weakness that can be exploited by an aggressor or, in a non-terrorist threat environment, make an asset susceptible to hazard damage) is an important subset of the risk assessment process, Vulnerability assessment involves looking at the system elements and layout and their failure modes based on a given set of threats or insults. The vulnerability assessment answers the basic question, what can go wrong should the system be exposed to threats and hazards of concern? Line managers and technical staff at individual facilities or service provider organizations can perform a vulnerability assessment.

Difference between Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment

• Vulnerability Assessment:

  • Typically is general in scope and includes a large assessment.
  • Predictable. (You know when those @@@ Security guys scan us.)
  • Unreliable at times and high rate of false positives.
  • Vulnerability assessment invites debate among System Admins.
  • Produces a report with mitigation guidelines and action items.
  • Is the assessment of a system to determine if it has vulnerabilities or weaknesses that need to be resolved or patched.
  • Is also known as a security audit.
  • Can be performed by one person or a team of vulnerability researchers or security engineers.
  • Is often known as a flaw or weakness that could be exploited by an outside attacker or compromised by internal personnel.
  • Is necessary because many organizations, companies, and health facilities are required to meet certain compliance.
  • HIPPA regulations are important so that health facilities hire the services of pen testers in order to meet compliance with vulnerability assessment being a great portion of the service.

• Penetration Testing:

  • Focused in scope and may include targeted attempts to exploit specific vectors (Both IT and Physical)
  • Unpredictable by the recipient. (Don’t know the “how?” and “when?”)
  • Highly accurate and reliable. (I’ve got root!)
  • Penetration Testing = Proof of Concept against vulnerabilities.
  • Produces a binary result:  Either the team owned you, or they didn't.
  • Penetration Testing includes the actual exploitation of the vulnerabilities that are discovered during the phases of the vulnerability assessment.
  • It includes vulnerability assessment; however, vulnerability assessment does not include penetration testing.
  • Rules of engagement (ROE) are signed and understood by both parties before the beginning of a penetration test. The ROE limits the penetration testers from touching targets that are not permitted by the client.

This Lead us to say

Vulnerability assessment is a process of identifying quantifying, and prioritizing (or ranking) the vulnerabilities in a system. It reveals potential security vulnerabilities or changes in the network which can be exploited by an attacker for malicious intent.

Penetration testing is a method of evaluating the security state of a system or network by simulating an attack from a malicious source. This process involves identification and exploitation of vulnerabilities in real world scenario which may exists in the systems due to improper configuration, known or unknown weaknesses in hardware or software systems, operational weaknesses or loopholes in deployed safeguards.

The Key Different between Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment

• The key difference between vulnerability assessment and penetration testing is the lack of exploitation in vulnerability assessment and the actual exploitation in penetration testing.
• Permission must be granted to carry out either or both of these operations.
• Obey the cybercrime laws and regulations at all times.
• There are many available tools, yet one should not simply rely on only one tool to fit every situation.
• To gain further experience and training; research OWASP, create virtual labs.

Author : Admin

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