Vulnerability Management is a unique tool today. Not only does it allow us to find errors or gaps within our code; It also allows us to prepare better for any threat. There are different ways to manage vulnerability on our page and different types of vulnerability scans. It is important to know them to have a more concrete idea of what interests our company most.
What is Vulnerability Management?
It’s the process of identifying weak points applied to our business. This identification begins with the regular and systematic implementation of vulnerability scans. We perform these scans with automated tools; InsightVM and Nessus are very good examples of them. These networks of scans discover vulnerabilities, the plugin updates and show them to the administrator for review. There are different strategies and implementable vulnerability scans to manage vulnerabilities; Ones are better adapted to different environments than others.
Prioritization
Prioritization is a deep process that starts with the organization of the business. It is about selecting, on a dangerous scale, the more relevant threats first. We talk about defining which attack or vulnerability is most damaging to our assets. If we deal with a threat that, for example, affects the primary server of the company; We are facing vulnerability needs fixing as soon as possible.
A good prioritization network avoids wasting time and effort on unimportant threats. Resolving a vulnerability that affects our assets on a larger scale: even if it is a minor failure, will always be more important. A good way to rank vulnerability scans would be the following order: Faults to Central Systems or Servers; Failures to internal applications and failures to workstations.
Treatment
Defining the treatment in vulnerability management will depend on how or where they develop. The more simple or accessible the place of vulnerability; the easier to solve it without affecting the operation of the business. If a vulnerability attacks a sector of the system that is obsolete; resolving it would need a restructuring of the system. That would take more time than reviewing it when such remodeling takes place. In this case, it is best to create protocols that avoid or shield the problem; Go to the next case and test your treatment.
The simplest cases refer to solutions such as software patching; modification of some secondary configuration or updates to the system. In these cases, we are in the presence of postponing cases that need less attention.
Vulnerability Scans design
Organizing a vulnerability management system is a delicate task. Many aspects of logistics take into account when defining the correct parameters. One of the most important factors is to define a Security Policy for the organization; This way we ensure following strict protocols, resulting in the good implementation of the system. Besides, such policy updates as time pass; Finding vulnerabilities that affect the central system will force us to review the entire system and ensure that it is not repeated.
An important element to take into account is the classification of information. Assigning relevance should to the categorization of both vulnerabilities and network solutions. The more critical the failure is for the company’s assets, the more important it is. Of course, the core of a good management system is periodic vulnerability scans.
You must set how often it will be necessary to perform each scan for vulnerability management; In addition to which sectors will be a priority and how the service distributes.
Last steps
After defining the scan parameters, it’s time for the criticality of each and it’s treatments. Take the level of risk must always as a starting point; From there, work in decreasing function towards less important ones. Something important to take into consideration is that although priority of the failures is defined by danger; It will also be possible to change the order of the vulnerability scans; the protocols and even their periodicity if major failures or changes in the security of the company arise.
Finally, there are two key points to ensure that the protocols cover the most important aspects. The first is to verify the effectiveness of each vulnerability repaired. The second is to test it in a controlled environment, to verify that it is no longer a problem. In any case, if any inconvenience arises, it will appear in the next scan cycle.
Advantages of Vulnerability Scans
There are many advantages that derive from the management processes. The main one is the most sought after in the digital environment; the notorious reduction of risks associated with the exploitation of system failures. Constantly managing a network; receiving continuous and stable analytical vulnerability scans shield companies. It also reduces the number of failures exponentially.
Another of its advantages is that it allows you to better understand the company’s own system. This way, and with all the data collected, you can define things such as: what are the most obsolete points of the system; what needs improving to increase security; where we are being most attacked; etc.
Vulnerability management also allows the company to understand how the digital security market is evolving.
In the case of InsightVM, the constant development and evolution of the system allow us to understand its flow; understand what is being strengthened, and thus diversify in those areas.
If you want to receive more information about this tool, do not hesitate to contact us. At GB Advisors, we offer only the best in the market. We are a team of professionals willing to share advice and help you on your way to a more efficient IT environment.
