In-house testing and scanning can identify, locate and remediate vulnerabilities far before the bad guys have a chance to exploit them; a regular scanning schedule is a must, especially after major upgrades or system modifications. Insecure server configurations, which can increase the risk of an attack dramatically, are addressed directly through regular scans.
Additionally, penetration testing — a simulated “attack” that attempts to identify vulnerabilities — allows for comprehensive risk assessment. Penetration tests constitute a crucial component of security audits, which enterprises are increasingly resorting to in order to minimise breach risks.