Do you know what a vulnerability scanner is? Learn the difference between it and Bug Bounty.
Although a vulnerability scanner and Bug Bounty programs have similar objectives, they are different practices and are often confused.
In general terms, a vulnerability scanner is software designed to identify security issues within systems, helping prioritize and implement solutions for identified gaps. When a virtual asset in your company is vulnerable, it poses a risk to the entire business. The scan acts as a “diagnostic” that detects flaws and risks to cybersecurity.
However, as software, it has limitations. In this article, we'll explore how vulnerability scanners differ from Bug Bounty programs and how each can be useful for you.
How Does a Vulnerability Scanner Work?
It can perform thousands of tests, search for flaws, collect risk information, and thus help make a website more secure, for example. The scanner can detect security gaps that criminals might exploit to steal data and compromise your business.
The software identifies and creates an inventory of all systems connected to the network, including:
- Workstations
- Laptops
- Servers
- Printers
- Virtual machines
- Firewalls
- Switches
Once the scanner detects these flaws, it adds them to an inventory (which is regularly updated by the software), so a cybersecurity professional can correct the flaws and restore a secure environment.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Vulnerability Scanners
Vulnerability scanners can identify and analyze vulnerabilities in systems, networks, or software applications, including security flaws, misconfigurations, programming errors, and other gaps that could be exploited by cybercriminals.
Their benefits include the ability to work on known flaws or explore suspicious behaviors in applications or systems. When identifying a problem, the scanner provides detailed reports on each issue, including recommendations for fixing them—making it very useful for optimizing the work of cybersecurity professionals.
However, there are some downsides:
- False Alarms: Scanners might identify non-existent or non-critical flaws, leading to unnecessary work for security teams who need to assess and address these alerts. Similarly, they might miss real vulnerabilities due to tool limitations or outdated definitions.
- Detection Limitations: Software typically focuses on known vulnerabilities and uses automated techniques. It might not detect “new” flaws or those requiring manual exploitation by an attacker.
- Complex Environments: Complex environments, such as hybrid clouds or container systems, can be difficult to scan due to their distributed and dynamic nature. This can limit the effectiveness of the vulnerability scanner in identifying all flaws in these complex infrastructures.
Bug Bounty as the Best Cybersecurity Tool
For most companies, being connected is essential, and it’s more important than ever to be prepared for criminal attacks that jeopardize information security.
While a vulnerability scanner is a crucial tool for detecting system issues, technology alone may not be enough to ensure complete security. This is where Bug Bounty programs come into play.
Bug Bounty is a practice where companies pay external researchers to find flaws in their systems—this method is more effective than a vulnerability scanner as it involves a human factor in preventing cyberattacks.
Here are some benefits of Bug Bounty:
- Identification of more complex vulnerabilities
- Cybersecurity culture
- Access to external experts
- Cost savings
Bug Bounty helps identify unique and hard-to-detect flaws because the security researchers invited to conduct tests are encouraged to think outside the box and try different approaches to find vulnerabilities. It also fosters a cybersecurity culture within the organization and provides access to external experts, making the company more secure by having thousands of ethical hackers seeking and reporting flaws and vulnerabilities in its system.