Statistically, small businesses faced around 700,000 attacks, and all of them caused around $2,8 billion in damages. Sounds terrible, right? Today, we have millions of online businesses. Therefore, it’s time to take measures and protect your data from cyber-attacks. Simply put, you need to proactively protect your assets.
However, it doesn’t matter how strong your security measures are; there will always be vulnerabilities that can be attacked by cybercriminals. Therefore, your first and foremost task is to take action and find those weaknesses before they find you. And in this case, the use of vulnerability search might be the right decision. The main goal of this all-encompassing post is to analyze the primary reasons to use vulnerability search to benefit your business. So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and have a look!
Table of Contents
Why Is Vulnerability Search Crucial?
First, let’s get to the basics and define what it is. The vulnerability search is a compulsory component of any effective cybersecurity strategy that involves scanning a company’s systems and networks for possible vulnerabilities. This usually includes outdated software, weak passwords, etc.
Without regular vulnerability scanning, your company’s data could be at risk of a data breach or other security incident that could result in the loss of sensitive information, financial damages, damage to your company’s reputation, and the like.
But vulnerability search isn’t just about preventing attacks. It’s also about improving overall security and ensuring businesses are up-to-date with the latest security measures. By conducting regular vulnerability searches, companies can stay one step ahead of cyber criminals and reduce the risk of a devastating data breach. Therefore, it’s of utmost importance for any business owner to implement a vulnerability search.
What Are the Main Types of Vulnerabilities?
Before we take a closer look at the most effective practices for vulnerability search, let’s run over the main types of vulnerabilities. You must be aware of them. So, here they are:
- Outdated software: Software that was last updated a while ago is often vulnerable to attacks. Remember this, and hire a person who will be responsible for this task. Never neglect this.
- Phishing scams: These scams involve tricking employees into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials. It’s tough to spot these attacks, but they can be devastating for your company; they can easily compromise your entire system.
- Weak passwords: Never use too simple passwords, like your date of birth or something even simpler. Passwords that are easy to guess or crack can give hackers easy access to sensitive information. Try to be creative and use more complex passwords with special symbols.
- Unsecured networks: Networks that aren’t properly secured can be easily infiltrated by hackers. You should always use encryption protocols, such as WPA2, to protect your Wi-Fi network and avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for sensitive business operations.
- Malware: Malware can infect a system, steal sensitive information, or cause other damage. Unfortunately, these attacks can also result in losing sensitive information and other damages.
What Are the Most Effective Tools for Vulnerability Search?
It goes without saying that when it comes to cybersecurity, you must stay one step ahead of potential threats. So, what do you need to do? The most effective solution, in this case, is conducting regular vulnerability scans with the help of special tools and cve search.
However, when searching online, you can find a massive collection of software products, so which of them are the most effective options? Let’s examine some of the most widely-used programs to look out for.
- CVE search: CVE search is a web-based tool that allows users to search the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database, which contains information about known vulnerabilities in software and systems.
- Nessus: Currently, it’s one of the most effective solutions, with a solid reputation on the web. This tool performs scans by utilizing plugins.
- OpenVAS: It’s an open-source vulnerability scanner that can help businesses identify potential weaknesses. It’s a full-featured solution comprising unauthenticated and authenticated protocols. This tool has been on the market since 2006 and is considered one of the most effective vulnerability scanners.
- Qualys: Qualys is a cloud-based vulnerability management tool that can help businesses identify and prioritize vulnerabilities. The main goal of this tool is to protect your IT system from various exposures.
The Most Effective Steps to Conduct a Vulnerability Search
Well, what do you need to do to conduct a vulnerability search? If you are a newbie in this area, you may need help understanding what steps to follow. However, we decided to help you and created the main directions to follow:
- Identify what needs to be scanned: You must decide which systems and networks must be scanned for vulnerabilities.
- Choose a scanning tool: Your next step is choosing a tool that fits your needs. Check out the ratings of these programs and the main features they offer.
- Configure the tool: Configure the program to scan for the specific vulnerabilities that are most relevant to the business.
- Run the scan: Turn on the program and let it complete the scan. Now, review the results.
- Remediate any vulnerabilities: Now, it’s high time to take some steps to patch up any vulnerabilities that are identified during the scan.
Conclusion
Let’s recap what has been said about vulnerability search. Overall, we can see that it is an essential component of any effective cybersecurity strategy. When finding potential weaknesses before hackers can use them, business owners can avoid the devastating consequences of a security incident, such as loss of sensitive information, financial damages, and damage to their reputation. Vulnerability scanners are powerful tools that allow business owners to protect their networks and keep their systems secure. So, if you have never used these tools before, it’s time to change your mind and finally implement these scanners in your cybersecurity strategy.