A key to protecting against cybersecurity threats is understanding your risks. Vulnerability Management (VM) is a critical tool in your arsenal designed to do just that — to proactively mitigate or prevent saboteurs from exploiting the IT vulnerabilities that exist in any system or organization.
To achieve that, you need a vulnerability assessment system to quickly and easily identify and fix vulnerabilities — including software flaws, missing patches, malware and misconfigurations — across a variety of operating systems, devices and applications.
Given the importance of this task, VM should be a cornerstone of your security program. It’s so integral to business success that the Center for Internet Security lists continuous vulnerability assessment and remediation as the No. 3 must-do item on its Critical Security Control checklist.
Vulnerability Assessment Best Practices
VM is a foundational concept that involves the identification, classification, remedy and mitigation of various vulnerabilities within a system. It’s an integral part of computer and network security, and it is practiced in conjunction with risk management and other basic security practices.
Identifying IT vulnerabilities and their inherent risks makes it possible to address those weaknesses. Such an evaluation of any potential cyberexposure is the first step toward correcting those vulnerabilities as well as removing the risk entirely.
In general, there are four steps encompassed by vulnerability assessment tools. When properly deployed, they create a continuous cycle focused on improving security and reducing the risk profile of network assets.
- Discover: Scan your entire network, including all devices, for vulnerabilities.
- Report: Generate reports about what the vulnerability scanner found to create a tactical plan of action.
- Prioritize: Now that you know the network’s risks and vulnerabilities, prioritize how to address the problems.
- Respond: Address the vulnerabilities by correcting the problem through remediation, reducing the vulnerability through mitigation or accepting the risk.
While the number of organizations using VM continues to increase, so do the potential threats, said Andrew Laman, who authored the SANS 2019 Vulnerability Management Survey. “It has never been easier to bring new applications and services online without the appropriate oversight, potentially exposing organizations to unintended vulnerabilities and risks,” he said.
Vulnerability Management As a Service
Finding the right VM solution — such as Nessus — will provide a foundation for your IT cybersecurity protocols. Nessus ranks high in both accuracy and coverage, offers customized reporting and live results, and is constantly updated, with more than 70,000 plugins.
V2 Systems leverages advanced technology like Nessus to offer the best-in-class vulnerability and compliance management as a service. This includes providing accurate internal and external scans across your IT landscape such as network assets, hosts, web applications and databases.
With the IT threat landscape constantly evolving, it’s imperative for companies to make sure they have the skilled security talent with the IT expertise to handle any situation. We make it easy to quickly and easily identify and fix vulnerabilities — including software flaws, missing patches, malware and misconfigurations — across a variety of operating systems, devices and applications.
When you’re ready to talk about your security needs, call us for a free two-hour consultation — no strings attached. Our expert engineers can design safeguards that are an integral part of your IT network right from the start. Together, we can develop a managed security services plan that meets your needs and fits your budget.
Since 1995, Manassas Park, VA-based V2 Systems has employed local systems administrators, network engineers, security consultants, help desk technicians and partnering companies to meet a wide range of clients’ IT needs, from research, to implementation, to maintenance. Managed Security keeps our clients safe, while our IT support keeps them up and running. Reach out to our experts today. Concentrate on your VISION…We’ll handle the TECHNOLOGY!
