Application Vulnerability Assessment

A Application Vulnerability Assessment is the process of identifying the threats or vulnerabilities affecting a system. Various types of systems consisting of information technology, energy supply systems, communication systems, transportation systems etc... are evaluated for determining their vulnerable points. It’s an approach and a method that helps in identifying the vulnerabilities affecting the system. It’s also useful in quantifying and ranking the vulnerabilities.

Small businesses as well as large regional infrastructures can be covered by vulnerability assessments. Certain important steps are followed for carrying out the assessments. The first step in the process consists of cataloging the assets along with the resources available within the system. The next step assigns rank orders or quantifies the value of the resource(s) . After passing this step, the potential threats to the available resources are identified. Finally, the last step consists of mitigating or eliminating the most serious threats to the valuable resources of the system based on the rank, asset value, level of vulnerability and/or a combination of all three.

A Application Vulnerability Assessment is not only concerned about the direct consequences of the studied object, but also focuses on the primary and secondary consequences that affects the surrounding environment of the object or system that is analyzed. The design and operation of the physical plant or object is studied in detail for analyzing the risks involved with it. Its causes and direct consequences are taken into consideration for assessing the vulnerabilities. This type of assessment also focuses on reducing the possibility of such consequences in future along with improving the ability for managing such incidents.

Generally speaking, the vulnerability assessment helps in driving the risk management process and categorizing the key assets of the system. Application Vulnerability Assessment tests are done by various agencies which help in identifying and categorizing the risks involved along with increasing the efficiency for managing the risks. In the US, agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the United States Department of Transportation are some of the agencies which carry out such tests on a broad scale. Apart from these, there are numerous other agencies which are involved in this process. Since all kinds of systems are susceptible to various types of threats or vulnerabilities, it becomes an essential step for protecting the system or systems against risks.

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