Sorry, this page is no longer available

We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning

This course will teach you how to use the OpenVAS suite to perform complete and effective vulnerability scans.

In order to know whether or not your digital assets are secure, you need to assess the target network and its compute resources for known vulnerabilities. In this course, Network Vulnerability Scanning with OpenVAS, you’ll learn to test your infrastructure for dangerous vulnerabilities. First, you’ll install and configure OpenVAS on Linux using the official Docker container images. Next, you'll come to understand the roles played by each of the public vulnerability databases on which vulnerability scanning relies. Finally, you'll launch a range of scans against live targets, and make sense of the reports that your scans will generate. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of OpenVAS needed to better secure servers and IT resources.

This course is no longer available. Find something similar by browsing:

OpenVAS Vulnerability Management Threat Analysis Network Security Network Scanning

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Getting Started with OpenVAS

OpenVAS Administration

Working with NVTs and CVEs

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in using the OpenVAS suite, standard in the network security industry, to perform vulnerability scans

Taught by recognized network security expert David Clinton

Provides detailed training in working with NVTs and CVEs, industry standard databases

Covers advanced topics such as OpenVAS administration, suited for intermediate learners

Requires prior knowledge of Linux and Docker, may be less suitable for beginners

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Practical openvas vulnerability scanning guide

According to students, this course offers a solid and highly practical foundation in OpenVAS for vulnerability scanning. Learners consistently praise the hands-on labs and practical demonstrations, which are considered instrumental for applying concepts in real-world scenarios. Many found the instructor's explanations clear and comprehensive, particularly for understanding NVTs, CVEs, and interpreting scan reports. While the course provides detailed guidance for environment setup, some students report facing challenges with initial configuration and note that software versions used can be outdated, leading to potential discrepancies.

The instructor provides clear and thorough explanations of concepts.

"The clarity of instruction was superb, making complex topics easy to understand."

"I appreciated how the instructor explained the concepts, making it a great resource."

"The course provides a solid walkthrough of OpenVAS functionalities, building understanding step by step."

Provides robust understanding of core concepts and report analysis.

"The course covered NVTs and CVEs in detail, which was very helpful for understanding vulnerabilities."

"The scanning and reporting sections were particularly good once I got past the setup issues."

"I appreciated the emphasis on understanding the underlying concepts before diving into the actual scans."

"The coverage of interpreting results was particularly valuable for my job; it's a crucial skill."

Focuses on practical application and valuable hands-on labs.

"The hands-on labs were incredibly useful and the instructor explained complex topics clearly."

"I found the practical demonstrations helped a lot in grasping the concepts."

"It's highly practical and straight to the point; the real-world examples and advice made it stand out."

"The hands-on exercises reinforced my learning effectively and allowed me to apply what I learned immediately."

Some course materials use older OpenVAS versions.

"I feel the course could benefit from updates to reflect the latest OpenVAS versions, as some commands have changed."

"The software versions used were a bit old, which led to some discrepancies during my lab setup."

"While the core concepts are still relevant, working with an older version of the tool was a slight inconvenience."

Learners may face difficulties with environment setup.

"I had a hard time with the initial setup and environment configuration; it requires perseverance."

"Setup can be tricky, and the video sometimes assumes more prior Linux knowledge than I had."

"For those with minimal Linux experience, the setup could be a hurdle, even with the detailed instructions."

"The setup instructions were outdated even back then, leading to a lot of troubleshooting on my end."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning with these activities:

Review Network Security Fundamentals

Show steps

Refreshing your knowledge of network security fundamentals will provide a strong foundation for understanding vulnerability scanning concepts.

Browse courses on Network Security

Show steps

Review course materials or online resources on network security concepts.
Take practice quizzes or tests to assess your understanding.
Discuss network security principles with peers or mentors.

Course Materials Compilation

Show steps

Compiling your course materials will help you to stay organized and easily access the resources you need throughout the course.

Show steps

Gather and organize all of the course materials, including lecture notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Create a system for storing and accessing the materials, such as a binder, folder, or digital repository.
Review the materials regularly to reinforce your understanding of the course concepts.

Vulnerability Scanning Study Group

Show steps

Engaging with peers in a study group can enhance your understanding through discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Scanning

Show steps

Identify or form a study group with fellow learners taking the course.
Establish regular meeting times and a communication platform.
Discuss course concepts, share resources, and work together on practice exercises.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Follow OpenVAS Tutorials

Show steps

These tutorials will provide you with step-by-step guidance on using OpenVAS, helping you to quickly gain proficiency.

Show steps

Identify and access relevant OpenVAS tutorials online.
Follow the instructions provided in the tutorials to complete exercises.
Review the concepts covered in the tutorials to reinforce your understanding.

Hands-on Scan Exercises

Show steps

Completing these exercises will help you develop the hands-on skills needed to effectively use OpenVAS for vulnerability scanning.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Scanning

Show steps

Install and configure OpenVAS on a test system.
Create and launch a scan against a test target.
Review the scan results and identify potential vulnerabilities.

Attend OpenVAS Workshop

Show steps

Attending a workshop will provide you with an immersive learning experience, allowing you to interact with experts and gain hands-on practice.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Scanning

Show steps

Research and identify relevant OpenVAS workshops in your area.
Register for a workshop that aligns with your learning goals.
Actively participate in the workshop activities and discussions.

OpenVAS Knowledge Base

Show steps

Creating your own knowledge base will help you to organize and retain the information you learn in the course, improving your long-term recall.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Scanning

Show steps

Gather information from the course materials, online resources, and your own hands-on experience.
Organize the information into a logical structure, such as a wiki or a series of blog posts.
Write clear and concise explanations of the key concepts and techniques.

Vulnerability Scanning Competition

Show steps

Participating in a competition will challenge you to apply your skills in a practical setting and potentially win recognition for your abilities.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Scanning

Show steps

Identify and register for a vulnerability scanning competition that aligns with your skill level.
Prepare for the competition by practicing your skills and reviewing relevant materials.
Participate in the competition and strive to achieve your best performance.

Career center

Learners who complete OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Vulnerability Analyst

Vulnerability Analysts are responsible for assessing the security of computer systems and networks. They identify and analyze vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, and they recommend measures to mitigate these vulnerabilities. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course can help build a foundation for a career as a Vulnerability Analyst by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to perform effective vulnerability scans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vulnerability Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts design and implement security measures to protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. They also investigate security breaches and incidents, and they develop and implement plans to prevent future breaches. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course can help build a foundation for a career as an Information Security Analyst by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to perform effective vulnerability scans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security measures to protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. They also investigate security breaches and incidents, and they develop and implement plans to prevent future breaches. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course can help build a foundation for a career as a Security Engineer by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to perform effective vulnerability scans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts analyze and interpret data to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks. They also develop and implement security measures to protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course can help build a foundation for a career as a Cybersecurity Analyst by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to perform effective vulnerability scans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of computer systems and networks. They install and configure software, hardware, and security measures. They also monitor system performance and security, and they troubleshoot and resolve problems. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Systems Administrators who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

Network Administrator

Network Administrators are responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of computer networks. They install and configure network hardware and software, and they monitor network performance and security. They also troubleshoot and resolve network problems. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Network Administrators who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

IT Auditor

IT Auditors assess the effectiveness of an organization's IT controls. They also make recommendations to improve the security of an organization's IT systems and networks. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for IT Auditors who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Security Consultant

Security Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their security posture. They also help organizations to develop and implement security plans and policies. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Security Consultants who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers assess the security of computer systems and networks by simulating attacks. They identify and exploit vulnerabilities in order to find ways to improve security. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Penetration Testers who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester

Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They also work with other IT professionals to ensure that software applications are secure. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Software Developers who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of databases. They also work with other IT professionals to ensure that databases are secure. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Database Administrators who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers design and implement security measures to protect cloud-based applications and data. They also work with other IT professionals to ensure that cloud-based applications and data are secure. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Cloud Security Engineers who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Engineer

Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement security measures to protect computer systems and networks. They also work with other IT professionals to ensure that security measures are effective and efficient. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Security Architects who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts assess the risks associated with computer systems and networks. They also develop and implement plans to mitigate these risks. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Risk Analysts who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Compliance Manager

Compliance Managers ensure that an organization complies with applicable laws and regulations. They also work with other IT professionals to develop and implement compliance plans and policies. The OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning course may be useful for Compliance Managers who want to learn more about vulnerability scanning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Manager

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in OpenVAS Concepts and Scanning.