Locking the Digital Doors: Understanding Vulnerability Assessments in Modern IT Security

You're just about to leave for your 14-day all-inclusive holiday, would you leave any doors or windows unlocked?

It's not a trick question. You would likely go through a mental-checklist process where you would check each window and door to make sure it is secure. And you do this to protect your valuables and prevent sneaky (amongst other words) burglars from getting in.

And the same rules should apply to your IT infrastructure. So what process(s) are you, or your team, undergoing to ensure that you are protecting your environment?

This is where Vulnerability Assessments (VAs) come in.

VAs are a proactive approach to identifying, prioritising, and remediating security weaknesses and vulnerabilities within IT infrastructure.

VAs have been around for some time now, but it has never been more important to invest in this tactic as part of a wider security strategy.

Now why is this? Because of AI.

The Advent of AI

AI is revolutionising the way all industries operate. Recently in the Tech industry, Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, predicted ‘the death of coding’, with AI doing most of the work, individuals will no longer need to spend hundreds of hours learning to code. This is going to save a lot of time and resources, which can instead be used within expertise industries such as farming, manufacturing, and education - a solid positive for the use of AI!

And as you know, AI is making waves within IT. AI is enhancing IT operations by implementing smarter, more efficient systems. And not only are AI-driven IT solutions improving operational efficiency, but AI is also changing the course of IT system management. Take remote monitoring systems for example, AI integration helps to identify and solve issues without human intervention, maximising uptime and reducing response times; a goal for all IT managers!

Given AI can be used in positive circumstances, what about the opposite end of the spectrum? What if AI got into the hands of a cybercriminal?

The main purpose of any hacker is to find vulnerabilities in your infrastructure and get access to the data. And all hackers must do, is find one vulnerability. Going back to our house analogy, all it would need to be is one open window.

Cyberattacks take time. A lot of time. However, with the advancements of AI, hackers could use AI to create malicious malware or Botnets, both of which would significantly decrease the time it would take for hackers to hijack a business’s infrastructure. Unfortunately, it only takes one security breach to decimate a brand’s image and reputation, something that could have taken decades to build.

AI has brought a different kind of exposure to your infrastructure. But VAs are a structured, proactive way in helping to combat this risk.

How to Implement Vulnerability Assessments Within your Infrastructure

At WhiteSpider, VAs are conducted through our SaaS platform, Merlin. Our simple, 3-step setup process means you can run Vulnerability Assessments (VAs) on your infrastructure and gain detailed reports on your vulnerabilities in no time.

To find out more, read our brochure.

The Benefits of Vulnerability Assessments

VAs are automated tools. Making them a cost-effective and efficient way in analysing and assessing your infrastructures vulnerabilities. But these aren’t the only benefits. Here are some others:

• Correct prioritisation of security investments & potential reductions in insurance costs
  • Running a VA means you identify areas of improvement and therefore can allocate resources effectively.
• Minimise attack surface & optimise security strategy
  • A VA looks at the whole surface and pinpoints where on that surface there are vulnerabilities, reducing your overall risk and creates a more robust security strategy.
• Bolster risk management compliance & security posture
  • The VA makes you aware of your infrastructure’s vulnerabilities, enabling you to forecast and identify procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.
• Protect brand image & reputation
  • One security breach can decimate your brand's reputation. The VA enables you to remain proactive and minimize that potential.

Summary

We hear what you’re thinking. But don’t worry. This blog hasn’t been created to spread unnecessary fear, as a lot of businesses are in similar positions in learning AI and where to use it; especially when it comes to IT and cyber security. Our suggestion is to spend some time looking at your processes and figuring out where AI can be utilised.

And in the meantime, when it comes to your security strategy, incorporate ways to combat potential risks like VAs.