What Are Vulnerabilities and Why Scanning for Them Matters

What is a Vulnerability?

A vulnerability is a weakness in a computer system, software, or network that could be exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access, steal data, or cause harm.

Think of it like a crack in the wall of your house — if left unfixed, someone could break in.

Common examples of vulnerabilities include:

• Outdated software with known security holes
• Weak or default passwords
• Misconfigured settings
• Unsecured web applications

What is a Vulnerability Scan?

A vulnerability scan is like a digital health check-up for your systems.

It automatically searches for known weaknesses that attackers could take advantage of.

The scanner checks:

• If systems are up to date
• If software or devices have known bugs
• If any settings or configurations make your systems more vulnerable

It then generates a report, showing what it found, how serious each issue is, and often, how to fix them.

Why Should You Run Vulnerability Scans?

No matter the size of your business — small startup or large enterprise — vulnerability scanning is critical for your security.

Here's why:

• Early detection: Find and fix weaknesses before attackers do.
• Compliance: Many regulations (like GDPR or local data privacy laws and the upcoming Chilean Data Privacy law) require regular scanning.
• Cost savings: Fixing issues early is far cheaper than dealing with a data breach.
• Customer trust: Showing you take security seriously helps build credibility.

How Often Should You Scan?

For most organizations, monthly or quarterly scans are a good practice. But you should also scan:

• After launching a new website or service
• After major software updates
• After fixing previously found vulnerabilities

What Happens After the Scan?

Once the scan is complete, you’ll receive a report that typically includes:

• A list of found vulnerabilities
• Risk levels (e.g., low, medium, high)
• Recommendations or steps to fix each issue

Your IT team or security provider can then prioritize and resolve the most serious issues first.

Are Scans the Same as Penetration Tests?

Not exactly.

• Vulnerability scanning is automated and looks for known issues.
• Penetration testing is manual or semi-automated and simulates a real-world attack to find unknown or more complex vulnerabilities.

Both are important, but running a vulnerability scan is a faster, more cost-effective first step.

Key Takeaways

• Vulnerabilities are weaknesses that attackers exploit to access your systems.
• Vulnerability scanning helps find and fix these weaknesses before they’re used against you.
• It's affordable, easy to automate, and essential for any organization that handles digital data.
• Regular scanning helps maintain strong security, meet compliance requirements, and protect your reputation.

Need help setting up a vulnerability scan or understanding your results? Contact our support team or visit the vulnerability scanning knowledge base article for more info.

Updated on: 07/08/2025