Penetration Testing vs. Vulnerability Scanning: What’s the Difference?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

It’s important to know the differences between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to determine which method is best to protect your data. Gain insights into the attributes that set apart these cybersecurity strategies.

[Featured Image] A computer programmer is using the penetration testing technique to imitate a cybersecurity attack.

Cyberattacks continue to be a pressing issue for businesses, both large and small. In 2024, data breaches in the United States costed an average of $9.36 million, showing a marginal decrease from the previous year's $9.48 million [1]. 

Penetration testing and vulnerability scanning serve as proactive measures for organizations to anticipate potential threats and fortify the resilience of their digital assets. Read on to learn the key differences between the two.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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What is penetration testing? 

Penetration testing, or pen tests, involves granting authorized individuals permission to assess vulnerabilities in computer systems, this process mimics a genuine cyberattack. 

From SQL injection to password cracking, a pen tester “thinks” and “acts” like a hacker. Additionally, following a penetration test, the tester provides a detailed report outlining identified vulnerabilities and appropriate measures to bolster security. Penetration testing is alternatively referred to as white hat or ethical hacking. Organizations typically conduct pen tests either biannually or annually.

Read more: What Are the Different Types of Penetration Testing?

Steps to perform a penetration test 

An effective pen test involves the following six steps:

Step 1: Test preparation

The first step entails outlining test procedures and defining their scope. To safeguard against the potential exposure of sensitive business information, you should ask everyone involved to sign a non-disclosure agreement ahead of pen testing. Remember, pen testing is a joint effort between an organization and an ethical hacker (pen tester).

Step 2: Information gathering

In this step, the tester compiles critical information about your organization to gain an understanding of threat intelligence. This includes scanning publicly available data on your firm’s website and LinkedIn page (open-source intelligence), among other general enterprise system information that is publicly accessible.

Step 3: Vulnerability assessment

In this phase, the pen tester engages in a comprehensive analysis to identify potential weaknesses and security gaps within your firm’s network. Automated vulnerability scanning tools may also be used to discover servers’ directory structure, pathways to conduct remote code execution, and more. 

Step 4: Penetration test

After devising an attack strategy centered on the identified vulnerabilities, the subsequent step involves the penetration of systems within the targeted network. Typically, the end goal is to attain administrator privileges on a machine.

Step 5: Test report:

Upon successfully completing a pen test, the pen tester assembles a report for top management. This report provides an overview of the test results, focusing on the discovered and exploited vulnerabilities.  It is also customary for testers to offer guidance on rectifying the identified security issues. 

Step 6: Remediation

Utilizing the pen test report, you can replicate and validate attack mechanisms, following which your firm may readjust its existing defense strategies.  

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Benefits of a penetration test

A pen test is one way to reveal your system’s vulnerabilities, understanding the benefits of this process can help you decide when to implement it. Here are a few perks of conducting penetration tests: 

  • During application development, a penetration test can lead to early detection of security vulnerabilities in a system's architecture, design, or code.

  • Routine pen tests allow consistent compliance with security norms and benchmarks, improving business continuity. 

  • Conducting pen tests on a regular basis can help improve customer trust because they feel more secure in the systems you have in place to protect their data.

Drawbacks of a penetration test

Although penetrating testing is useful and necessary to ensure that your data is protected from unauthorized individuals, the process does have limitations that can affect the organization. The following are a few disadvantages of pen testing: 

  • Penetration tests, being manual in nature, take longer to complete, resulting in higher costs. 

  • Due to budget and time constraints, penetration tests are often limited to critical assets. 

  • During pen testing, your organization may notice reduced bandwidth and limited access to systems.

What is vulnerability scanning? 

Vulnerability scanning, or vulnerability assessment, is a component of penetration testing. The scan helps recognize, categorize, and rank vulnerabilities associated with computer systems and applications. Unlike pen testing, vulnerability scanning is predominantly an automated process. Tools used for scanning are typically based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), a universally accepted standard for gauging vulnerability severity. 

Ideally, organizations conduct quarterly vulnerability scans according to recommendations from industry leaders. However, it’s not uncommon for firms to ramp up their scanning frequency when major infrastructure changes or upgrades occur.

Steps to perform a vulnerability scan

You can perform a vulnerability scan in the following six steps: 

Step 1: Preliminary planning

Before initiating a vulnerability assessment, it helps to determine the scope and goals of your scan. You can achieve this by mapping your network infrastructure, including connected devices, and estimating the business value and impact of attack on each asset. 

Step 2: Vulnerability assessment

This step involves identifying security risks using automated vulnerability scans. The duration of a single test may vary from minutes to hours, depending on the target system's size and the scan type. If necessary, you may use manual tools to examine a system vulnerability further.

Step 3: Prioritization

Utilizing risk ratings and vulnerability score features in your automated vulnerability scanning tool, prioritize vulnerabilities that need your firm’s immediate attention. During this phase, you also have the opportunity to eliminate any false positives from the vulnerability scan.

Step 4: Test report creation

Prepare a comprehensive report that summarizes the identified vulnerabilities. You may also include proof of concept (PoC) for critical vulnerabilities.

Step 5: Continuous assessment

New systems and configurations introduce fresh risks. Given the dynamic nature of vulnerabilities, consider performing timely vulnerability assessments of all assets. 

Benefits of a vulnerability scan

Vulnerability scans are a useful tool in cybersecurity plans because they can help you identify potential threats sooner. Here are some additional advantages to conducting a vulnerability scan:

  • Automated vulnerability scans are cost-effective and swift.

  • Vulnerability scans provide a comprehensive overview of potential threats.

  • Since vulnerability scans are quicker to conduct, you can potentially identify areas of weakness in your systems and take action to correct them sooner.

Drawbacks of a vulnerability scan

Vulnerability scans are useful, but they are limited and should be combined with additional security measures. The following are a few downsides to consider: 

  • Vulnerability scans, being simpler than penetration tests, might not always reveal how a cybercriminal could access your data.

  • A vulnerability scan can also generate false positives and false negatives. 

  • You may need to examine the results of a vulnerability scan to verify their accuracy, which takes additional time.

Can vulnerability scans and penetration tests disrupt operations?

Vulnerability scans can affect day-to-day operations, from network bandwidth interference to system instabilities. To minimize disruptions, consider scheduling vulnerability scans outside of standard business hours.   

Certain types of pen tests can also lead to potential data corruption network errors. By implementing protective measures, such as excluding particular attack methods like denial-of-service (DoS), you can reduce the likelihood of a network-wide disruption.

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How to choose between a pen test and a vulnerability scan

Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing complement each other. While vulnerability scans lay the foundation by identifying common and known weaknesses, penetration tests add depth and real-world context to your security assessments. By integrating both tests into a broader vulnerability assessment program, your organization can benefit from a holistic approach to cybersecurity. 

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Article sources

  1. Statista. “Average cost of a data breach in the United States from 2006 to 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/273575/us-average-cost-incurred-by-a-data-breach/.” Accessed February 11, 2025.

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