Yes, vulnerability scanning can potentially affect system performance. This impact is primarily due to the increased network traffic and CPU usage that occurs during the scanning process. Vulnerability scanners send requests to various services and applications on a network or system to identify potential security weaknesses. These requests consume resources that would otherwise be available for other tasks.
For example, if a vulnerability scan is performed on a server during peak hours, it could lead to slower response times for users accessing the server's services. The CPU and memory usage might spike, which could impact the performance of applications running on the server.
To mitigate this impact, organizations often schedule vulnerability scans during off-peak hours when system usage is lower. Additionally, using cloud-based vulnerability scanning services can help distribute the load and reduce the impact on local systems. For instance, cloud platforms like Tencent Cloud offer scalable and efficient security services that can perform vulnerability scans with minimal impact on system performance.