In today’s rapidly evolving IT landscape, security teams are challenged with managing vulnerabilities across a mix of on-premises and cloud environments—what we commonly refer to as a hybrid network. Agent-based scanning can be invasive and resource-intensive, especially for systems with performance limitations, security policies, or strict compliance constraints. That's where agentless vulnerability scanning shines.
Agentless scanning enables security teams to detect vulnerabilities without installing software agents on every endpoint. It’s efficient, non-intrusive, and ideal for modern hybrid infrastructure. This blog will walk you through how to configure agentless vulnerability scanning for a hybrid network step by step.
What is Agentless Vulnerability Scanning?
Agentless vulnerability scanning is a method of assessing devices, servers, and other network assets without deploying agents on each system. Instead, it uses standard protocols (like SSH, WinRM, or SMB) to remotely gather system information and identify vulnerabilities.
Benefits:
- No performance impact on endpoints
- Easier to deploy and manage
- Faster time-to-value
- Reduced maintenance overhead
Understanding the Hybrid Network Landscape
A hybrid network typically includes:
- On-premises assets: Physical servers, desktops, and networking gear
- Cloud-based instances: Virtual machines in AWS, Azure, GCP
- Remote systems: Devices connected via VPN or secure tunnels
Each segment has unique scanning requirements. The challenge is to cover all these environments consistently and securely using an agentless approach.
Step-by-Step Guide to Configure Agentless Vulnerability Scanning
1. Define Your Asset Inventory
Before scanning, maintain an up-to-date asset inventory. This includes:
- IP ranges for internal networks
- Hostnames or public IPs for cloud instances
- Remote endpoints used by employees or third parties
Use a CMDB or asset discovery tool to ensure completeness.
2. Choose the Right Agentless Scanning Tool
Popular options include:
Key features to look for:
- SSH/SMB/WinRM support
- Credential-based scanning
- Integration with cloud APIs (AWS/Azure/GCP)
- Support for compliance standards (e.g., CIS, NIST)
3. Configure Authentication Credentials
Agentless scanning depends heavily on authenticated scanning for depth and accuracy.
For Linux/Unix:
- Create a dedicated read-only SSH user with sudo privileges for listing packages and configurations.
For Windows:
- Use WinRM or SMB with local admin credentials.
- Enable remote access policies via Group Policy.
For Cloud:
- Configure cloud connectors or API keys for AWS, Azure, or GCP to allow the scanner to fetch metadata and instance-level vulnerabilities.
4. Set Up Secure Communication Channels
- Ensure firewalls allow traffic between the scanning appliance and the target systems.
- Use VPN tunnels or IPsec for connecting on-prem scanners to cloud-hosted machines.
- Use TLS encryption for all credential exchanges.
5. Segment Your Network for Optimized Scanning
Avoid scanning all assets at once. Instead:
- Group assets by location or OS type
- Schedule scans during non-peak hours
- Set bandwidth throttling if necessary
6. Initiate and Monitor Scans
- Start with a limited scan to verify configurations.
- Monitor scan logs for access issues or permission errors.
- Ensure you’re getting deep scan results—kernel versions, installed packages, missing patches, etc.
7. Analyze Results and Prioritize Remediation
Once scans are complete:
- Review vulnerabilities based on CVSS and exploitability
- Map vulnerabilities to compliance mandates (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS)
- Integrate with ticketing systems (like JIRA or ServiceNow) for remediation workflows
8. Automate Reporting and Alerts
Configure your scanner to:
- Send regular reports to security stakeholders
- Alert on critical or high-risk vulnerabilities
- Export findings in formats suitable for audit reviews
9. Maintain Credential Hygiene
- Rotate credentials used in scanning regularly
- Store them in a secure vault (like HashiCorp Vault or CyberArk)
- Audit usage to detect unauthorized access
10. Continuously Evolve
- Update scanner definitions regularly
- Add new assets to scanning scopes automatically
- Reconfigure based on changes in infrastructure or business requirements
Best Practices for Agentless Scanning in Hybrid Environments
- Use multiple scanning appliances to cover geographically distributed networks
- Always prefer authenticated scans for accuracy
- Validate cloud APIs have the necessary permissions
- Keep logs and audit trails for all scanning activity
- Apply least privilege principles when creating scanning accounts
Conclusion
Configuring agentless vulnerability scanning for a hybrid network ensures your security posture stays strong across all environments—without the overhead of installing agents. By using secure credentials, cloud-native integrations, and intelligent scanning policies, you can achieve comprehensive vulnerability visibility and faster remediation.
SecOps Solution: Your Partner in Agentless Vulnerability Management
If you’re looking for a powerful yet lightweight solution for agentless vulnerability scanning, SecOps Solution offers an advanced platform tailored for hybrid networks.
Key Highlights:
- Truly agentless scanning across on-prem, cloud, and remote assets
- Easy integration with existing IT infrastructure
- Risk-based prioritization of vulnerabilities
- Real-time reporting and compliance dashboards
- Built-in remediation workflows
SecOps Solution’s platform is built for speed, scalability, and simplicity, enabling enterprises to secure their environments without intrusive deployments. Whether you’re just starting with vulnerability management or looking to enhance an existing program, SecOps Solution helps you do it agentlessly and effortlessly.
SecOps Solution is a Full-stack Patch and Vulnerability Management Platform that helps organizations identify, prioritize, and remediate security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in seconds.
To learn more, get in touch.
