What is the optimal frequency for vulnerability scans and penetration tests?

1 Factor 1: Risk level

The first factor to consider is the level of risk that your IT assets face from potential threats and vulnerabilities. The higher the risk, the more frequent the scans and tests should be. Risk level can depend on several factors, such as the value and sensitivity of the data, the exposure and accessibility of the systems, the compliance and regulatory requirements, and the threat landscape and activity. You can use a risk assessment framework, such as NIST SP 800-30, to identify and prioritize your risk areas and assets.

2 Factor 2: Change management

The second factor to consider is the frequency and impact of changes in your IT environment. Changes can introduce new vulnerabilities or affect existing ones, so you need to scan and test your systems after any significant change, such as software updates, configuration changes, hardware additions, or network modifications. You should also have a change management process that documents and tracks the changes, and integrates them with your security testing schedule and procedures.

3 Factor 3: Scan and test types

The third factor to consider is the type and scope of the scans and tests that you perform. There are different types of vulnerability scans, such as external, internal, authenticated, or unauthenticated, that can vary in depth and coverage. There are also different types of penetration tests, such as black box, gray box, or white box, that can vary in complexity and realism. Depending on your objectives and resources, you can choose the appropriate type and scope of scan and test for your IT assets, and adjust the frequency accordingly.

4 Factor 4: Scan and test results

The fourth factor to consider is the results and outcomes of the scans and tests that you conduct. You should analyze the results and identify the severity and impact of the findings, such as critical, high, medium, or low. You should also prioritize and remediate the findings according to your risk appetite and security policy. You should also monitor and measure the effectiveness and efficiency of your scans and tests, such as the number of findings, the false positives, the remediation time, and the cost.

5 Factor 5: Industry standards and best practices

The fifth factor to consider is the industry standards and best practices that can guide your scan and test frequency. There are various frameworks and guidelines that can provide recommendations and benchmarks for security testing, such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST CSF, or CIS Controls. You should review and follow these standards and best practices according to your industry, sector, or domain, and align your scan and test frequency with them.

6 Factor 6: Continuous improvement

The sixth factor to consider is the continuous improvement of your scan and test process and strategy. You should regularly review and update your scan and test frequency based on the feedback and data that you collect from the previous factors. You should also consider the emerging trends and technologies that can affect your security testing, such as cloud, IoT, AI, or automation. You should also seek to improve your scan and test capabilities and maturity, such as by adopting a DevSecOps approach, or using a third-party service provider.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?