Re: Vulnerability Assessment vs. PenTest

[Bob Radvanovsky <rsradvan () unixworks net>]

A vulnerability assessment often *includes* the penetration testing and analysis.  For the most part, a VA includes 
elements such as policy management verification (does the company XYZ have the correct policy implemented for it), 
verification that a policy does what its supposed to do (procedural verification), and several often factors, all of 
which are "paper verifications".  Pen-testing is really one of the few aspects of a VA that *does* anything technical 
(per se).  The rest are operational in that they are verifications that the company is doing what it claims to be doing.

Does this help?  I hope I've explained it well enough.  If someone else has a better way of explaining, please do so.

-r

----- Original Message -----
From: James Harless [mailto:jharless () kidwellcompanies com]
To: pen-test () securityfocus com
Subject: Vulnerability Assessment vs. PenTest


> Where is the line between a Vulnerability Assessment and a PenTest?  In
> other words, which tests do you run which identifies your assessment as
> a pentest rather than a VA?  
>  
> And, related, do VAs still have value?  Do you feel that a PenTest
> includes everything that a VA would (and more)?
>  
> My thoughts are that a VA is just an effort to document all the
> identified and potential vulnerabilities on a network.  A PenTest is an
> attempt to identify those vulnerabilities and then exploit some of them
> to verify their weakness.
>  
>  
> James
>
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This List Sponsored by: Cenzic

Concerned about Web Application Security?
Why not go with the #1 solution - Cenzic, the only one to win the Analyst's
Choice Award from eWeek. As attacks through web applications continue to rise,
you need to proactively protect your applications from hackers. Cenzic has the
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managed service (Cenzic ClickToSecure) or an enterprise software
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help you: http://www.cenzic.com/news_events/wpappsec.php
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