INSIGHT

Penetration testing vs vulnerability scanning: What’s the difference?

Josh Schmidt • April 9, 2025

Taking proactive measures to protect and shore up your digital infrastructure saves your business time, money, and reputational damage. The financial risks alone associated with neglecting cybersecurity assessments are staggering.

According to an IBM study, the average cost of a cyber attack was $4.88 million in 2024—a 10% bump year over year and the highest number on record. Regular security measures like vulnerability scanning and penetration testing can significantly mitigate your company’s risk exposure.

But what’s the difference between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, and which makes sense for your company to prioritize? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding penetration testing

Penetration testing, or “pen testing,” is a simulated cyberattack against a computer system, network, or web application designed to assess its security vulnerabilities. It is an authorized and controlled process that involves active probing and testing of defenses through coordinated cyberattacks, mimicking the techniques used by real-world attackers to identify potential weaknesses.

There are several types of pen tests, including:

Network infrastructure testing
Web application testing
Social engineering testing
Physical testing

The goal of penetration testing is to proactively identify security weak spots and fix them before bad actors discover them.

Benefits of penetration testing

Companies of any size or scale benefit from pen tests. Some of the most prevalent benefits include:

Get a true sense of your security defenses: Penetration testing provides a realistic assessment of an organization’s defenses by simulating actual attack scenarios. This hands-on approach helps organizations understand how their systems and networks might fare against sophisticated cyberattacks.

Identify key vulnerabilities: It helps identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, allowing organizations to address these weaknesses proactively and strengthen their overall security posture.

Provide insights into business impacts of existing security strategies: Penetration testing offers insights into the potential business impacts of successful attacks and necessary remediations. This information is invaluable for making informed risk management decisions and allocating resources effectively.

Helps companies remain compliant: Many industry regulations and standards, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, mandate regular penetration testing. Conducting these tests helps organizations maintain compliance and avoid potential regulatory fines or penalties.

Pen testing also helps companies avoid significant financial losses or reputational damage due to cyberattacks. Interestingly, without regular pen tests, companies may experience increased difficulty in securing cyber insurance coverage.

“Pen testing provides an opportunity to collaboratively partner with a highly specialized team that thinks like malicious hackers. By gaining their insight, as an extension of your team, you can uncover unknown-unknowns and inherent blind-spots.” – Josh Scmidt – Partner, Advisory and Cybersecurity Leader

Challenges of penetration testing

For all the benefits of penetration testing, there are some challenges companies need to keep in mind with this practice:

Pen testing is resource intensive: Penetration testing requires significant resources and experience, which can be challenging for organizations with limited budgets or personnel.
It will cost companies time and money: It can be time-consuming and costly, especially if conducted frequently or on a large scale.
You may experience operational disruptions: If not properly managed with experience, penetration testing may disrupt operations, causing system outages or data loss. This risk underscores the importance of working with experienced pen testing professionals like BPM who understand how to conduct thorough tests while minimizing potential disruptions.

Frequency and duration of penetration testing

Penetration tests should be performed regularly, ideally every 6-12 months, or after significant system changes such as:

Integrating new software or hardware
Altering network configurations or adding new devices
Upgrading critical applications or platforms

The duration of a penetration test varies based on the scope but typically ranges from a few days to several weeks.

Pen testing and compliance requirements

Penetration testing is often a requirement for compliance with various regulatory standards. For instance, industries like finance and healthcare must adhere to frameworks such as PCI DSS and HIPAA, respectively.

BPM’s services can help organizations meet these compliance obligations by providing tailored penetration testing solutions that align with specific regulatory needs.

Understanding vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability scanning is a critical component of cybersecurity that involves using automated tools to identify potential vulnerabilities in systems, networks, or applications. This process provides a high-level analysis and identification of problem areas, allowing organizations to proactively address security weaknesses before they are exploited by attackers.

Vulnerability scanning helps organizations monitor changes in their security posture, prioritize remediation efforts based on the severity of identified vulnerabilities, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.

Benefits of vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability scanning offers several key benefits that make it an indispensable tool for maintaining a robust cybersecurity posture:

It’s quick and cost-effective: Vulnerability scanning is a quick and cost-effective way to identify and track known vulnerabilities. It automates the process of detecting security weaknesses, saving time and resources compared to manual assessments.
Businesses can run scans frequently (easily): Vulnerability scans can be performed frequently to monitor changes in an organization’s security posture. This regular monitoring helps ensure that new vulnerabilities are identified promptly, allowing for timely remediation.
Establishes a roadmap for issue remediation: By providing detailed reports on vulnerabilities and their severity levels, vulnerability scanning helps organizations prioritize remediation efforts. This enables them to focus on addressing the most critical vulnerabilities first, thereby reducing overall risk exposure.

The ease of running vulnerability scans means companies can leverage them as needed across any number of assets to ensure their risk levels align with their risk tolerance, compliance requirements, and strategy.

Challenges of vulnerability scanning

While vulnerability scanning is a powerful tool, it also comes with some challenges, especially compared to penetration testing:

Limited depth of analysis: Vulnerability scanning may not provide an in-depth analysis of vulnerabilities or simulate actual attacks. It primarily identifies potential weaknesses without exploiting them, which can leave many vulnerabilities undetected, such as system misconfigurations.
False positives and negatives: Vulnerability scans can generate false positives (incorrectly identifying non-existent vulnerabilities) and false negatives (failing to detect actual vulnerabilities). Managing these inaccuracies requires careful validation and verification processes.
Need for regular updates: Vulnerability scanning tools must be regularly updated to stay effective against new threats. This includes keeping databases of known vulnerabilities current and ensuring that scanning tools can detect emerging threats.

It’s helpful for businesses to have a dedicated cybersecurity team (whether in-house or outsourced) to keep track of these ongoing scans, results, and optimization efforts.

Frequency and duration of vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability scans should be performed regularly to maintain an optimal security posture. The frequency depends on the environment’s complexity and risk profile:

For dynamic environments or high-risk industries, weekly scans may be necessary. In less complex settings, monthly scans can suffice.
Scans should also be conducted after significant system changes, such as integrating new software or hardware, to ensure that no new vulnerabilities are introduced.

The duration of a vulnerability scan typically ranges from a few hours to a few days, depending on the scope and complexity of the systems being scanned.

Vulnerability scanning and compliance requirements

Vulnerability scanning is often a requirement for maintaining compliance with various regulatory standards. For instance, frameworks like PCI DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 mandate regular vulnerability assessments to ensure that organizations maintain robust security controls and mitigate potential risks.

By incorporating vulnerability scanning into their security practices, organizations can demonstrate compliance and avoid potential penalties or legal consequences. BPM’s services can help organizations meet these compliance obligations by providing tailored vulnerability scanning solutions that align with specific regulatory needs.

Penetration testing vs vulnerability scanning: which is right for you?

When it comes to choosing between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, the decision largely depends on your organization’s specific goals and needs. Both methods are valuable tools in maintaining a robust cybersecurity posture, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct benefits.

“When considering what the next project should be is, consider if you’ve ever had basic scans performed. If not, often times low-hanging items can be detected without the expense of a pen test. Conversely if you already have scans pen testing will highlight more flaws that leverage blended attacks. Mature organizations often employee a hybrid approach with regular scans in-between pen tests.” – Josh Schmidt

As you weigh your options, consider your company’s:

Security goals and priorities: Vulnerability scanning is ideal for regular monitoring identifying potential issues, whereas penetration testing offers a deeper, more realistic assessment of security defenses by simulating actual attacks.
Complexity and data requirements: Penetration testing is more complex and requires more data and resources compared to vulnerability scanning. It involves active probing and exploitation of vulnerabilities, which demands specialized experience and equipment. In contrast, vulnerability scanning is generally less resource-intensive, relying on automated tools
Compliance considerations: Both methods are essential for compliance in industries like finance, healthcare, and government. For instance, frameworks such as PCI DSS and HIPAA mandate regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to ensure robust security controls and mitigate potential risks.
Budget: Penetration testing is generally more expensive due to its complexity and the need for specialized experience, whereas vulnerability scanning is typically more cost-effective and can be performed frequently.
Risk profile: High-risk environments, such as those handling sensitive financial or healthcare data, may require more frequent penetration testing to ensure thorough security assessments. Vulnerability scanning can provide regular monitoring for organizations with lower risk profiles or those looking to maintain compliance without the need for in-depth assessments.

While both methods are indispensable in cybersecurity, the choice between them should be guided by your organization’s specific needs, risk profile, and compliance requirements.

Increase security by combining vulnerability scanning and penetration testing

Organizations seeking a comprehensive security posture often find that combining vulnerability scanning and penetration testing offers synergistic benefits.

Leveraging both methods provides several key advantages:

Comprehensive security posture: This combination provides regular monitoring through vulnerability scanning and in-depth assessments via penetration testing, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the security landscape.
Proactive risk management: By combining these methods, organizations can proactively identify vulnerabilities, prioritize remediation based on severity, and thoroughly assess critical vulnerabilities.
Compliance and risk reduction: Both methods are crucial for maintaining compliance and reducing risk exposure. Vulnerability scanning ensures ongoing compliance, while penetration testing meets more stringent regulatory requirements.

This integrated approach allows organizations to leverage the strengths of each method, ensuring comprehensive security monitoring, proactive risk management, and enhanced compliance.

Improve your cybersecurity posture with BPM

Protecting your organization’s digital assets. Both penetration testing and vulnerability scanning play critical roles in maintaining a robust security posture by identifying vulnerabilities, enhancing compliance, and reducing risk exposure.

BPM’s comprehensive penetration testing services are designed to empower organizations in achieving a strong cybersecurity foundation. Our proven track record across various sectors, combined with our commitment to delivering actionable insights and integrated solutions, makes us a trusted partner in cybersecurity.

“Our clients become our partners throughout their journey with cybersecurity. Client needs and priorities are dynamic and no two projects are ever the same. By providing customized and tailored assessments we strive to balance cost, time, compliance, and actionable reporting.” – Josh Schmidt

Contact us to learn how BPM can help safeguard your organization’s digital future.