An example is a vulnerability shows as a 10, the highest risk level possible, but the device where the vulnerability resides is only reachable by one device over a specific port. This makes the actual risk of exploitation much lower. A vulnerability assessment cannot be conducted in a vacuum; the results themselves must be made relevant to the organization in order for it to be actionable in any way. Patches are typically issued after an exploitable vulnerability has been discovered by the community or disclosed by the originating vendor for a piece of software or firmware.
However, the sheer volume of vulnerabilities that exist can make it difficult to keep up. In alone, over 22, new vulnerabilities were discovered and publicly reported. In addition, for many organizations, updating unpatched software may not be as simple a resolution as it sounds. Lack of or over-burdened technical staff or updates that cause performance issues or impact stability and operability may cause smaller companies to avoid updating.
Even large well-funded organizations with dedicated IT staff struggle with patching when dealing with areas such as legacy systems or third-party applications most notably web browser plug-ins. By developing a sound strategy that enables a timely and sustainable patch management process across an environment, an organization can minimize the probability of a data breach or regulatory non-compliance due to unpatched software.
These tools use databases of known vulnerabilities to identify potential flaws in your networks, apps, containers, systems, data, hardware, and more. The vulnerability assessment tool will comprehensively scan every aspect of your technology.
Once the scans are completed, the tool will report on all the issues discovered, and suggest actions to remove threats. The more full-featured tools may offer insight into the security and operational impact of remediating a risk, versus accepting the risk.
Vulnerability scanning data may also be integrated into a Security Incident and Event Management SIEM solution along with other data for even more holistic threat analytics. A vulnerability assessment should be performed as part of an initial, comprehensive security evaluation with subsequent scans performed on a regular basis.
Vulnerability scanning is only part of a vulnerability assessment — other processes, such as penetration testing, can identify different types of threats to IT in your organization.
Penetration testing complements vulnerability scanning , and is useful for determining if a vulnerability can be acted on, and whether that action would cause damage, data loss, or other issues. Your IT security partner should be able to carry out various types of vulnerability scans, such as:. The results and feedback they provide you as a result of performing an assessment should include the following information:.
Vulnerability assessments should always provide clear, actionable information on all identified threats, and the corrective actions that will be needed.
This allows IT to prioritize fixes against the overall cyber risk profile of the organization. Vulnerability assessments, are a key component overall risk management that can significantly reduce your exposure to cyber threats, and boost your baseline of system and data protection across your entire organization. Anomalies often related to programming errors or configuration issues, 50 new vulnerabilities were detected every day on average in 28 vulnerabilities were discovered per day in All known vulnerabilities are referenced by Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures.
Because the list is accessible for all, hackers also have access to it. As a result, they can use malware purchased on the Darknet, launch DDoS or SQL injections attacks on vulnerable infrastructure or applications. Disruption resulting from exploiting vulnerabilities can be corrected as they are discovered, but users remain exposed until the patch is installed. That is why it is essential to keep your software up-to-date but also to implement a cybersecurity policy focused on these attack risks.
A Vulnerability Management program can help in these situations. They discover the assets in your estate, detect vulnerabilities potentially exploitable by hackers, notify security teams, detail solutions to implement or automatically fix vulnerabilities. The result is a reduced attack surface and a process for maintaining the smallest possible size. Vulnerability scanners give visibility to security teams to quickly act, prioritized for the most severe threats. As vulnerabilities become more numerous and dangerous, as hackers attack more businesses and as new technology solutions such as mobile applications and the cloud become more widely used, a security solution integrating a vulnerability scanner has become essential.
At Outpost24, we have built "vulnerability management" solutions for more than fifteen years to respond to the market and the breach management problem. It is therefore imperative to fix flaws quickly and proactively. By the time a cyber attack occurs, it is already too late. By acting upstream and keeping control of vulnerabilities through appropriate solutions, businesses can reduce the chance of disruption and damage to their reputation.
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