Why VAPT Should Be Continuous, Not Annual

Since Bob Thomas launched the ‘Creeper’ virus in 1971, cyberattacks have only grown in frequency and sophistication with each passing year. Every day, organizations face multiple breach attempts, most of which are successful.

While defensive security has evolved to match modern attacks, some practices need to evolve further to give companies a fighting chance. One such practice is Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT).

To stay effective, VAPT must shift from annual, point-in-time reviews to an ongoing process that keeps pace with evolving threats and rapid software changes.

This article explores continuous VAPT as a practical way to close those gaps and strengthen an organization’s overall security posture.

The Limitations of Annual VAPT

Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) typically operate on an annual cycle, an approach that made sense when enterprise applications were deployed infrequently. To minimize downtime, many organizations confine VAPT to scheduled maintenance windows, creating a false sense of security that persists until the next evaluation cycle.

This approach, however, is out of step with today’s threat landscape, where attackers launch 36,000 scans every second. Given the rising cost and sophistication of cyberattacks, relying on annual tests leaves companies dangerously exposed. By the time the next VAPT is scheduled, threat actors may have already detected and weaponized unknown vulnerabilities.

Core limitations of the annual VAPT model include:

• Rapid system changes: modern applications undergo continuous integration and deployment cycles, with frequent code changes. Each modification introduces a new attack path that goes unchecked between assessments.
• Emerging flaws outpace annual tests: security flaws are constantly emerging across networks and systems, but annual tests can’t catch them in real time. Advanced persistent threats, for example, exploit blind spots year-round, reducing the effectiveness of annual VAPT.
• Extended exposure: long intervals between tests give cybercriminals time to gain access, map systems, and launch multi-stage attacks, undetected.

The Case for Continuous VAPT

Unlike the traditional VAPT model, continuous VAPT entails ongoing vulnerability assessments.

It combines automated scanning with on-demand penetration testing to continuously identify and prioritize emerging vulnerabilities.

This section of the article offers a quick comparison between annual and continuous VAPT, highlighting the benefits of the latter.

Benefits of Continuous VAPT

Continuous VAPT moves security evaluations from a periodic task to an ongoing practice. Through targeted pen testing and automated scanning, security teams gain continuous visibility of weaknesses across the entire IT infrastructure.

Key benefits of continuous VAPT include:

• Faster detection and remediation: Continuous VAPT enables organizations to detect and mitigate threats as they arise, instead of waiting for the next scheduled assessment.
• Alignment with DevOps and agile workflows: Apart from shortening exposure windows, this VAPT approach integrates security directly into CI/CD pipelines - making protection part of everyday business, rather than an annual checkpoint.
• Compliance: Continuous VAPT provides ongoing documentation of security monitoring, demonstrating a commitment to regulatory standards like HIPAA and GDPR.
• Improved security posture: With ongoing visibility and enhanced remediation, continuous VAPT reduces the likelihood of successful cyberattacks, protecting organizations’ resources and reputations over time.

Addressing Concerns Around Continuous VAPT

While ongoing VAPT delivers clear security benefits, many organizations hesitate due to concerns about complexity, cost, or downtime.

These concerns are valid but solvable, with the right approach; here’s a closer look:

• Budget: continuous testing can seem expensive compared to annual assessments, especially for smaller teams. But outsourcing VAPT functions can control costs without compromising on security coverage.
• Skill gap: the global cybersecurity talent shortage means that recruiting experts to manage ongoing testing and remediation may prove difficult or take a long time. But partnering with trusted VAPT vendors and upskilling existing staff goes a long way.
• Downtime: some CISOs worry that frequent testing may overload systems and disrupt operations. However, testing in safe environments, and coordinating with operations teams ensures that integrating modern VAPT tools is low impact.
• Complexity: implementing continuous VAPT can be daunting because it spans multiple tools, roles, and workflows. The key is to start small, instead of trying to monitor everything at once. Partnering with a reputable cybersecurity advisory can further simplify the process and guide internal teams through each stage.

Conclusion

Continuous VAPT is not a brand-new invention, but an evolution of the traditional VAPT model. Unlike annual VAPT, this approach aligns with dynamic development practices like DevOps and keeps pace with evolving threat patterns.

Companies that adopt ongoing vulnerability assessments are generally more cyber-resilient, thanks to the real-time intelligence and continuous monitoring they provide.