Understanding the Difference: External Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Scanning

The world is increasingly embracing digital technology, and hackers are doing the same. Cyber attacks have become common. As businesses expand their online presence, the likelihood of attracting a cyber attack increases. External penetration testing can serve as your protective shield if you want to protect your company from potential harm.

What Is External Penetration Testing?

External network penetration testing is a type of security assessment that focuses on identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in an organization's externally facing systems and infrastructure, such as websites, email servers, firewalls, and other publicly accessible assets. The goal is to simulate an attack from the perspective of an external adversary who does not have internal access to the organization's network.

What is Vulnerability Scanning?

Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that identifies security weaknesses or vulnerabilities in an organization's systems, networks, applications, or devices. It uses specialized tools to scan for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, outdated software, and other potential security issues, providing a detailed report to help organizations address these risks.

What are the Main Differences Between External Network Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Scanning:

1. Purpose

• Vulnerability Scanning:
  • Identifies potential vulnerabilities in systems by automatically scanning them against known issues, such as outdated software, misconfigurations, and weak passwords.
  • It is typically used for routine assessments to maintain baseline security.
• External Network Penetration Testing:
  • Simulates an attack from an external adversary to identify, exploit, and assess the impact of vulnerabilities on an organization's external-facing systems.
  • Focuses on uncovering real-world attack vectors and validating the security of systems.

2. Depth of Analysis

• Vulnerability Scanning:
  • Shallow and automated.
  • Reports vulnerabilities based on signatures, heuristics, or pre-defined rules without actively exploiting them.
  • Cannot assess logical vulnerabilities, chain exploits, or validate findings.
• External Network Penetration Testing:
  • Deep and manual.
  • Goes beyond automated scanning to include exploitation of vulnerabilities, chaining of attacks, and simulation of adversarial tactics.
  • Provides a more comprehensive assessment of real-world risks.

3. Methodology

• Vulnerability Scanning:
  • Uses automated tools like Nessus, Qualys, or OpenVAS.
  • Generates a list of potential vulnerabilities, often with false positives, requiring further validation.
• External Network Penetration Testing:
  • Combines automated tools with manual techniques to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
  • Involves reconnaissance, vulnerability identification, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting.

4. Skill Level Required

• Vulnerability Scanning:
  • Can be performed by IT teams with basic knowledge of scanning tools and network configurations.
  • Does not require advanced security expertise.
• External Network Penetration Testing:
  • It requires skilled professionals (e.g., certified penetration testers like OSCP and CEH) with a deep understanding of attack techniques and security systems.

5. Output

• Vulnerability Scanning:
  • A list of potential vulnerabilities with severity ratings and remediation suggestions.
  • Lacks context on how vulnerabilities could be exploited or their real-world impact.
• External Network Penetration Testing:
• A detailed report that includes:
  • Validated vulnerabilities, no false positives.
  • Exploitation steps and proof of concept.
  • Impact analysis.
  • Contextual recommendations for remediation.

6. Use Cases

• Vulnerability Scanning:
  • Routine security hygiene to identify common weaknesses.
  • Ongoing compliance requirements or vulnerability management programs.
• External Network Penetration Testing:
  • Comprehensive assessment of external defenses.
  • Preparation for compliance audits or high-stakes security reviews.
  • Evaluating real-world attack risks.

How External Penetration Testing is Performed

Conducting an external penetration test involves several key steps:

• Planning and Scope Definition: We begin by outlining the goals and deciding which systems to test.
• Reconnaissance: Gathering information about the targets helps us identify potential entry points.
• Vulnerability Identification: Using advanced tools and techniques, we find security weaknesses.
• Exploitation: We attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities to assess their impact.
• Reporting: Documenting our findings in a clear, actionable report.
• Remediation and Retesting: After fixes are applied, we retest to ensure vulnerabilities are resolved.

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How Much Does an External Pen Test Cost?

The cost varies based on factors like the scope of testing, the complexity of your systems, and the expertise required. While an investment is involved, the cost of a breach can be far greater. Investing in penetration testing can save you significant time and money in the long run.

Software Secured's External Network Pentest starts from $5,400, check our prices.

Take the Next Step—don't leave your security to chance. Contact us today to learn how Software Secured can tailor an external penetration testing solution to meet your specific needs. Together, we'll build a robust defence that keeps your business and customers safe.