Can vulnerability scanning achieve the purpose of real-time monitoring?

Vulnerability scanning alone cannot fully achieve real-time monitoring because it typically involves periodic scans at scheduled intervals rather than continuous observation. Traditional vulnerability scanners assess systems for known weaknesses, misconfigurations, or outdated software at predefined times, which may leave gaps between scans where new threats emerge undetected.

However, combining vulnerability scanning with other security tools can enhance real-time monitoring capabilities. For example:

• Continuous vulnerability assessment: Some advanced solutions integrate scanning engines with agents that run in the background, periodically checking for changes or new vulnerabilities without requiring full scans.
• Integration with threat detection systems: Pairing vulnerability data with real-time threat intelligence or intrusion detection systems (IDS) can help correlate newly discovered vulnerabilities with active attack attempts.

Example: A company uses a vulnerability scanner to check its servers weekly. While this identifies known issues, an attacker could exploit a newly patched flaw between scans. By deploying an agent-based vulnerability assessment tool alongside a real-time IDS, the system can flag suspicious activities targeting vulnerable endpoints immediately.

For cloud environments, Tencent Cloud offers Host Security (CWP), which includes continuous vulnerability detection and real-time alerts for compromised assets. It combines periodic deep scans with agent-based monitoring to reduce the window of exposure. Additionally, Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) integrates with runtime defense mechanisms to block attacks targeting known vulnerabilities in real time.