How can you proactively secure your network with vulnerability scanners?

Using vulnerability scanners is an essential proactive security measure to identify and address potential weaknesses in your network before attackers can exploit them. Here is how you can proactively secure your network with vulnerability scanners:

1. Choose the Right Scanner:

Commercial or Open Source: Decide whether you want to use commercial tools like #Nessus, #Qualys, or open-source tools like #OpenVAS and #Nikto.

Network or Web Application: Choose scanners specific to your needs, whether for network infrastructure or web applications.

2. Regular Scanning:

Scheduled Scans: Set up regular scans to run automatically at specific intervals. Weekly or monthly scans are common, but critical systems might need more frequent scans.

Real-time Monitoring: Use continuous monitoring tools to identify vulnerabilities in real-time.

3. Comprehensive Coverage:

Internal and External Scans: Perform scans from both inside and outside your network to identify vulnerabilities from various perspectives.

Mobile Devices and IoT: Include mobile devices, IoT devices, and any other endpoints in your scans.

4. Prioritize Vulnerabilities:

Risk Assessment: Prioritize vulnerabilities based on risk levels. Focus on critical vulnerabilities that could lead to data breaches or system compromises.

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE): Use databases like CVE to cross-check identified vulnerabilities and their severity.

5. Integration with Patch Management:

Patch Management System: Integrate your vulnerability scanner with your patch management system. Automate the process of deploying patches for identified vulnerabilities.

Timely Patching: Ensure patches are applied promptly, especially for critical vulnerabilities.

6. Regular Reports and Analysis:

Detailed Reports: Generate detailed reports after each scan. Analyze the results to understand your network's security posture.

Trend Analysis: Look for trends over time. Are certain vulnerabilities reoccurring? Address the root cause to prevent them from appearing again.

7. Educate and Involve Stakeholders:

Awareness Training: Educate employees about the importance of security updates and patches. Encourage them to report any suspicious activities.

Involve Management: Involve management in the vulnerability management process. Ensure they understand the risks and support necessary security measures.

8. Regularly Update Scanner Signatures:

Up-to-Date Signatures: Keep your scanner's vulnerability database up-to-date. New vulnerabilities are discovered regularly, and your scanner needs to recognize them.

9. Network Segmentation:

Segmentation: Segment your network to contain breaches. If one segment is compromised, it limits the attacker's lateral movement within the network.

10. Incident Response Plan:

Response Plan: Develop an incident response plan in case a severe vulnerability is exploited despite scanning efforts. Be prepared to act swiftly and effectively to mitigate the damage.

11. Compliance and Regulations:

Compliance Checks: Ensure your scans include checks for regulatory compliance. This is crucial for industries like healthcare and finance.

12. Regular Testing and Validation:

Penetration Testing: Conduct regular penetration testing alongside vulnerability scanning to simulate real-world attacks.

Validation: Validate patches and fixes after applying them to ensure they effectively remediate vulnerabilities.

13. Documentation:

Documentation: Keep comprehensive records of scan results, actions taken, and their outcomes. This documentation is vital for audits and future reference.

By integrating these steps into your cybersecurity strategy, you can proactively secure your network and significantly reduce the risk of successful cyber attacks.