Pen Test vs. Vulnerability Scan: What’s the Difference and Why You Need Both

When it comes to protecting your business from cyber threats, you might have heard terms like “pen test” and “vulnerability scan” thrown around. But what do they mean? And more importantly, what’s the difference between the two?

What is a Vulnerability Scan?
Think of a vulnerability scan as a checkup for your business’ computer systems. Just like when you take your car to the mechanic for a routine inspection, a vulnerability scan looks for any potential weak spots or “vulnerabilities” in your IT systems. It scans your network, computers, and software to find things that could make you an easy target for cybercriminals.

Vulnerability scans are typically automated, meaning a program does the work for you, scanning your systems to find potential risks. The scan will give you a quick overview of your security posture, showing you any known issues that need to be fixed, like outdated software or weak passwords. Vulnerability scans are not super detailed. They provide a list of possible issues but don’t explore how these issues could be exploited.

What is a Pen Test?
A penetration test (often called a "pen test") goes a step further. If a vulnerability scan is like a routine checkup, a pen test is like hiring someone to try and break into your business to see if it’s really secure.

A pen test is done by a skilled security expert (often called an “ethical hacker”) who acts like a real-world hacker trying to get into your systems. They use the information from a vulnerability scan to find weak spots, then try to actually break into your network. Their goal is to show you how a cybercriminal could take advantage of these vulnerabilities in a real attack.

Unlike vulnerability scans, pen tests are not automated. A security expert uses their skills and tools to mimic what a real hacker might do. Pen tests dig deeper into your systems, going beyond just identifying vulnerabilities. They actively test to see how far an attack could go.

After a pen test, you’ll get a detailed report showing how the expert got in, what data they accessed, and what steps you can take to fix the issues. In short, a pen test not only identifies weak spots but shows you exactly how a hacker could exploit them—and how to fix it before it’s too late. 

It’s important to understand that vulnerability scans and pen tests work best together. A vulnerability scan helps you identify potential issues quickly and cost-effectively. It’s a good first step in maintaining basic security hygiene. However, a vulnerability scan alone won’t show you the full picture.

A pen test goes deeper, providing a more comprehensive view of your security weaknesses. While it’s more in-depth and time-consuming, a pen test helps ensure that your business is protected from real-world attacks.

Both are essential for keeping your business safe from cyber threats. By using these two tools together, you can better protect your company from hackers and ensure your sensitive data stays secure.

If you have questions or need assistance, schedule a call with us or visit our Learning Center for more information. We're here to help!