Cybersecurity
6 Steps to Effective Vulnerability Management for Your Technology
Technology vulnerabilities are an unfortunate side effect of innovation. When software companies push new updates, there are often weaknesses in the code.
Technology vulnerabilities are an unfortunate side effect of innovation. When software companies push new updates, there are often weaknesses in the code. Attackers exploit these weaknesses, and software makers address them with security patches. The cycle continues with each new software or hardware update.
An estimated 93 percent of corporate networks are susceptible to hacker penetration. Assessing and managing network weaknesses is not always a priority for organizations, and many suffer breaches because of poor vulnerability management. Sixty-one percent of security vulnerabilities in corporate networks are over five years old. Many types of attacks, including ransomware, account takeover, and other common cyberattacks, take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities in software code.
Whenever you see the term exploit in a data breach report, that refers to an exploit of a vulnerability. Attackers write malicious code to take advantage of these loopholes, which can allow them to elevate privileges, run system commands, or perform other dangerous network intrusions. An effective vulnerability management process can reduce your risk significantly.
Step 1. Identify Your Assets. First, identify all the devices and software you need to assess. This includes all devices that connect to your network: computers, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, servers, and cloud services. Vulnerabilities can appear in many places including operating systems, cloud platforms, software, and firmware. A full inventory of all systems and endpoints in your network is an important first step.
Step 2. Perform a Vulnerability Assessment. A vulnerability assessment is typically conducted by an IT professional using assessment software and may also include penetration testing. During the assessment, the professional scans your systems for known vulnerabilities by matching found software versions against vulnerability databases. For example, a database may note that a specific version of Microsoft Exchange has a vulnerability. If your server runs that same version, it will be flagged as a weakness in your security.
Step 3. Prioritize Vulnerabilities by Threat Level. The assessment results provide a roadmap for mitigating network vulnerabilities. There will usually be several, and not all are equally severe. Many vulnerability assessment tools use the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), which rates vulnerabilities from low to critical severity. You will also want to rank vulnerabilities by your own business needs. A vulnerability in software used across all employee devices may rank higher than one in software used occasionally on a single device.
Step 4. Remediate Vulnerabilities. Remediate vulnerabilities according to the prioritized list. Remediation often means applying an issued update or security patch, but it may also mean upgrading hardware that is too old to support current updates. Another form of remediation is ringfencing, which means isolating an application or device from others on the network. A company may do this when a scan turns up a vulnerability for which no patch yet exists. Once you have remediated the weaknesses, confirm the fixes.
Step 5. Document Activities. Documenting the vulnerability assessment and management process is vital for both cybersecurity needs and compliance. Record when you last performed a vulnerability assessment and all steps taken to remediate each vulnerability. These logs are valuable if a future breach occurs and can also inform the next vulnerability assessment.
Step 6. Schedule Your Next Vulnerability Assessment Scan. Vulnerability management is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. In 2022 alone, over 22,500 new vulnerabilities were documented. Developers continuously update their software, and each update can introduce new vulnerabilities. A scheduled cycle of assessment, prioritization, mitigation, and documentation fortifies your network and removes one of the main advantages attackers rely on.
Get Started with a Vulnerability Assessment.
Take the first step toward effective vulnerability management. The team at Cyber One Solutions can help you fortify your network against attacks. Contact us today to schedule a vulnerability assessment.