Vulnerability assessors are professionals who help organizations identify vulnerabilities to data breaches and develop strategies for addressing them. Vulnerability assessors can work with IT professionals, security operations teams and other stakeholders to catalog network deficiencies, create detailed vulnerability assessments and mitigate cybersecurity risk for the entire organization.
In the ever-changing cybersecurity environment, vulnerability assessment is paramount. Aspiring vulnerability assessors can gain the cutting-edge skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the profession with the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Cybersecurity program from Florida Institute of Technology.
What Is Vulnerability Assessment?
Vulnerability assessors are cybersecurity professionals who help organizations identify potential threats to their systems and conduct vulnerability assessments to appraise all aspects of an organization’s information security infrastructure. The goal is to identify areas needing improvement before attackers can exploit them.
As a profession, vulnerability assessment can go by various names. Vulnerability assessment can also be a component of cybersecurity and information technology (IT) consultant, analyst and manager roles. For instance, these professional roles may overlap with that of the vulnerability assessor:
- Ethical hacker
- Vulnerability or cybersecurity analyst
- Internal enterprise auditor
- Network security engineer
- Information security analyst
- Reverse engineer
- Vulnerability manager
- Cybersecurity specialist
Regardless of title, vulnerability assessors are tasked with identifying cybersecurity liabilities. Once identified, vulnerability assessors prioritize weaknesses for resolution by the following criteria: risk level, the likelihood of occurrence, potential impact on the system and cost-effectiveness.
The most common tools used in vulnerability assessments include network scanners and web application scanners that help identify vulnerabilities in a company’s network. Vulnerability assessors can also use web applications, such as SQL injection flaws or cross-site scripting bugs, to conduct security checks. These tools work by scanning an organization’s entire network or web applications for known software flaws that attackers with access to the network could exploit.
What Is the Role of a Vulnerability Assessor?
Vulnerability assessors screen for security holes in company systems, looking for ways a hacker could access sensitive information or disrupt the company’s operations. Using various tools to conduct assessments, including the scanning software and data-gathering applications mentioned above, they examine the company’s policies regarding system access and permissions, as well as physical security measures.
They may also help companies develop new strategies for addressing cybersecurity threats, such as creating an incident response plan detailing a step-by-step process to follow in the case of a data breach. Depending on the organization’s needs, they may conduct a vulnerability evaluation as part of an overall risk assessment or periodically throughout the year. In addition to identifying weaknesses within an organization’s system, this process can help companies identify areas where they can improve overall security.
Vulnerability assessors and analysts also develop action plans for relieving potential damage by implementing security controls, such as firewalls or intrusion detection systems. Generally, their responsibilities include:
- Identifying potential threats to computer systems, networks, applications and software
- Analyzing potential solutions
- Implementing strategies to protect against threats identified during testing (e.g., installing security patches)
- Developing policies that outline the acceptable use of technology resources at work or school (e.g., setting file-sharing rules)
Vulnerability assessment allows organizations to identify and prioritize the most critical weaknesses in their security posture. It also enables organizations to determine the best ways to fix these weaknesses and protect systems from attacks.
Vulnerability Assessment Versus Penetration Testing
Another role similar to a vulnerability assessor is that of a penetration tester, sometimes called a pen tester or ethical hacker. Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing both test the security of a system, and some organizations and cybersecurity departments use the terms synonymously. Yet, generally, there are distinct differences between the two approaches.
Vulnerability assessment is essentially a passive method of identifying vulnerabilities. Conversely, penetration testing is an active method of exploiting through a direct and thorough evaluation. A penetration tester will check for vulnerabilities in a network and its devices by breaking into the system as if they were an outside hacker trying to gain access.
Vulnerability assessment doesn’t imitate a hacker. Instead, it uses automated tools to scan the entire network for security holes that could allow attackers to gain access or cause damage. They typically store the results of these scans in a report highlighting areas where problems exist, with the goal of designing and implementing solutions before real hackers find them.
Given the specialized nature of vulnerability analysis, few people qualify for these positions. With that in mind, organizations and companies constantly look for talented individuals with the right experience and skills to fill these jobs.
Skills and Qualities of Vulnerability Assessors
How a vulnerability assessor interacts with the people they are assessing is crucial to the success of their work. Vulnerability assessors must be able to build trust with their clients and sensitively handle any personal information that may come up during the assessment process.
Vulnerability assessors must be technically proficient, as they need to understand how systems work to assess them properly. They should also have experience working with data security issues, as these are critical factors in determining a system’s risk level.
The ideal candidate for this position would have an education in cybersecurity, computer science, mathematics or engineering. A background in statistics might also be valuable. Expertise in programming languages like C++, Java and Python is necessary, since these are the languages used to write software that protects computers from viruses and other cyberattacks.
Vulnerability assessors also need to know how to communicate well with others; they must explain their findings clearly so their clients can understand the risks involved in keeping their systems unsecured. Many companies don’t have the time or resources to do this themselves, so they hire outside experts.
Good knowledge of security protocols is necessary. Additionally, vulnerability assessors must have advanced expertise regarding how the malware operates and how it reaches its target systems.
Further, vulnerability assessors can advance their careers into leadership roles in information security management. Advanced management skills and cross-functional business knowledge are necessary for those who wish to pursue leadership positions.
Job Outlook and Vulnerability Assessor Salary Potential
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not maintain specific data on vulnerability assessors. This cybersecurity role would likely fall under the umbrella occupational group of information security analysts. BLS projects an impressive 33% increase in job opportunities for these professionals between 2023 and 2033, making it one of the five fastest-growing occupations in the country.
Advanced information security roles require extensive training and responsibility, and competent professionals are clearly in high demand. Given this, it is not surprising that salary potential in the field is very promising. According to BLS data, the median annual salary for information security analysts was $120,360 in 2023, with the top 10% of earners bringing in $182,370 or more per year. Top pay will generally go to those with substantial experience, expertise, managerial skills, education and training.
Becoming a Vulnerability Assessor: Education and Training
Generally, a good first step toward growing career prospects in the cybersecurity industry is to advance one’s education in a relevant discipline, such as computer science, information technology, cybersecurity or a related field. Those aspiring to top-level managerial or leadership roles can gain the diverse skills, expertise and career-advancing credentials necessary through earning a specialized cybersecurity MBA.
For instance, Florida Tech’s online MBA in Cybersecurity program prepares graduates to excel in myriad cybersecurity specialist, analyst and management roles. The curriculum aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand how information systems work, identify vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to manage and reduce risks.
Students learn about various aspects of computer forensics, such as investigation techniques, computer networking protocol analysis and malware analysis. The program also covers issues related to information assurance, such as cryptography, electronic commerce security and network security.
Plus, core MBA coursework lays a foundation of comprehensive business studies, preparing students to interface capably with all departments and business functions. This breadth of training is precisely what cybersecurity professionals need to climb the ranks to the highest levels of IT and information security leadership.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online MBA in Cybersecurity.
