In today's digital age, where cyber attacks and security threats are constantly on the rise, securing IT infrastructure becomes a priority for businesses of all sizes. Regular security checks and vulnerability assessments are essential for identifying and addressing potential security weaknesses. This article focuses on configuring a Virtual private server (VPS) as a security audit tool using OpenVAS and Nessus, two leading vulnerability scanning tools.
1. Choosing a VPS for Security Audits
1.1 Hardware Requirements
To effectively perform security audits, it is crucial to equip the VPS with sufficient hardware resources. It is recommended to have at least 2 CPU cores, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB of storage space. These requirements may vary depending on the scope of the scanned network and the number of concurrent scans.
1.2 Operating System Selection
For installing OpenVAS and Nessus, it is advisable to choose a Linux distribution such as Debian or Ubuntu due to their wide support and security updates.
2. Installation and Configuration of OpenVAS
2.1 Installation
OpenVAS (Greenbone Vulnerability Management, GVM) is open-source software for vulnerability scanning. Installation on Debian or Ubuntu is done via the command line using the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gvm
2.2 Configuration
After installation, it is necessary to run the configuration script to set up GVM and its components. This includes updating the NVT (Network Vulnerability Tests) database, certificates, and scan task groups.
sudo gvm-setup
sudo gvm-start
2.3 User Creation
To access the GVM web interface, a user account needs to be created:
sudo gvm-create-user <username> --password=<password>
3. Installation and Configuration of Nessus
3.1 Installation
Nessus, a commercial product from Tenable, offers more detailed scans and an extensive vulnerability database. Its installation begins with downloading the latest version from the official website and then running the installer:
wget <installer_link>
sudo dpkg -i <installer_file>.deb
3.2 Registration and Configuration
After installation, Nessus needs to be registered using the obtained license key. Then, the Nessus service can be started, and access to it is available via the web interface on port 8834.
sudo /etc/init.d/nessusd start
4. Regular Security Checks and Assessment
After configuring both tools, it is important to set up regular network and system scans. This involves creating scanning policies, scheduling scans, and reviewing scan results to identify and address discovered vulnerabilities.
Utilizing a VPS for conducting security audits with OpenVAS and Nessus presents an effective strategy for ensuring cyber security. Through regular vulnerability assessments and security checks, you can significantly reduce the risk of attacks and secure your IT environment.
