Vulnerability Scanning

Vulnerability
Scanning

Understand your vulnerabilities
before it's too late

Vulnerability scanning identifies weaknesses, or flaws, in your IT infrastructure that could be exploited by an attacker to compromise the security of the system. This type of testing can be performed on various types of systems, such as software applications, networks, and web applications.

During vulnerability scanning our security experts use specialised scanning tools to identify potential vulnerabilities. The goal is to discover them before they can be exploited by an attacker, so that appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate or eliminate the risk.

The main difference between penetration, or ‘pen’ testing and vulnerability scanning is that vulnerability scanning is largely automated. Penetration testing incorporates automated scanning too, but on finding a vulnerability, a skilled ‘pen tester’ will then manually establish the level of risk that vulnerability exposes you to.

Vulnerability scanning is an important part of the overall security testing process, and helps organisations make sure their systems are secure and protected against potential threats. By identifying vulnerabilities and addressing them proactively, you can minimise the risk of data breaches, system downtime, and other security-related issues.

The benefits of vulnerability scanning

By identifying vulnerabilities, you can take steps to address them proactively and improve overall security posture. This can help prevent data breaches, system downtime, and other security-related issues.

Addressing vulnerabilities early in the development cycle can save organisations time and money in the long run. In general, the longer you wait to resolve these issues, the more complex and costly it becomes.

Many regulatory requirements and industry standards require organisations to perform regular vulnerability testing. If you don’t do it often, it’ll be harder when you have to.

A data breach or security incident can have a significant impact on an organisation’s reputation. By conducting testing and addressing vulnerabilities, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to security and protecting their customers’ data.

Vulnerability testing is an ongoing process that helps organisations identify and address new and emerging threats. By regularly testing, you can continuously improve your security posture and stay ahead of potential threats.

Talk to us about Vulnerability Scanning

Why work with Forensic Control?

How we work

Our team uses the latest applications, technology and processes to make sure we test and scan your infrastructure, giving you a complete analysis of areas for remediation and protection. We tailor our approach according to the scope of the testing and infrastructure, which means our pricing is also bespoke to your project.

Our Vulnerability Scanning includes:

Happy Clients

Supporting our clients with down to earth advice, explained simply, is our mission. Don’t just take our word for it though. Here are a handful of our testimonials from clients we work with.

"Expert and friendly support towards our achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification. Clearly laid out the expectations for meeting the standards and navigated us through. Kept us on track even when business demands were pulling our attention elsewhere. Delighted to have the certification but our business gained a great deal from the journey too."

Lee Bartmanis, Head of Operations, Nurole

"I highly recommend Forensic Control to any organization seeking top-tier cyber security services. Their well-coordinated process, insightful guidance, and refreshing approach to cyber security set them apart. They are true experts in their field, and we are grateful for their invaluable contributions to our company's cyber security journey.
Five stars and a heartfelt thank you to Forensic Control and the entire team!"

Elon Schutze, Services Director, Know Why BV

"I highly recommend Forensic Control for any company embarking on their Cyber Essentials journey. From the moment we engaged with them, Jonathan and his team provided exceptional service, ensuring that we had all the necessary information and tailored advice specific to our company's needs. Their professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to their clients are truly exceptional. If you're looking for a reliable and highly competent partner to guide you through your Cyber Essentials journey, Forensic Control is the perfect choice."

Adam Maxwell, Security Specialist, Jisc

"I've had the pleasure of working with Jonathan on two occasions and on both times he has shown the utmost professional customer care. He was able to help us get our CE renewal over the line during out of hours just so there is no lapse between our CE. He's been very helpful in answering all my questions as I was leading the CE renewal for my company for the first time and it could not have been any easier."

An Le, IT Security Analyst, Save the Children

“Highly recommended Forensic Control. From the very start of our CE+ journey, Jonathan was providing tremendous service to us in order to ensure we had all the necessary information and advice specific to our company. They was consistently providing clear and helpful guidance in order for us to best succeed with our certification and as such had a great outcome! Big thanks to Jonathan and Forensic Control.”

Christopher Price, Technical Operations Lead, Faculty

“We had our Cyber Essentials Plus certification done by Jonathan and his team. Quick responses and professional advice that went further than the scope. Brilliant service and aftercare. Going forward, we will be using Forensic Control services.”

Maris Hakman, The Royal Foundation

"Forensic Control is a firm of professional cyber security advisers who guided our organisation achieve a ISO equivalent i.e. IASME Gold Standard accreditation over an 18 month period. Their service added a lot of value to our IT Governance and overall organisational security awareness and competencies."

Selam Shibru, Bank Worker’s Charity

"Forensic Control have been professional, efficient and very responsive in any queries we had in regards to the company gaining it’s Cyber Essentials qualification. We are continuing to use their services to progress to Cyber Essentials Plus. Highly recommend”

Francesca MacLeod, Cordless Consultant

“We are a small company that relies on the security of our data. Forensic Control has been perfect at keeping us protected and up to date with all the latest trends. Very efficient when we have needed help.”

Andy Bibby, CEO 87%

Frequently asked Questions

We’re here to help with any questions you have about plans, pricing and supported features.

What is vulnerability scanning and why is it important for our organisation?

Vulnerability scanning is a proactive cyber security practice that involves the automated identification and assessment of potential vulnerabilities in your organisation’s IT systems, networks, and applications. It helps to identify security weaknesses and misconfigurations that could be exploited by attackers.

Vulnerability scanning is important for your organisation as it allows you to detect and remediate vulnerabilities before they are exploited, reducing the risk of security breaches, data breaches, and unauthorised access. It is a crucial step in maintaining a robust security posture and protecting your sensitive data and systems.

How does vulnerability scanning work?

Vulnerability scanning works by using specialised software tools to scan your organisation’s IT infrastructure for known vulnerabilities. These tools compare the configuration and software versions of your systems against a database of known vulnerabilities and security weaknesses. The scanning process typically involves an automated scan of your laptops, desktops, servers, routers and firewalls.

The scanning tools generate reports that highlight identified vulnerabilities, including information about their severity and potential impact on your organisation’s security. These reports help your IT team prioritise and address the vulnerabilities effectively.

Is vulnerability scanning a one-off activity, or should it be performed regularly?

Vulnerability scanning should be performed regularly to ensure ongoing security of your systems. Cyber threats and vulnerabilities are constantly evolving, so conducting regular scans is essential to stay ahead of potential risks. Ideally, vulnerability scans should be scheduled on a periodic basis, such as monthly or quarterly, depending on the size and complexity of your organisation’s IT environment.

Regular scans help you identify newly discovered vulnerabilities and address them promptly, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers. Additionally, performing vulnerability scans after significant changes to your IT infrastructure, such as system upgrades or network expansions, is highly recommended.

What should we do after a vulnerability scan identifies vulnerabilities?

After a vulnerability scan identifies vulnerabilities, the next step is to prioritise and remediate them based on their severity and potential impact. Your IT team should analyse the vulnerability reports – the reports should include how to remediate the identified issues – and develop an action plan to address the vulnerabilities. This may involve applying software patches, updating configurations, or implementing additional security controls.

It is crucial to follow a systematic and timely approach to address vulnerabilities, starting with high-severity vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk to your organisation’s security. Regularly conducting vulnerability scans and promptly remediating identified vulnerabilities will help maintain a strong security posture and reduce the likelihood of successful cyberattacks.