Home > Ask the Software Quality Experts > Application Security Questions & Answers > Vulnerability scanners: The automation option
Ask The Software Quality Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Vulnerability scanners: The automation option

Brad Arkin EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Brad Arkin

Pose a Question
Other Software Quality Categories
Meet all Software Quality Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Software quality news and advice
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 27 November 2006
I've been hearing a lot about automatic vulnerability scanning and that it's good. But why is it so good, and how do the products work?


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


RELATED CONTENT
Application Security
What is fuzz testing? What are some ways to use fuzz testing?
How do I convince management to take application security seriously?
How do I set up a secure login page using membership in ASP.NET?
Security testing sales, marketing websites
Are there application security certification standards?
Top tools for testing Web application security
How to prevent HTTP response splitting
PCI DSS compliance: WAF, code review or both?
Application security careers have bright future
How to prevent anti-DNS pinning attacks

Building security into the SDLC (Software development life cycle)
The role of quality assurance (QA) pros in software security
Common software security risks and oversights
Why the quality assurance department should be involved in testing
How to develop secure applications
Secure software development practices 'not rocket science'
How to prevent HTTP response splitting
Browser security a concern for website development
Web application security and the PCI DSS
PCI DSS compliance: Web application firewalls (WAFs)
PCI DSS compliance: The basics

Software security testing tools
Commonly-overlooked security flaws in rich Internet applications
10 steps to acing Web app security assessments
New tools target software QA, testing: Spring roundup
Hack maliciously to boost your software's security
What is fuzz testing? What are some ways to use fuzz testing?
Why the quality assurance department should be involved in testing
Using the Firefox Web Developer extension to find security flaws
Top tools for testing Web application security
Static analysis tool helps software engineers find bugs during builds
Web security: Web services an overlooked entry point for attacks

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
penetration testing  (SearchSoftwareQuality.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary


Automatic vulnerability scanning products help an organization quickly and proactively identify vulnerabilities in systems that could be exploited by attackers. The idea is to use these tools internally in an effort to fix the weaknesses in those systems before the attackers exploit those vulnerabilities. Because these tools are automated, they can be included in regression test suites or executed on a regular basis without drawing overworked people away from other responsibilities.

Each vulnerability scanning product works differently, depending on its goal. While some look at Windows registry entries to determine if the latest patches have been applied, others attempt to exploit specific vulnerabilities against a target machine. Typically, vulnerability scanners test against known vulnerabilities.

Keep in mind, as with most tools in the security industry, vulnerability scanners are available both commercially, and as open source free/shareware. This means your attackers have vulnerability scanners to use against you as well, so an internal process to quickly address identified vulnerabilities is imperative.

More on this




Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Software Quality - Software Maintenance, Software Requirements, Software Standards
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2006 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts