What is Credentialed Vulnerability Scan?

Cyber Security prevention is the need of today’s generation. Awareness and knowledge of proper security techniques must be spread among the cyber-using generation to prevent frequent cyber attacks from taking place in the cyber world. Here, in this article, we will discuss one very important scanning technique – Credentialed Vulnerability Scan that has played a vital role in preventing cyber attacks. 

 

Vulnerability Scanning: 

Vulnerability scanning helps in the identification of potential security loopholes which can be targeted by hackers for attacking the computer network system. Vulnerability scanning helps in learning about the weakness of computer network systems, which can then be worked upon for increasing security.

Types of Vulnerability Scanning:

The different types of Vulnerability scanning are as follows:

• External Vulnerability scanning assessment: Scanning assessments targeting the identification of IT system vulnerabilities that include vulnerabilities associated with external setup devices fall in this category of assessment.
• Internal Vulnerability scanning assessment: Scanning assessments targeting the identification of internal network vulnerabilities that are a potential target of cyber attackers fall in this category.
• Environmental Vulnerability scanning assessment: Scanning assessments based on the technology environment fall in this category. Environments include web, cloud, and mobile technology.
• Intrusive/ Extrusive Vulnerability scanning assessment: Intrusive Vulnerability scanning exploits the potential threatening system vulnerabilities when they are found. On the other hand, Extrusive Vulnerability scanning detects vulnerabilities for immediate action.

Challenges:

• Vulnerability Scanning often requires input from users, which becomes challenging and a blocker to smooth performing Vulnerability Scans.
• Only known vulnerabilities are detected in the Vulnerability Assessment Scanning. If there are some newer vulnerabilities, then they are not detected until the scanning tool is updated.
• For performing in-depth scanning assessments, proper credentials are required for authentication and the unavailability of proper credentials becomes a hamper in performing scanning assessments.
• Vulnerability Scanning is calculated on the time you perform the scanning assessment. It is not continuous in nature.

Credentialed Vulnerability Scan:

• Credentialed Vulnerability Scan is a type of scanning technique where a secured scanning of the system is performed to analyze the processes, configurations, and vulnerabilities of the computer networks. 
• The mechanism of Credentialed Vulnerability Scan is adopted to strengthen the security of the computer system network.  
• A credential vulnerability scan involves users validating their identity by logging into the computer network with authenticated credentials.
• The accuracy of the credentialed vulnerability scan is so appropriate that there are very fewer chances of potential risk can accept or get into the system without coming to the notice of this scanning mechanism.
• Credential scans are much more preferred for scanning as they give extended permissions to users for performing scanning operations. 
• One important thing to note in credential vulnerability scanning is to take care that the credentials/ passwords for scanning are regularly updated and secure. 
• Based on the risks identified from the credential vulnerability scanning technique: the security of computer networks can be enhanced by taking preventive measures for reducing risks and taking care to prevent any future risks/ vulnerability from causing harm to the computer networks by getting inside.

Types of Vulnerability Assignments:

• Credential-based Vulnerability Assessment Scanning: Credential-based Vulnerability Assessment Scanning requires credentials for performing the scanning Assessment. Non-Credential-based Vulnerability Assessment Scanning doesn’t require credentials.
• Non-credential Vulnerability Assessment Scanning: Credential-based Vulnerability Assessment Scanning is authenticated and has a greater depth of conducting the scanning operation to identify security loopholes as compared to the Non-credential Vulnerability Assessment Scanning technique.

Benefits:

Listed below are the advantages of using the Credential vulnerability scanning technique :

• Credential vulnerability scan also has the advantage to perform a wide variety of scanning operations compared to the other type of scanning techniques where credentials are not required for validation of user identity.
• An important advantage of a credential vulnerability scan is that they are also well known because of its accurate results.
• Using credential scan there is less load on the computer network which enhances the speed and security of systems in the network.
• A credential vulnerability scan minimizes the false positive results in scanning, and the results generated from this scan are known for their precise results and accuracy. 
• The results generated from the credential vulnerability scan help in identifying potential risks, vulnerabilities, and shortcomings of the concerned computer network.