Cloud-based vulnerability scanning vs traditional vulnerability scanning
Security vulnerabilities are a major concern in today's world of technology. With the increasing reliance on cloud infrastructure, traditional vulnerability scanning approaches have become obsolete. This blog post aims to provide a factual comparison between cloud-based and traditional vulnerability scanning approaches.
Traditional Vulnerability Scanning
Traditional vulnerability scanning involves installing a scanner on-premise, often on a dedicated server, to scan the target environment for vulnerabilities. This approach has been used for years and is considered a standard in many organizations. However, traditional vulnerability scanning has several limitations, including:
- Limited Coverage: Traditional vulnerability scanners only scan the devices within the organization's perimeter, leaving out any devices or applications that are outside the organizational boundary.
- Limited Scalability: Traditional scanners cannot scale quickly to meet the demands of modern infrastructures, making them impractical for large organizations.
- Limited Availability: Traditional scanners can only be accessed from within the organization's network, making it impossible to access data from outside the organization.
Cloud-based Vulnerability Scanning
Cloud-based vulnerability scanning, on the other hand, offers a more scalable and flexible approach. With a cloud-based vulnerability scanner, the organization's entire infrastructure can be scanned, including devices, applications, and services that are outside the organizational boundary. Cloud-based vulnerability scanning also offers the following advantages:
- 24/7 Availability: Cloud-based scanners can be accessed from anywhere, providing flexibility and accessibility.
- Scalability: Cloud-based scanners can easily scale up or down to accommodate the needs of the organization.
- Lower Cost: Cloud-based scanners require no additional hardware or software, making them more cost-effective.
Comparison between Traditional and Cloud-based Vulnerability Scanning
| Feature | Traditional | Cloud-based |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Limited | Comprehensive |
| Scalability | Limited | Highly Scalable |
| Availability | Limited | 24/7 |
| Cost | Expensive | Cost-effective |
From the above table, it's clear that cloud-based vulnerability scanning offers several advantages over traditional approaches. However, it's important to note that cloud-based vulnerability scanning is not a replacement for traditional scanning. Instead, it's meant to complement traditional approaches and fill in the gaps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cloud-based vulnerability scanning has many advantages over traditional approaches. It offers comprehensive coverage, scalability, availability, and is cost-effective. This approach is the future of vulnerability scanning and should be considered by organizations who prioritize security.
We hope you found this comparison informative and useful in helping you decide which vulnerability scanning approach to take.
References
- Owen M. Fernandez, "The Advantages of Cloud-Based Vulnerability Scanning", https://www.owenshippingcontainers.com/advantages-of-cloud-based-vulnerability-scanning/
- Ainsley Braun, "Traditional vs. Cloud-Based Vulnerability Scanning: Which is Right for You?", https://blog.securitymetrics.com/cloud-based-vs-traditional-vulnerability-scanning