Network Vulnerability Assessments [Methodology + Checklist]

No organization or business intends to expose itself to cybersecurity risks. An organization can identify the weaknesses in its security system by doing regular scanning and vulnerability assessment.

By a network vulnerability assessment, you make sure that your business data and other important information are safe, and this way, reduce third party breach threats.

Read on this post to know about the types of vulnerabilities in network security and network vulnerability assessment methodology, its checklist, and tools.

What is a Vulnerability?

Vulnerability is a weakness in design, operation, or in the implementation of internal control. It is important to overcome this weakness as cybercriminals can exploit this security issue and get access to the system.

Vulnerability Assessment Definition

This refers to doing a system’s security weakness review. It is a process of determining the risks and threats in IT security.

This evaluation allows you to find potential vulnerabilities and threats in your organization’s system.

Network Vulnerability Assessment

This is a process that identifies security holes in your network.

While doing so, you analyze the important data management aspects and also check out the effectiveness of the security software that you are currently using.

Furthermore, this way you get to know what additional measures you need to take to improve the security.

Network Vulnerability Assessment Tools

Some of the top-rated tools are:

1. Retina CS Community

This web-based scanning tool offers automated vulnerability assessment of databases, servers, apps, etc. It offers marvelous support for virtual environments.

2. Wireshark

This network analyzer tool scans and analyzes the network at the microscopic level. It can run on all platforms.

3. Nikto

This open-source scanner checks for the outdated server version. It scans the malicious files and programs.

Furthermore, it has the capability to test your web server in the minimal possible time. Nikto scanner can scan various ports of a server.

4. OpenVAS

This open-source tool is compatible with almost all OS. It can identify security issues in all devices and servers.

5. Nessus

This scanner blocks the penetration made by cybercriminals. You can use it to detect the vulnerability of remote data hacking. It supports all OS.

Network Vulnerability Assessment Methodology

The following six steps are involved in assessing the network vulnerability.

1. Identify Business Operation

Firstly you need to understand how your business’s organization and operations work. Check out the business processes, client privacy, and also regulatory compliance issues while doing so.

2. Applications & Data

Secondly, check out the applications and data that your business uses in various processes. Also, determine the sensitive information and check which data is at risk of a privacy breach.

3. Hidden Data Sources

Next, determine the hidden data source that could offer access to the sensitive information. Also, examine if the source information has cloud-based access from multiple devices.

4. Identify Servers

In this step, you need to identify both the physical and virtual servers that run your important applications.

Make sure that these servers have good protection. Otherwise, hackers can get access to sensitive information from there too.

5. Scan the Network

Now scan your network to know its security issues and the presence of any vulnerability. If any vulnerability is identified, then you will need to develop a more strong network security strategy.

Also, Read Network Segmentation Benefits

Network Vulnerability Assessment Checklist

Following is a checklist to cover the network security assessment and to inspect for any security cracks.

1. Checkout the Functioning of Tools

Make use of some malicious commands and virus software to check if your antivirus or the gateway software is functioning properly or not. You need to confirm that it is stopping the incoming attacks.

Try doing so with different file versions like password-protected files and compressed files to make sure your antivirus is scanning beyond exe file extensions.

2. Blockage of Illegal Web Content

Screen some specific web content by your DNS server. Then browse to make sure that the illegal web content is blocked as per the policy of your country.

3. Fool Your Firewall

Open a phishing site on a system that is not connected to other systems and has no sensitive information saved. Now check if your firewall blocks that site as a threat or not.

Checkout Common Indicator of a Phishing Attempt

4. DDoS Protection Check

DoS and DDoS attacks are quite dangerous and make network services unavailable. Make sure your anti-DDoS is up to date and is working well.

5. Patch Management

Scan your entire system to find any outdated software. You should update OS and other software.

6. Test Email Filters

Check your email filters to make sure they are blocking the blacklisted domains. To confirm it, blacklist a domain and try sending an email from that to your email to see if it is blocked or not.

Read Email Spam Bot Protection

Summary

Doing the network security assessment is quite important as it allows you to make sure your data and business are safe.

This way, you reduce the spyware & malware, and data loss threats in communication systems and networks.

Network vulnerability assessments highlight security weaknesses in your network. This way, you have a clearer understanding of the network infrastructure and get to know the security flaws in it.