VULNERABILITY SCANNERS AND THEIR ROLE IN CYBERSECURITY MEASURES

The article provides a description and analysis of the functional characteristics of popular vulnerability scanners to ensure their correct application for the early detection of threats and the implementation of measures to eliminate vulnerabilities before they lead to serious consequences. Vulnerability scanners allow for identifying potential weaknesses in software, server configurations, networks, and other components of IT infrastructure. Today, there is a wide variety of vulnerability scanners, but not all of them are used for the same purposes. Therefore, before applying a scanner of a certain type, it is necessary to study the specifics of its operation, identify the specific data protection areas targeted by the scanner’s functional features, and determine whether this tool is suitable for the assigned task in the field of cybersecurity. This article focuses on the study of the operational features of vulnerability scanners such as Nmap, Nessus Professional, Acunetix, and Aircrack-ng, as vulnerability scanners are an important component of a cybersecurity strategy that helps maintain the integrity and security of systems. Key words: сybersecurity, cyber threats, vulnerability scanners, system and network vulnerabilities, vulnerability remediation.