Small businesses alone face nearly half of all cyberattacks, and with the growing reliance on online tools and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) platforms, their attack surface has expanded significantly. This now opens small businesses up to a wide range of cyberattacks, a trend expected to intensify in 2025. 

For small businesses, one of the effective ways to protect themselves from cyberattacks without heavy investments is vulnerability scanning. Many small businesses think vulnerability scanning is complex and costly, but in reality, it is accessible and affordable for small businesses. In this blog. We’ll explore what vulnerability scanning is, why it’s needed, and a practical approach to implementing it effectively.

What is Vulnerability Scanning

Vulnerability scanning is the process of identifying potential security gaps in your network, systems, and applications. These vulnerabilities could be outdated software,weak passwords or anything that hacker could exploit.The goal of vulnerability scanning is to identity the vulnerabilities for SMS owners to make informed decision on which issue to prioritize first.

Before going into the practicalities of vulnerability scanning, it is important to understand the various scanning methods available. They are

1. Network Vulnerability Scanning

Network Vulnerability scanning focus on identifying vulnerabilities in your SMBs network,such as open ports,misconfigurations in routers,firewalls,and servers. 

2. Web Application Vulnerability Scanning 

Many SMBs host web applications which are prone to SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), or cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Web application vulnerability scanners focuses on detecting these flaws in code or configuration of web application.

3. Cloud Infrastructure Vulnerability Scanning

Small business prefer cloud as it is cost effective compared to on premise infrastructure, but cloud environments also have some deadly vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors. Cloud vulnerability scanning is aimed to identify misconfigurations,known vulnerabilities,zombie APIs etc.

Why Vulnerability scanning is important for small businesses 

Around 59% of small business owners assume they are not big enough to get targeted by cybercriminals. Indeed, they don’t have the same amount of sensitive data or intellectual property worth millions, but cybercriminals don’t set their target based on size. This complacency leaves small businesses vulnerable to cyberattacks. According to the study, only14% of small businesses are prepared to face cyberattacks. Here are some reasons why vulnerability scanning is important for small businesses

1. Cost-effective 

The cost of a data breach can be crippling for small businesses with financial and reputational damage that can be hard to recover. Vulnerability scanning is a cost-effective way to identify the gaps before they escalate into significant issues.

2. Proactive Threat Management

Vulnerability scanning is a proactive measure to uncover vulnerabilities before exploited by threat actors.Stat shows small businesses faced 58% of the reported cyberattack, which means if your business is not adequately protected, there is a high chance of cyberattack.

3.Compliance Requirements

Small businesses are also subject to regulations like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) or EU-DORA Act, etc. Regular vulnerability scanning can help small businesses meet these compliance requirements and avoid heavy fines and penalties.

A Practical Approach to Vulnerability Scanning for Small Businesses

Now that we understand the necessity of vulnerability scanning for small businesses,lets explore how to implement a practical vulnerability scanning strategy that fits small business needs.The main goal here is to ease of use and cost effectiveness.

1. Choosing the Right Vulnerability Scanning Tool

There are plenty of vulnerability scanning tools available on the market from free to premium, with advanced features.When securing a vulnerability scanner for a small business, you should consider the following.

  • Ease of Use: Look for tools with an interactive interface with a straightforward setup process. Simply, choose a tool that suits you and can use it without the help of any expert.
  • Cost: Free tools are there, but paid tools offer more support and features.
  • Compatibility: Ensure the scanner is compatible with your OS, network infrastructure, and other applications.
  • Reporting: Look for tools that provide actionable recommendations for remediation

Some popular tools for small businesses include:

👉OpenVas(Free, open-source)

👉Nessus(Paid,offers free trial)

Related Reading: On-Premise vs. Cloud-Based Vulnerability Scanning: Which is Better?

2. Establish a Vulnerability Scanning Schedule

Vulnerability scanning is a routine task. New threats are constantly being discovered and cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to exploit.to stay ahead of potential threats, establish a regular vulnerability scanning schedule is must. For most small businesses, scanning once every month is more than enough but businesses with higher security requirements may need to perform vulnerability scanning frequently.

3.Prioritize the Vulnerabilities

After running the vulnerability scan, you’ll know the vulnerabilities in your business. Now, you need to prioritize the vulnerabilities i.e. which one to fix first. Not all vulnerabilities pose the same level of risk. You should prioritize the patching process based on

  • CVSS Score (Common Vulnerability Scoring System): Vulnerabilities are assigned scores based on their potential impact, a higher score indicates severe threats.
  • Exposure: If the vulnerability affects publicly accessible systems( website, customer portal), then it should be fixed as soon as possible.
  • Exploitability: if the vulnerability is easy to exploit and  POC is available to the public, it should be addressed quickly.

4. Track Your Progress

Finally, track the progress of your vulnerability management efforts. Vulnerabilities which are fixed and monitor for new ones.Keeping a record helps maintain a comprehensive and strong security posture.

Conclusion

Vulnerability scanning is an essential part of a small business’s cybersecurity strategy. For small businesses maintaining a strong security posture is important not only to be compliant but also to ensure its financial stability. Stats reveal nearly 75% of small businesses that experience a ransomware attack face the real risk of bankruptcy soon after. By proactively identifying and addressing security gaps with the help of vulnerability scanners, small businesses can reduce their chances of falling victim to cyberattacks.