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Establishing a robust data and system security posture is one of the top priorities for any organisation with a business website. One way to maintain this is by conducting vulnerability scanning on web applications. Vulnerability scanning, a core part of vulnerability assessment and penetration testing in Singapore, is a fully automated process that evaluates IT assets for internal and external security vulnerabilities and streamlines the identification and flagging of flaws to make them easier to review, highlighting the benefits of VAPT in maintaining a secure infrastructure. Below, we go over how this process applies to web applications and some features to look for.
As the name implies, this tool (which is also available as a dedicated cybersecurity service) focuses solely on uncovering and assessing vulnerabilities in the context of a web application. It is primarily achieved using specialised scanning tools that use a collection of rules to detect potential security issues from the outside in.
Vulnerability scanning typically follows two main approaches: passive and active.
A passive scan is like observing a door without touching it to see if it’s open or locked. It performs non-intrusive checks, identifying potential vulnerabilities based on visible indicators. If the "door" is closed, the investigation ends there.
An active scan, by contrast, mimics a real-world attack. In this scenario, a closed door wouldn’t stop the scan – instead, it would attempt to open it, pick the lock, or force entry, simulating how an outsider might exploit vulnerabilities.
Some scans also involve authentication, where the scanner uses or is given access credentials to explore deeper into the system. This is like receiving a key to check what other doors might be open or locked within the application. The result of any scan is a detailed report, varying by the scan type. This report often includes specific request-response data from the system, helping experts manually review and confirm whether the identified vulnerabilities are real and actionable.
The hacker’s job has gotten a lot harder with each passing year due to network security companies continuously developing advanced defence systems that make it challenging to penetrate corporate networks or access them without permission. Firewalls, antivirus programmes, and security scanners now protect most businesses, leaving threat actors with fewer traditional entry points. As a result, they have shifted their focus towards another weak spot in the cybersecurity posture of many companies: their web applications.
Unlike internal systems, web applications are intentionally accessible online around the clock, giving hackers endless opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities that webmasters may have overlooked. If these applications aren't regularly tested with specialised scanning tools, they become easy targets.
While web-based technologies have revolutionised business operations by fostering seamless connections with customers, suppliers, and partners, they’ve also introduced new risks. Indeed, unsecured web applications are now the most vulnerable part of an organisation’s IT infrastructure if not proactively monitored and audited.
A modern vulnerability scanner should ideally have these fundamental features right out of the box:
1. Native integration for continuous integration and continuous delivery/deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
Web application vulnerability scanners that feature easy integration into an organisation’s CI/CD allow for automatic scanning of vulnerabilities when deploying new code. This feature then works alongside other automated scans that typically occur on a scheduled basis for continuous security validation. Having such integration capabilities is essential since it helps avoid any potential security breaches from happening in the first place.
2. A centralised dashboard for ease of management
A well-crafted dashboard that serves as a centralised location simplifies the task of managing vulnerabilities at every step of the process and makes it easier to track information. More specifically, this dashboard allows organisations to:
3. Vulnerability reporting that provides useful and clear plans of action
The reports derived from a vulnerability scan are only useful if they are practical and easy to understand. They should include prioritised recommendations detailing which vulnerabilities pose the greatest risk and how to resolve them effectively. Moreover, those that are capable of delivering video footage and risk scores of the vulnerabilities are sure to be much more helpful in the long run.
To date, web apps remain the biggest Achilles’ heel in an organisation’s cybersecurity strategy, seeing as protecting them is far more challenging compared to traditional applications secured by firewalls. Vulnerability scanning makes this task a lot easier by automating the detection of potential threats and ensuring that vulnerabilities are detected early and addressed efficiently, ultimately maintaining a strong security posture around the clock.
Group8 is the cybersecurity expert you can trust to deliver industry-leading solutions that keep your operations and assets safe from current and emerging threats. From vulnerability scanning to incident response, threat intelligence, blockchain security, and more, our comprehensive offerings that encompass the entire cybersecurity ecosystem ensure all your bases are covered. For more information, reach out to us at hello@group8.co today.