A vulnerability assessment is typically less comprehensive than a full-scale network penetration test, and will only identify known vulnerabilities within a network. A vulnerability assessment are useful for businesses that have limited infrastructure or just want to get an overview of the potential risks that are present.A network penetration test is more comprehensive and will attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in order to simulate an attack. This type of test is often recommended for businesses that have a more complex network or that are concerned about their vulnerability to cyber attacks.