Business cyberattacks often begin with something small, like an outdated plugin, an exposed login page or an unnoticed file change. Hackers seek out these vulnerabilities, hoping to exploit them before the website owner gets around to fixing them. In this post, we explain what vulnerability scans are, how they detect threats and which scanning tools businesses can use to keep their websites protected.
Why vulnerability scans matter
Vulnerability scans check your website and server for weaknesses commonly targeted by hackers. These include outdated software, unprotected admin dashboards and insecure file permissions. They also check your system to see if malware is already present. If any problems are detected, the scanner then provides guidance or tools to fix them or, in some cases, fixes them automatically.
Scans have become essential due to the growing number of attacks and the speed at which they can happen. According to VulnCheck, 159 newly exploited vulnerabilities were disclosed in just the first quarter of 2025. Of these, hackers had begun exploiting 28% of them within a day of their being discovered and before security patches had been released. Worryingly, the most common targets were content management systems, like WordPress, server software and publicly accessible interfaces, like control panels and website dashboards.
IBM X-Force, meanwhile, reported that in 2024, 30% of attacks started with a vulnerability in a public-facing application, such as a login page. Once inside, attackers then rescanned the website looking for more exploitable weaknesses.
What vulnerability scans detect
A scan checks for known security weaknesses and unusual behaviour, including:
- Software or plugins with known security problems
- Unprotected admin areas
- Malicious code hidden inside website files
- Weak server settings that potentially offer unauthorised access
- Unusual file changes or user actions that could indicate a breach
Regular scans are important because they help you spot problems before they cause significant damage. Many tools automatically quarantine malicious files while providing instructions for tackling other issues. Newer tools have also begun to use AI and machine learning to identify more complex or emerging threats that traditional signature-based scanning might miss.
The evolving nature of threats
Instead of relying on hacking, modern cybercriminals are using a wider range of attack methods. Phishing emails, for instance, are extensively used to trick employees into installing infostealer malware that collects usernames and passwords so hackers can simply log in. IBM reported an 84% increase in infostealer attacks in 2024.
Public-facing websites are another common target, with a quarter of attacks in 2024 on flaws in online apps. With hackers using bots to scan thousands of sites each day looking for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, regular scanning is essential to ensure these threats are quickly detected.
Tools used to scan for threats
Today’s security tools use a combination of techniques to identify and respond to issues. Here are the main types of scanning solutions available:
- WordPress vulnerability and malware scanners
For WordPress websites, some hosting platforms now come with built-in scanning that checks plugins and themes for known security issues. They also track file changes and look for unexpected behaviour that could indicate malware. - Server-level scanning and file monitoring
Solutions like Imunify360 go even further. It scans your entire hosting environment, monitoring traffic and searching for malware, automatically quarantining anything suspicious. It also patches software as soon as updates are released, immediately removing vulnerabilities, while utilising machine learning to analyse behaviour for signs of disguised or newly emerging risks. - Advanced file inspection and hidden threat detection
Today’s sophisticated threats hide themselves to avoid detection, sometimes using scrambled code or misleading file names. Tools like Antivirus+, part of Imunify360, use code analysis and deobfuscation techniques to detect stealth attacks. By scanning and analysing scrambled or encrypted code, it can identify malware that traditional scans might miss.
Best practices for business websites
For most business websites, monthly scans are a good starting point. However, if your site handles customer or employee logins, stores sensitive data or takes payments, then more frequent scans are recommended. You should also run a scan after major updates, software installs or plugin changes.
Automatic updates and patching are also vital given that delayed updates are one of the most common reasons why websites are compromised. If software is no longer used, then uninstalling it can reduce the ways that cybercriminals can attack.
While regular vulnerability scanning plays a key role, it should only form part of your security arsenal. In addition, you should use a firewall, intrusion and malware prevention tools, SSL, email filtering, two-factor authentication, strong passwords and access control to counter the wider range of threats and provide more comprehensive protection.
Conclusion
With threats becoming more sophisticated, regular vulnerability scanning is a vital requirement for any business running a website today. By detecting vulnerabilities before cybercriminals have the opportunity to exploit them, scans can prevent malware and ransomware attacks and reduce the impact of phishing and credential theft. Used in conjunction with other security tools, scanning is an integral element in modern cybersecurity.
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