The Purpose Of A Vulnerability Scanner Is To Scan Systems Wi

The Purpose Of A Vulnerability Scanner Is To Scan Systems Within Your

The purpose of a vulnerability scanner is to scan systems within your environment to make sure there are no missing patches or known threats. Depending on the size of the environment, this can be a daunting task. Your task is to research a vulnerability scanner (preferably one that is not already chosen by your classmates). In your initial post, provide an overview of the software and explain why you selected it. Include details such as whether it is client-based or clientless, whether it is cloud-based, the licensing cost or if it is open source, and mention any disadvantages or issues associated with the software.

Paper For Above instruction

Vulnerability scanners are integral to modern cybersecurity strategies, serving as tools to identify security weaknesses within information systems. Among the myriad options available, Nessus by Tenable Inc. stands out due to its comprehensive features, ease of use, and widespread adoption. Nessus is a vulnerability scanning software that is both powerful and versatile, capable of scanning various network devices, operating systems, and applications for known vulnerabilities (Tenable, 2023). I chose Nessus because of its reputation as a industry leader, extensive plugin library, and its availability in both free and paid versions, making it accessible for different organizational needs.

Nessus is primarily a client-based vulnerability scanner, although it offers a web interface that users can access via a browser, making it somewhat clientless in that regard. It is not a purely cloud-based solution, but it does provide cloud-hosted features through Tenable.io, their SaaS platform, which offers centralized management and scalable scanning capabilities. The standard Nessus Scanner is installed on local systems or servers, allowing organizations to perform comprehensive network assessments internally, which is crucial for organizations that require detailed control over their scanning processes.

Regarding licensing, Nessus offers a free version known as Nessus Essentials, which is suitable for small-scale or educational purposes. For enterprise environments, Tenable provides a paid subscription that includes additional features, extensive support, and higher scan limits. The paid version, Nessus Professional, involves a licensing cost that typically ranges from several hundred to a few thousand dollars annually, depending on the number of IP addresses and features required. The open-source alternative, OpenVAS, exists but lacks some of the advanced functionalities and user-friendliness offered by Nessus.

Despite its strengths, Nessus has some disadvantages. One primary issue is its cost for enterprise licensing, which might be prohibitive for small organizations or individual users. There are also concerns about false positives, where the scanner might flag vulnerabilities that are not actually exploitable, leading to potential resource wastage during remediation efforts. Additionally, Nessus requires regular updates of its plugin database to effectively identify emerging vulnerabilities; failing to do so may result in missed threats. Furthermore, while Nessus is highly effective in detecting vulnerabilities, it does not provide in-depth remediation guidance, necessitating supplementary tools or expertise to address identified issues adequately.

In conclusion, Nessus is a robust vulnerability scanner suitable for organizations seeking comprehensive vulnerability assessments. Its client-based architecture offers detailed internal scans, while its optional cloud services extend its functionality for larger, distributed environments. Although it involves licensing costs and demands ongoing maintenance, the benefits of timely vulnerability identification significantly outweigh these drawbacks, making Nessus a valuable component of cybersecurity defense.

References

  • Tenable. (2023). Nessus Vulnerability Scanner. https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus
  • Qualys. (2023). Vulnerability Management. https://www.qualys.com/apps/vulnerability-management/
  • OpenVAS. (2023). Open Vulnerability Assessment Scanner. https://www.openvas.org/
  • Kumar, R., & Lee, K. (2022). An analysis of vulnerability assessment tools in cybersecurity. Journal of Cybersecurity, 8(3), 150-165.
  • Security Magazine. (2021). Evaluating vulnerability scanners for enterprise security. https://securitymagazine.com/articles/evaluating-vulnerability-scanners
  • Gordon, L. A., & Loeb, M. P. (2020). Managing cybersecurity risk: How the world's leading organizations are tackling cyber threats. Journal of Cybersecurity, 6(1), 1-12.
  • Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). (2022). Guide to Vulnerability Scanning. https://www.cisa.gov/vulnerability-scanning
  • Microsoft. (2023). Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/core/plan-design/security/vulnerability-management
  • Kim, D., & Solomon, M. (2021). Fundamentals of information systems security. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  • Harrison, R., & Mahadevan, R. (2022). Implementing automated vulnerability detection in enterprise environments. Computer Security Journal, 38(2), 45-68.

Related Assignments