Are Your VM Scans Testing the Entirety of the Network?
Many organizations have a vulnerability management (VM) problem without knowing it. Vulnerability management is a crucial component of any organization’s cybersecurity program and is required by most major compliance standards because of its sink-or-swim impact on network security. One of the biggest issues in VM is that organizations aren’t testing the entirety of their networks. Could yours be among them?
We already know vulnerability exploitation is on the rise, with a nearly threefold increase from 2023 to 2024 according to the latest Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. Luckily, there are simple and effective methods you can use to make sure your whole network is covered by your VM practices.
Why Do Incomplete Vulnerability Scans Happen?
No one set out to run an incomplete vulnerability scan and end their VM efforts there. Budget constraint is the main reason security professionals fail to include their whole network in their VM security workflows. It may be too expensive with their existing vendor to test everything, leading teams to prioritize certain parts of the network deemed to be the most important.
The other main reason is time; if there aren’t enough working hours or team members to conduct comprehensive scans and act on the resulting data, certain parts of the network can fall through the cracks.
Common VM Blind Spots
Automated VM solutions are a must for larger organizations with complex IT infrastructure, but even they need to be trained on the correct areas to scan. Less-obvious targets for vulnerability scans include printers, workstations, networking devices, and lesser-used subnets.
It can be tempting to think of these as less important. The reality is that there really is no “less important” part of the network, as any network-connected asset can harbor a vulnerability that gives cybercriminals an entry point.
3 Ways to Ensure Your VM Scans Are Comprehensive
Asset Discovery
It’s impossible to apply cybersecurity best practices to parts of your network you don’t know about. That’s why using a VM solution with complete asset discovery capabilities is a must. Your solution should be able to map every single part of your network, including ephemeral assets as soon as they connect.
Routine Monitoring
Once you have a completely mapped network, you can then identify, evaluate, prioritize, and neutralize vulnerabilities. It’s common for companies to use point-in-time scanning, and even worse, they do so with alarming infrequency (annually, for example). A robust cybersecurity program will incorporate routine vulnerability scanning and ad-hoc scanning to accommodate changes in the environment using a VM solution that frequently updates their tests and CVE coverage. This allows more visibility and eliminates potential network blind spots.
Flexibility
If your organization, like most, has budget and resource constraints, look for a VM solution that offers flexibility and affordable pricing options. You should also seek out user-friendly solutions, as they help optimize your staff’s efficiency by streamlining their processes and reducing onramp time to implementation and execution.
Network Component Checklist
Ensure the following network components are included before you call your asset discovery process complete:
1. Network Infrastructure
2. Servers and Endpoints
3. Databases and Storage Systems
4. Applications and Web Services
5. Cloud Environments
6. Email and Communication Systems
7. Wireless and Remote Access
8. Logs and Monitoring Systems
Cybersecurity is trending towards more coverage, more visibility, and broader scope. Cybersecurity teams are investing more than ever in their VM programs. If your vulnerability management program isn’t covering your entire network, today is the best day to start prioritizing comprehensive network scanning.
