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Vulnerability management has undergone significant changes over the past five years. If you continue to rely on periodic scans, provide updates instead of enforcing them, and focus solely on CVSS scores, you are following outdated practices.
Today’s IT environments are dynamic and rapidly evolving, posing challenges for system administrators and security professionals. Traditional tools and tactics no longer suffice. In fact, maintaining these outdated methods could leave your organization vulnerable to threats.
Below are four prevalent pitfalls that administrators still encounter in vulnerability management, along with actionable strategies to address them effectively.
1. Outdated Scheduled Scanning
Why is it a problem? Scheduled scans—whether monthly, weekly, or daily—have become inadequate in today’s fast-paced environments. The emergence of cloud resources, remote endpoints, and virtual machines (VMs) can disrupt visibility. Scans that operate on a fixed schedule can easily miss out on transient assets.
Fix it! Transition to continuous scanning. Employ tools that integrate with asset inventories and operate in real-time. This includes monitoring not just servers, but also cloud VMs and remote devices, to ensure constant visibility rather than occasional snapshots of your security posture.
2. Overreacting to Every Critical CVE
Why is it a problem? Not all “critical” CVEs carry the same level of risk. For instance, a critical vulnerability on an internal development server may pose less threat than a medium-severity issue on a publicly exposed application. It’s vital to prioritize vulnerabilities based on their context.
Fix it! Adopt a risk-based vulnerability management (RBVM) approach. Select tools that consider exploitability, asset value, business impact, and relevant threat intelligence. This strategy allows you to address the most pressing vulnerabilities first while scheduling remediation for less critical ones more traditionally. Establish clear decision-making frameworks to avoid prioritization mistakes.
3. Lack of Automation for Routine Tasks
Why is it a problem? The sheer volume of data generated by modern workforces makes it impossible for teams to manually manage everything. Manual ticket triaging or patch management leads to burnout and alert fatigue, jeopardizing security practices and employee morale.
Fix it! Embrace automation to streamline processes like scanning, alert triage, and patch scheduling. Deploy solutions that minimize distractions, allowing your team to focus on actual risks. Ensure that the results of automated processes are transparent and reviewable, rather than operating as opaque systems.
4. Neglecting the Software Supply Chain
Why is it a problem? Major security incidents, such as the SolarWinds and Log4Shell attacks, highlight the dangers of vulnerabilities in third-party code and software components. Many administrators may be unaware of the risks posed by these external dependencies.
Fix it! Work with vendors to obtain Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) and conduct security scans on all third-party components, including those provided by vendors. Track dependencies diligently and set up automation for alerts concerning vulnerable libraries to safeguard your environment.
The bottom line
Effective vulnerability management goes beyond mere detection; it encompasses understanding what vulnerabilities matter, responding promptly, and maintaining comprehensive visibility throughout the IT landscape, from local servers to remote locations. Establishing strong policies and accurate system intelligence is crucial, enabling you to leverage automation and patching solutions effectively for maximum advantage. A robust vulnerability management and endpoint automation solution is key to achieving these goals.
Administrators who embrace these changes will be better positioned against emerging threats. For those who remain stagnant, they may soon find the consequences revealingly unpleasant when faced with the reality of a security incident.
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Source
www.csoonline.com