What concern might arise from a limited port scan?

Testing only a limited number of ports is a significant concern during a port scan because it might leave significant vulnerabilities undetected. Many services operate on a wide range of ports, including non-standard ports that are not within the commonly known range. By limiting the scan to only a few ports, an organization could overlook critical services or applications that use those less common ports, potentially exposing the system to threats that could be exploited by attackers.

Limited scanning can yield a false sense of security if the results do not accurately represent the entirety of the network’s exposure. Security assessments require thoroughness, and a comprehensive scan should encompass all ports to provide a complete picture of the exposed services, which in turn informs the risk management process. Scanning only a limited number of ports might also adversely affect the effectiveness of vulnerability assessments since untested ports could harbor weaknesses that need addressing.

In practice, security professionals often conduct full port scans to ensure that any services, regardless of the port they utilize, are identified and assessed for vulnerabilities as part of a holistic security strategy. This helps in developing appropriate countermeasures to mitigate risks.