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Vulnerability Management

How often should an MSP scan client devices for vulnerabilities?

By , CEO, CybaVerse. Last reviewed

MSPs should scan client devices continuously, or at least daily, using agent-based scanning, and scan external assets at least daily and after every significant change. Quarterly scans are too slow: critical updates must be applied within 14 days for Cyber Essentials, so a gap of weeks between scans means problems are found after the deadline.

This page is part of our vulnerability management guide.

Why is quarterly scanning not enough?

New vulnerabilities are published every day. The National Vulnerability Database and the CVE Program record a constant stream of new entries, and attackers move quickly on the ones that matter. CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue shows how often weaknesses move from disclosure to active use.

The Cyber Essentials requirements set the practical bar for UK MSPs. Critical and high-risk updates, including anything with a CVSS v3 base score of 7 or above, must be applied within 14 days of release. A quarterly scan cannot tell you whether you met a 14-day deadline.

What scanning cadence suits each asset type?

Match scan frequency to how quickly each type of asset changes and how exposed it is to attack. Internet-facing systems and laptops that move between networks need the most frequent checks. The table below is a sensible starting point for most MSP clients, which you can tighten for higher-risk ones.

Asset typeSuggested cadenceWhy
Laptops and desktops (agent)Continuous or several times a dayThey change often and leave the network
Servers (agent)Continuous or dailyHigh impact if exploited
External IPs and domainsDailyDirectly reachable by attackers
After a major changeImmediatelyNew services or settings can open gaps
Before a Cyber Essentials Plus auditFull scan two to four weeks aheadTime to fix before testing

How do you move to continuous scanning, step by step?

Moving from periodic to continuous scanning is mostly about coverage and routine rather than tools. The steps below suit most MSPs and follow NIST guidance on continuous monitoring. Start with one client to prove the routine, then roll it out across the rest of the base.

  1. Step 1: Deploy scanning agents everywhere

    Agents scan devices wherever they are, including remote laptops.

  2. Step 2: Find devices without an agent

    Compare your scan coverage with the client's asset list every week.

  3. Step 3: Add external scanning

    Scan every public IP address and domain the client uses.

  4. Step 4: Review new findings daily

    Triage new critical and high findings each working day.

  5. Step 5: Rescan after fixes

    Confirm each fix with a fresh scan before closing it.

What gets in the way of frequent scanning?

The usual blockers are coverage gaps rather than scanner limits. Devices that never received an agent, laptops that rarely connect and cloud services outside the inventory all leave blind spots. We hear from MSPs that the biggest surprise in a first full scan is how many devices were missing.

  • Devices missing from the asset list
  • Agents that stopped running and nobody noticed
  • Firewalls or proxies blocking the scanner's connection
  • External assets nobody recorded, such as old marketing sites

Where does CybaOps fit?

CybaOps gives MSPs continuous vulnerability scanning for every client in one place, so findings are current when engineers sit down to prioritise them. Scanning covers internal devices and external assets, and results are tied to the assets they affect across every client tenant.

  • CybaVM gives continuous internal and external vulnerability scanning, prioritised in one place in CybaOps.
  • Vulnerability scanning in CybaOps is powered by Qualys.
  • Internal scans run several times a day and external scans run daily.
  • CybaOps ties vulnerabilities to the assets they affect, so teams fix what matters first.
  • CybaOps handles large vulnerability volumes across many customer tenants.

Scan frequency

How often to scan: continuously, at least daily

MSPs should scan client devices continuously, or at least daily, using agent-based scanning, and scan external assets at least daily and after every significant change.

01 Scanning

Multi-tenantPartner / MSP CustomerCustomerCustomer+
CybaOps by CybaVerse

Scan frequency

02 The 5-step path

  • Role-based access
  • UK-based analysts
  • ISO 27001

03 Outcomes

Explore

Hover or tap any part of the diagram to see what it does.

  • Vulnerability management in
  • CybaVM
  • CybaRemediate

What else do MSPs ask about scan frequency?

These are the follow-up questions MSPs ask most when planning a scanning schedule.

Do agent scans slow down devices?

Modern scanning agents are designed to run lightly in the background. Check the vendor's documentation and test on a sample of client devices first, especially older machines and busy servers, before rolling out widely.

Is network scanning still needed with agents?

Often yes, for devices that cannot run an agent, such as printers, network equipment and some appliances. Agent scanning covers most endpoints and servers; network and external scans cover the rest.

How often should external assets be scanned?

At least daily for most clients, and immediately after a new service is exposed to the internet. External assets are the first thing an attacker sees, so they deserve the most frequent checks.

See continuous scanning across client tenants.

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