How do you scan your system and network for vulnerabilities?

1 Choose a scanner

The first step is to choose a scanner that suits your needs and goals. A scanner is a software tool that probes your system and network for vulnerabilities and generates a report with the findings and recommendations. There are many types of scanners, such as network scanners, web application scanners, vulnerability assessment scanners, and penetration testing scanners. Some scanners are free and open source, such as Nmap, Nikto, and OpenVAS, while others are commercial and proprietary, such as Nessus, Qualys, and Acunetix. You should choose a scanner that matches your budget, skill level, and scope of scanning.

2 Configure the scanner

The second step is to configure the scanner according to your preferences and requirements. You should define the target system and network that you want to scan, such as the IP address, hostname, port range, or URL. You should also specify the scan type, such as full scan, quick scan, or custom scan, and the scan profile, such as the level of detail, aggressiveness, and speed. You should also set the scan schedule, such as the frequency, time, and duration of scanning. You should also configure the scan output, such as the format, location, and notification of the report.

3 Run the scanner

The third step is to run the scanner and wait for the results. Depending on the scanner, you can run the scan from a graphical user interface (GUI), a command-line interface (CLI), or a web browser. You should monitor the scan progress and status, such as the number of hosts, ports, and vulnerabilities scanned, the scan duration and speed, and the scan errors and warnings. You should also check the scan logs, such as the scan start and end time, the scan parameters, and the scan events and messages.

4 Review the report

The fourth step is to review the report generated by the scanner and analyze the findings and recommendations. The report should provide you with a summary and a detailed view of the vulnerabilities detected on your system and network, such as the vulnerability name, description, severity, impact, and solution. You should prioritize the vulnerabilities based on their risk level and urgency, such as critical, high, medium, or low. You should also verify the accuracy and validity of the vulnerabilities, such as by checking the references, sources, and evidence.

5 Remediate the vulnerabilities

The fifth step is to remediate the vulnerabilities identified by the scanner and fix the issues and gaps on your system and network. You should follow the recommendations and suggestions provided by the scanner, such as by applying patches, updates, or configuration changes, by installing security software or tools, or by removing unnecessary or insecure services or applications. You should also document the remediation actions and results, such as by updating the inventory, policies, or procedures, by creating tickets, or by generating reports.