5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Vulnerability Assessment Vendor

If you're comparing vendors for a vulnerability assessment, most sales conversations sound similar - "we scan your network, you get a report." Here are five questions that actually separate a rigorous vendor from a commodity one.

1. What standard is your scan validated against? "We use good software" isn't an answer. Ask specifically whether it's NIST-validated and under what protocol (SCAP v1.2 is current).

2. What report format do I actually receive? A raw scanner export isn't the same as a structured report an auditor can use without translation. Ask to see a sample.

3. Are you a PCI-Approved Scanning Vendor? Even if you're not a PCI merchant, ASV status is a meaningful, independently-verified credential - a higher bar than most frameworks strictly require.

4. Can the cadence match my actual requirement? Your framework and risk profile should drive whether you need monthly, quarterly, or annual - not the vendor's default package.

5. Who's actually behind the assessment? A scan is only as good as the person interpreting what it finds - ask about real, hands-on experience.

If a vendor can't give you clear answers to all five, that's worth noting before you sign anything. PackerIT Solutions answers all five without hesitation - happy to walk through them directly if you'd like to compare.