Understanding Internal and External Vulnerability Scans

Organizations today face a barrage of cybersecurity threats both from malicious actors lurking outside the network and from potential vulnerabilities within. To defend against these threats effectively, a multi-layered approach to cyber defense is essential. Vulnerability scans are critical tools for identifying system weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. 

This guide explores both internal and external vulnerability scans, detailing what they are, when to use them, and best practices for maximizing their effectiveness. Understanding these key components of a robust cybersecurity strategy will help fortify your defenses and reduce the risk of a breach.  

Internal Vulnerability Scans 

Internal vulnerability scans are conducted within an organization’s network to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious insiders or threats that have bypassed the external defenses. 

Why use Internal Vulnerability Scans 

With network boundaries getting blurred, initial access vectors increasing in number and perimeter defenses falling short of what’s needed, attackers can get into company environments more easily than before. IT security teams need to be ready to tackle attackers from within.  

1. Assume Internal Access: Conduct scans from within the network to simulate potential threats from insiders. 
2. User Simulation: Mimic the access levels of typical users to detect vulnerabilities that could be exploited by internal actors. 
3. Focus on Insider Threats: Identify and mitigate risks posed by employees, contractors, and other internal users. 

Best practices for Internal Vulnerability Scans 

1. Focus on comprehensive coverage of critical assets such as servers, workstations, and databases 
2. Identify and prioritize critical vulnerabilities based on impact and likelihood for immediate remediation.  
3. Run scans at regular intervals to continuously monitor internal systems. 
4. Repeat scans after any significant changes to the network or internal systems. 
5. Scans may also be needed as part of routine security assessments or compliance checks. 
6. Make sure scan results are integrated with the patch management process to address critical vulnerabilities promptly. 

Common Vulnerabilities Detected through Internal Scans 

1. Misconfigured Permissions: Incorrectly set permissions that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data. 
2. Unpatched Software: Software that has not been updated with the latest security patches. 
3. Weak Authentication Mechanisms: Inadequate authentication methods that can be easily bypassed. 
4. Outdated Systems: Legacy systems that are no longer supported and have known vulnerabilities​ (NIST Computer Security Resource Center)​. 

External Vulnerability Scans 

In order to find vulnerabilities in an organization’s external-facing components—such as web servers, firewalls, and other internet-accessible services—external vulnerability scans are carried out from outside the organization’s network. 

Some of the cyber threat perspectives and risks to keep in mind before conducting external scans are assessments are:  

1. Simulate External Attacks: Perform scans from outside the network to replicate the tactics of external attackers. 
2. Identify Entry Points: Focus on external entry points such as firewalls, web applications, and open ports. 
3. Assess Public-Facing Components: Ensure all internet-facing components are secure against external threats​ (NIST Technical Series)​​ (NIST Computer Security Resource Center)​. 

Best Practices for External Vulnerability Scans 

1. Run external vulnerability scans before deploying new services or applications accessible from the internet. 
2. Repeat scans after significant changes to the network perimeter, such as updating firewall rules or adding new public-facing servers. 
3. Set up a regular scan cadence to ensure that external defenses remain robust against evolving threats. 
4. Test the strength of external protections by periodically running external scans or running external pentests. 

Common Vulnerabilities Detected through External Scans 

1. Open Ports and Protocols: Unnecessary open ports and services that could be exploited. 
2. Exploitable IP Addresses: Public IP addresses with known vulnerabilities. 
3. Firewall Misconfigurations: Incorrectly configured firewall rules that could expose the network to attacks​ (NIST Computer Security Resource Center)​. 

Conclusion 

To ensure your organization remains secure in a complex threat landscape, implementing a robust vulnerability scanning and assessment program is the bare minimum you can do. By incorporating both internal and external vulnerability scans into your regular security assessment processes, you can identify and mitigate potential threats before they compromise your network. Adopting a proactive approach to vulnerability management helps in maintaining a resilient security posture.  

Here’s a recap of some best practices to guide you: 

• Regular and Scheduled Scans: Conduct both internal and external scans regularly. 

• Comprehensive Coverage: Ensure all critical assets are included in the scans. 

• Prioritization and Remediation: Focus on critical vulnerabilities and integrate remediation efforts with patch management processes. 

• Collaboration with Experts: Work with penetration testers and security experts for thorough assessments and advanced threat detection. 

By staying proactive and diligent with vulnerability scanning, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of security breaches and maintain a strong defense against cyber threats​. 

How the CYRISMA Platform can help 

CYRISMA is an all-in-one, cloud-hosted cyber risk management platform created with the vision of reducing cybersecurity complexity and making high-quality security technology accessible to all businesses. It brings together multiple cyber risk management tools in a single unit, enabling organizations to build strong security programs in a cost-effective manner. 

Platform capabilities include Vulnerability and Patch Management, Sensitive Data Discovery, Secure Baseline Scanning, Dark Web Monitoring, Risk Monetization, Cyber Risk Assessment Reporting, Compliance and a lot more (with EVERY feature included in the price) 

CYRISMA VULNERABILITY SCANNING AND ASSESSMENT 

• Network discovery 

• Internal, External, Agent-based and Agentless based scans 

• Web Application scans 

• Secure configuration scans 

• Windows/Linux/MacOS/Network Devices  

• Email alerts and notifications  

• Detailed CVE results and search functionality 

• Root cause analysis  

• Vulnerability lookup and research  

• Progressive scan compare  

• Patching for Windows-based 3rd Party Apps 

• Remediation action plan assistance  

Learn more and watch a short demo here!