Understanding Vulnerability Management in Cyber Security
With increasing cyber threats, businesses of all types and sizes are now targeted. Hackers take advantage of identified flaws in networks, software, and system configurations. That’s why vulnerability management in cyber security has become more critical than ever. It’s now a core part of business protection. If left unchecked, any vulnerability in the IT infrastructure can lead to data breaches.
With proper vulnerability management, these weaknesses can be fixed before attackers can exploit them. It is a structured and ongoing process, not a one-time task. But what if a business cannot afford to have an in-house cybersecurity team? That’s where IT and cybersecurity firms come into the picture.
What is Vulnerability Management in Cyber Security?
Cyber security vulnerability management is primarily about finding and then fixing security weaknesses in the IT infrastructure. These weaknesses can exist in
- Software
- Hardware
- Network configurations
Attackers frequently deploy automated software to detect these security flaws. Once discovered, they take advantage by extracting sensitive information. Disrupting operations may also be part of their agenda.
In cybersecurity, vulnerability management doesn’t refer to a single tool or action. It involves a continuous process. Its purpose is to gradually minimise security risks.
With it, businesses can stay ahead of attackers. The process primarily includes 4 steps such as
- Identification
- Evaluation
- Remediation
- Monitoring
From running vulnerability scans to applying patches and tracking results, there are several activities involved. Because of today’s cyber threat landscape, vulnerability management is essential for most businesses. It works best when incorporated into the overall cybersecurity strategy.
Why does Vulnerability Management Matter in Your Cyber Security Strategy?
Cyber threats have grown increasingly sophisticated over the past ten years. Interestingly, most attackers don’t even use new tricks. They target known vulnerabilities. That’s why, without strategic cyber vulnerability management, businesses are at high risk.
One unpatched system can give attackers full access to the network. Let’s say you skip vulnerability checks. Then, weaknesses in your IT system will go unnoticed.
What will happen as a result? Those weaknesses will open doors for
- Malware
- Ransomeware
- Data breaches
These attacks can even shut down your business. Not to mention, it can damage your reputation and make you lose a lot of money.
Overview of the Vulnerability Management Lifecycle
Can you answer the question “What is cyber security?” If you’re familiar with it, you’d understand it’s not something done just once. And that neither is vulnerability management. Both are ongoing cycles, intricately intertwined with each other. Both play vital roles in enhancing the protection of IT systems.
Each stage in the vulnerability lifecycle is crucial. Let’s find out what the lifecycle includes:
Step 1: Discover all Assets Across Your Environment
Before you can manage vulnerabilities, you need full visibility of your IT landscape. This step involves identifying all of the currently operational
- Devices
- Systems
- Apps
- Cloud services
That means you need to know about all the servers, databases, endpoints, and more. You also need to find Shadow IT components. What are they, you ask? These are tools used without approval. Without accurate asset discovery, your critical IT systems will remain unprotected.
Step 2: Run Regular Vulnerability Scans to Identify Security Flaws
After mapping assets, you must perform vulnerability scans. These automated scans search for
- Known security flaws
- Outdated software
- Risky misconfigurations
Scanners compare your system against global vulnerability databases. This step tells you what needs attention. If it is exposed ports or missing patches, the scans will let you know.
The top cyber security companies in Dubai recommend regular vulnerability scans. They suggest you run these scans on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Step 3: Assess and Rank Vulnerabilities According to Their Risk Level
Not every vulnerability is equally dangerous. This step is all about assigning a risk rating to each one. To assign the rating, experts use factors like
- CVSS rating
- Exploit availability in the wild
- System criticality and exposure
For instance, let’s say you have a vulnerability on a public web server with known exploits. That will be an urgent security issue to resolve. However, if it is a low-risk flaw on a non-critical system, it might not be that urgent.
With this type of risk-based prioritization, teams can focus their attention where it’s needed the most.
Step 4: Fix the Most Critical Vulnerabilities First
Remediation is a key aspect of vulnerability management. It involves fixing the root issue. And it mostly happens through software updates or patches.
Sometimes, it isn’t feasible to apply fixes right away. It often happens due to downtime concerns or system constraints. That’s where mitigation comes in.
Most IT solution providers in Dubai will perform mitigation by
- Disabling a service
- Applying a firewall rule
- Isolating a system
With a clear response plan, cybersecurity professionals can address vulnerabilities quickly. And it does not even have to cause a lot of downtime.
Step 5: Validate Fixes and Continue Monitoring for New Threats
Running scans is crucial after remediation. The scans will reveal whether the vulnerabilities have been fixed. With validation, you can ensure all gaps in the security have been addressed. This will solidify your confidence.
However, vulnerability management does not stop here. New threats occur every day. New systems are also added to the overall IT landscape. This makes ongoing monitoring and frequent assessments essential.
Tools and Technologies Used in Vulnerability Management
Know what’s essential for effective vulnerability management? It is the right tools and technologies! Manual tracking isn’t practical. This is particularly relevant for expanding companies with intricate IT environments.
Automated tools are needed as they help in identifying and tracking vulnerabilities across the entire IT environment. Key technologies commonly used in cyber security vulnerability management include
Vulnerability Scanners
These are necessary for scanning systems and networks. Popular examples include
- Nessus
- Qualys
- Rapid7 InsightVM
Patch Management Tools
After finding the vulnerability, you need to patch it. Patch management tools help you do that. Popular tools include
- Microsoft SCCM
- ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
- Ivanti Patch Management
Asset Discovery and Inventory Tools
You cannot protect what you don’t know. Various asset discovery tools are there. The most popular are
- SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager
- Open-AudIT
- Lansweeper
With the importance of enterprise cyber security increasing every day, these tools have become essential.
Strengthen Your Business with Proper Vulnerability Management in Cyber Security
Vulnerability management in cyber security is not a luxury. It is essential for most modern businesses. Cyber threats are constant. However, most attackers succeed because the vulnerabilities are left unchecked.
With a competent cyber security team such as the one you will find at Samtech, you can do everything necessary to protect your systems.
