Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and businesses must stay ahead of the curve. Vulnerability scanning has become a crucial part of proactive cybersecurity, with 24% of companies conducting more than four scans yearly—a significant increase from just 15% last year. This shift underscores the importance of identifying weaknesses before attackers exploit them.

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For organizations handling sensitive data, a single overlooked vulnerability can lead to devastating breaches, financial losses, and legal consequences. Understanding the differences between internal and external vulnerability scans is essential in protecting your business. Internal scans focus on identifying gaps within your network, while external scans examine your public-facing assets that hackers may target.

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In this blog, we’ll dive into the key differences between these two types of scans, explain their unique benefits, and highlight the best use cases for each.

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What is Vulnerability Scanning?

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Vulnerability scanning is an automated method for evaluating your IT infrastructure. It can locate attackable security flaws, poor configurations, and old software applications. 

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Businesses use this method to find potential security risks that could avoid becoming data breaches. Security teams identify threats and ensure compliance by running automated scans that help maintain active protection against cyberattacks on network applications and systems. 

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Vulnerability scanning generally falls into two main categories:

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• Internal Vulnerability Scanning: Focuses on security risks within a business's network, targeting insider threats, misconfigurations, and outdated software.
• External Vulnerability Scanning: Assesses internet-facing assets such as websites, firewalls, and APIs to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

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Vulnerability scanning typically involves using automated tools to scan networks, systems, and applications for known vulnerabilities or weaknesses. These tools assess configurations, software versions, and potential entry points and generate reports that highlight risks based on predefined security databases or vulnerability intelligence sources.

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But why is vulnerability scanning so important? To fully grasp its significance, we need to understand the nature of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how attackers exploit them.

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What are Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

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No business, regardless of size, is immune to cyber threats. Attackers exploit security gaps caused by:

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• Outdated software
• Misconfigured servers
• Weak credentials
• Infrequent security assessments

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Failing to perform regular security assessments allows attackers to exploit these vulnerabilities, leading to ransomware attacks, service disruptions, and data breaches.

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To counter these threats, businesses must proactively assess their security posture. 

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What is Internal Vulnerability Scanning?

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Internal vulnerability scans target network-based vulnerabilities. This tool discovers security weaknesses caused by system setup mistakes, outdated software, or mistreated internal threats that stem from deliberate or accidental actions. Businesses rely on these scans to protect their compliance standards by identifying and reducing insider security threats and safeguarding sensitive information. 

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Tools used for vulnerability scanning

The most commonly used tools for discovering security weaknesses in corporate networks include Nessus, Qualys, and OpenVAS, which belong to the category of internal vulnerability scanners. Internal scanning tools check for organizational mistakes in system configurations as well as outdated software, which insiders and accidental users could use to exploit system vulnerabilities.

How Internal Scans Work

Internal scans are conducted from within your network and often require credentialed access. Businesses use internal scans to evaluate endpoints, servers, databases, and applications for entry points that attackers could leverage if they gained system access.

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Key Benefits of Internal Vulnerability Scans

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A clear understanding of internal scans leads to a deeper look at their advantages in fortifying cybersecurity.

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• Reduces insider threats: Identifies risks posed by employees, misconfigurations, or compromised accounts.
• Ensures compliance: Meets security requirements for HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and other regulatory frameworks.
• Finds software vulnerabilities: Detects outdated or unpatched applications before they become entry points for attacks.
• Strengthens network security: Helps prevent privilege escalation and lateral movement within your IT infrastructure.

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While internal scanning focuses on risks within a business, external vulnerability scanning takes a different approach by identifying threats originating outside the network.

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What is External Vulnerability Scanning?

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External vulnerability scanning is a cybersecurity process that assesses threats originating outside your business. It focuses on evaluating publicly accessible assets like websites, email servers, firewalls, and APIs to identify weaknesses that hackers might exploit.

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External vulnerability scanning primarily aims to identify and address security risks before attackers exploit them. Since cybercriminals typically start by probing external-facing systems, these scans act as the first line of defense. They help prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, and compliance violations by detecting exposed ports, weak encryption, outdated software, or misconfigurations that could serve as attack entry points. 

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How External Scans Work

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External scans simulate real-world cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in internet-connected systems. These scans check for:

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• Exposed ports and misconfigurations: Scans detect open ports and incorrect network configurations that could provide unauthorized access to your systems.
• Weak encryption and outdated SSL/TLS certificates: These identify weak or outdated encryption methods that could expose sensitive data to interception or unauthorized access.
• Unpatched software on web servers: The scans look for unpatched software vulnerabilities in web servers, which attackers could exploit to gain control.

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Given the increasing number of cyberattacks targeting external assets, businesses must prioritize external vulnerability scanning. Here are the reasons why.

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Key Benefits of External Vulnerability Scans

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The following are key advantages of external vulnerability scanning:

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• Protects customer-facing assets: Secures websites, applications, and network perimeter from external threats.
• Reduces data breach risks: Identifies vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access or data leaks.
• Supports regulatory compliance: Ensures security measures align with frameworks like GDPR, NIST, and ISO 27001.
• Enhances firewall and network security: Detects open ports, misconfigurations, and other potential entry points.

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Comparing internal and external scanning highlights their key differences, helping determine the right approach for different scenarios.

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Key Differences Between Internal and External Vulnerability Scanning

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Understanding the differences enables businesses to tailor their security strategies effectively, ensuring the finest protection against a variety of cyber threats. Here is a breakdown of the major differences: 

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By recognizing these key differences, businesses can strategically implement internal and external scans to address vulnerabilities at every infrastructure level.

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When Should You Use Internal Vulnerability Scanning?

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Internal vulnerability scanning is vital for three purposes: threat management, compliance requirements, and IT security operations. It can detect all network security gaps created by human errors, system misconfigurations, or weak infrastructure elements and protect your network from threats. Businesses should perform internal scans to:

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1. Detecting Insider Threats and Weaknesses

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• Identify risks caused by employees or third-party vendors.
• Helps mitigate security vulnerabilities before they escalate.

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2. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

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• Supports industries with strict security standards like healthcare and finance.
• Helps businesses meet regulatory requirements such as HIPAA and PCI-DSS.

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3. Maintaining Secure IT Operations

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• Addresses system misconfigurations and unpatched vulnerabilities.
• Ensures that the IT infrastructure remains secure and resilient against threats.

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Similarly, external vulnerability scanning is necessary for protecting publicly accessible assets. Here are some times when businesses should conduct external scans.

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When Should You Use External Vulnerability Scanning?

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External vulnerability scanning should be used when your business needs to protect internet-facing assets, such as websites, APIs, and cloud-based applications, from cyber threats. It is essential for detecting and mitigating security risks that attackers who attempt unauthorized access from outside your network could exploit.

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• Before launching a new website or application, ensure public-facing services are not exposed to known vulnerabilities.
• Regularly, as part of a proactive security strategy: It Identifies security gaps and misconfigurations in external infrastructure.
• To meet compliance requirements: Regulatory frameworks like PCI-DSS, GDPR, and NIST require regular external vulnerability assessments.
• After infrastructure or network changes, it helps confirm that updates, new services, or cloud migrations have not introduced new security risks.
• Following a cyber threat or security incident, assists in identifying exploited vulnerabilities and preventing future attacks.

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Regular external vulnerability scanning isn’t just about compliance. It’s a critical defence against cyber threats. By identifying and fixing weaknesses before attackers exploit them, businesses reduce the risk of data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. It also provides ongoing insights into security gaps, ensuring that external-facing assets remain protected as threats evolve. Prioritizing these scans helps maintain a strong security posture, safeguard sensitive data, and build customer trust.

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To make the most of vulnerability scanning, businesses should follow best practices that optimize their security measures.

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Best Practices for Conducting Vulnerability Scans

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Ensuring your business's security posture remains strong requires a strategic approach to vulnerability scanning. Implementing best practices can help mitigate risks, improve efficiency, and maintain compliance. To optimize security, businesses should:

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1. Establish a Routine Scanning Schedule

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A structured schedule ensures vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they become security risks. Here’s why it matters:

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• Schedule scans weekly, monthly, or quarterly based on risk exposure.
• Regular scanning helps detect evolving threats before they escalate.
  
  

2. Automate Scanning for Efficiency

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Automation reduces manual workload and ensures continuous monitoring for real-time threat detection. The key advantage is:

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• Utilizing automated vulnerability scanning tools to streamline security processes.
• Automation ensures continuous security monitoring with minimal manual effort.
  
  

3. Analyze Reports and Prioritize Fixes

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Focusing on high-risk vulnerabilities helps prevent potential exploits and minimizes security gaps. The goal is to:

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• Focus on critical vulnerabilities that pose the highest risk.
• Address security gaps based on business impact and exploitability.
  
  

4. Integrate Scans into a Comprehensive Security Strategy

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Combining scans with other security measures creates a multi-layered defense against evolving threats. This approach ensures:

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• Combine vulnerability scanning with penetration testing and security training.
• Continuous monitoring strengthens your business's defense mechanisms.

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Strengthening these security measures requires expert solutions that streamline the process and ensure comprehensive protection. GrowthGuard offers advanced tools and expertise to help businesses effectively fortify their cybersecurity posture.

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How GrowthGuard Helps Businesses Secure Their Data?

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GrowthGuard provides advanced cybersecurity solutions designed to enhance business security and compliance. Their services include:

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• Advanced Vulnerability Scanning: GrowthGuard offers continuous internal and external vulnerability scanning to identify and mitigate security threats before they escalate. 
• Regulatory Compliance Support: Ensuring businesses comply with industry standards such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR, and NIST through automated security checks and reporting. 
• Threat Intelligence & Risk Mitigation: Real-time monitoring and threat detection that provides actionable insights to mitigate cyber risks effectively. 
• Automated Security Processes: AI-powered tools streamline vulnerability management, reducing manual effort and enhancing security efficiency. 
• Penetration Testing & Attack Simulations: Simulated cyberattacks assess security effectiveness, identifying gaps before they become major risks.

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Contact GrowthGuard’s experts today to secure your business from evolving cyber threats.

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Final Thoughts

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Internal and external vulnerability scanning are both essential for a strong cybersecurity strategy. Internal scans detect risks inside your network, while external scans safeguard public-facing assets from external threats. By conducting regular vulnerability assessments, your business can prevent security breaches, ensure compliance, and maintain a resilient security posture. If you haven't already, now is the time to implement a consistent scanning process to stay ahead of cyber threats and protect your digital assets.

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Ignoring vulnerabilities doesn’t make them go away, it only gives attackers more time to find and exploit them. Every unscanned system is a potential weak spot. That’s why routine scanning isn’t just recommended; it’s necessary.

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Do you have a regular scanning process in place? If not, now is the time to start. A single undetected weakness can lead to data loss, downtime, and financial damage. Stay proactive and keep your business secure.

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Shield your business before cyber threats find a way in!  Schedule Your Vulnerability Scan Now