Episode 137: Vulnerability Scanning Tools and Practices (Domain 4)

Certified: The CompTIA Security+ Audio Course

Proactive security means finding and fixing weaknesses before attackers do, and vulnerability scanning is the tool that makes that possible at scale. In this episode, we break down how vulnerability scanners work, from discovering assets and services to identifying known weaknesses based on CVE data, vendor advisories, and configuration checks. We compare credentialed vs. non-credentialed scans, internal vs. external scanning, and on-demand vs. scheduled scanning to help teams understand when and how to deploy these tools effectively. We also highlight the importance of tuning scans to avoid network disruption, validating scan results to eliminate false positives, and integrating findings into patch management and risk prioritization workflows. Vulnerability scanning isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a recurring security habit that provides visibility, accountability, and early warning. If you’re not scanning, you’re guessing.