How to Automate Vulnerability Management

Maintaining your business’s cyber security has become an essential part of running a successful organization. With the increase in data breaches and hackers, protecting yourself against threats is more important than ever. One reliable way to streamline this process and keep your business safe online is by automating vulnerability management using specialized tools and software. But what exactly does that mean? Below, we're going to explain everything you need to know about automated vulnerability management so you can protect yourself against potential threats without taking too much valuable time away from other aspects of running your business.

How Does Vulnerability Management Work?

Vulnerability management is the term used to describe a company’s cybersecurity strategy. Essentially, it involves regular scanning and testing of your systems and software to identify any weak points that could be exploited by cybercriminals. 

Once identified, measures can be put in place to mitigate or eliminate these vulnerabilities, such as installing patches, updating software, or implementing stronger passwords and access controls. 

Think of it like regularly checking the locks on your doors and windows at home to ensure they're secure against intruders. It's a proactive approach to cybersecurity that can save you a lot of headaches down the line. Plus, you get the added satisfaction of knowing you're one step ahead of the bad guys. 

Key Processes in Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability management may sound like a very general concept and therefore it might leave you wondering exactly where to begin. Below are the basic processes involved in any good vulnerability management system. 

Identification

One of the most important stages in any vulnerability management program is identification. Essentially, this step involves identifying and assessing any potential vulnerabilities that may exist within your systems. By understanding where weaknesses may lie, you can work to address them before they can be exploited by hackers or other nefarious actors. 

This stage can involve running vulnerability scans or penetration testing to see where vulnerabilities exist. 

By taking the time to properly identify potential points of weakness, businesses can take proactive steps to improve their cyber security and safeguard their sensitive data. Remember, it's better to identify and address vulnerabilities now than to try and clean up the mess after a cyber attack has already taken place.

Analysis

Once the identification stage is completed it’s time to start analyzing what has been found. This crucial stage of vulnerability management helps a business to understand exactly what has been discovered. This is a time when it’s necessary to take a deep dive into the collected data and start to piece together patterns and trends. 

Analysis will help to identify weak spots in your defenses and anticipate potential threats in the future. Analysis will also help you to start prioritizing where to invest time and resources. 

Treatment

Identification and analysis help you identify potential vulnerabilities within your system, then the next stage is figuring out exactly what to do with them. These vulnerabilities can be dealt with in a few different ways. The main three are;  remediation, migration, and acceptance. 

Remediation

Remediation is an important aspect of the treatment of threats that should not be overlooked. Essentially, it refers to the process of fixing security issues that have been identified, whether through regular scanning or from a security incident. 

This can involve anything from updating software to implementing stronger access controls, and the goal is always to reduce the likelihood of an attack. The benefits of remediation are clear;  it helps to prevent data breaches, system failures, and other problems that can be damaging to a business. So, if you want to stay one step ahead of potential threats and protect your company from harm, remediation is definitely worth considering.

Migration

Migration is a valuable tool that businesses can use to protect themselves. Simply put, migration refers to moving from one system or platform to another to reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities or threats. 

This can involve switching to newer, more secure technology, or changing configurations or settings to improve security. Migration can be particularly effective when dealing with end-of-life systems, which may no longer receive security updates or patches. It can also be useful when dealing with particularly stubborn vulnerabilities that are difficult to mitigate through other means. 

Ultimately, by migrating to a more secure system, businesses can significantly reduce their risk of cyber-attacks and protect their valuable data. 

Acceptance

It might seem a bit strange but acceptance can sometimes be the best treatment option. Acceptance means acknowledging a threat or vulnerability but deciding that it is not worth the time, resources, or effort to fully mitigate it. 

This approach may seem counterintuitive, but it can actually save businesses time and money while still maintaining an acceptable level of risk. For example, if a company has an outdated system that is vulnerable to certain cyber attacks, they may accept the risk by setting up additional monitoring systems to catch any attempts at exploitation. 

Another situation where acceptance might be the best option is if a vulnerability is only present on one isolated system, and the potential impact of an attack is low. By choosing acceptance as a treatment option, businesses can focus their efforts on mitigating more critical vulnerabilities instead of spreading themselves too thin. Remember, it’s not always about eliminating all risks; it’s about finding the right balance.

What is Automated Vulnerability Management?

Automated vulnerability management might sound like a mouthful, but it's actually a technology that can help keep your IT systems secure from potential attacks. Essentially, Automated Vulnerability Management is software that scans your computer networks, applications, and systems to identify vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by hackers, and provides you with solutions to fix them. 

It's like having a personal security guard that checks every corner for any potential threats, giving you the peace of mind you need to focus on other important things. Plus, with frequent updates and improvements, you can be sure that your system stays secure in this constantly evolving world of cybersecurity.

The Role of Automation in Vulnerability Management

If there's one thing we can all appreciate, it's things that make life easier. That's where automation comes in. In the world of vulnerability management, automation plays a crucial role in streamlining processes and reducing the risk of human error. By automating tasks such as scanning for vulnerabilities and prioritising them based on severity, the humans in a business can focus on what really matters: fixing the issues that pose the greatest risk. 

Best Practices to Automate Your Vulnerability Management Process

Automating vulnerability management not only saves time but also allows for more efficient tracking and remediation of vulnerabilities. Some best practices to consider when automating your vulnerability management process include; Automotive tasks that disrupt as few people as possible, ensuring your vulnerability management system can deliver information without making users log in, automating vulnerability prioritization through risk scoring, providing transparency into results and selecting a system which supports changing needs and growth. All of these best practices are explored below. 

Automate Tasks That Disrupt As Few People As Possible

Many organizations have separate teams tasked with prioritizing and mitigating vulnerabilities, with the latter being typically larger. Therefore, automating vulnerability management tasks can be useful while making minimal changes to remediation teams. 

For instance, IT teams would typically want to continue using their preferred ticketing system, necessitating the compatibility of the vulnerability management tool to generate tickets within such systems. The ticketing approach should group vulnerabilities by algorithms like remediation prioritization methods, such as vulnerability by operating system or geographic location. 

The vulnerability management system should synchronize with external ticketing systems to trigger rescans or send notifications to confirm that vulnerabilities have been remediated. By integrating vulnerability management tools with other relevant systems such as CMDBs, vulnerability scanners, threat feeds, and risk management tools, fewer stakeholders will be affected when automating vulnerability management.

Ensure Your Vulnerability Management System Can Deliver Information Without Making Users Login

To ensure an effective vulnerability management system, it should be capable of delivering essential data without needing user logins, a requirement that traverses across several areas of the system. 

This is important to avoid overlooking critical findings or failing to remediate or mitigate them promptly. To achieve this best practice, a vulnerability management system should have multiple features such as creating tickets in various ticketing systems simultaneously with due dates assigned based on rules for grouping vulnerabilities. This should also include additional information like relevant vulnerability details, owner details, team notifications and reminders, and escalation processes for overdue remediations. 

In addition, the system should be able to schedule reports sent via email or saved in a network folder.

Automate Vulnerability Prioritization Through Risk Scoring

Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on risk scoring is crucial for effective remediation and mitigation. Risk scoring considers the impact and likelihood of a vulnerability being exploited on a specific asset. Impact factors include asset criticality, compliance requirements, number of dependent systems, and compensating controls. Meanwhile, likelihood factors include exploitability, existing threats, attack complexity, user interaction, and network accessibility. 

Though there are some scoring systems like CVSS available, they may not consider all factors and could lead to incorrect prioritization. In fact, industry leaders found that using a risk-based vulnerability management approach greatly reduces potential breaches.  

Manually conducting risk-based analysis on all vulnerabilities and assets is basically impossible, therefore it is necessary to invest in a vulnerability management system that supports automated risk scoring.

Provide Transparency Into Results

A good vulnerability management system should establish accountability and give an overview of open vulnerabilities. It should also be obvious where the results of scans have been sent, who is responsible for actioning them, and how often communication is sent. 

Dashboards can be used to report key metrics and KPIs, such as the average time to remediation and SLA compliance percentage. Email notifications, reminders, and escalations further drive accountability and help ensure tickets, particularly overdue ones, get the proper attention from owners and management. 

Examples of notifications and reminders that may be sent include new ticket notifications, weekly reviews of outstanding tickets, reminders of upcoming ticket due dates, and reminders of tickets that are past their due date by varying lengths of time. Escalation to the owner's first-level manager or both first and second-level managers may also be necessary for tickets that exceed a certain due date.

Select A System Which Supports Changing Needs and Growth

When selecting a vulnerability management system, it's essential to choose a flexible platform that can accommodate your changing needs as your organization improves its vulnerability management processes. 

Critical areas to consider include adding new data sources or fields, modifying workflows, adding or changing notifications and escalations, and risk calculations. Scalability should also be a concern so the system can handle more assets and vulnerabilities, new tasks, and additional metrics to trend. 

As more data sources are integrated and reports become more complex, additional computing resources will be necessary. A platform that can adapt to all these future needs is essential for the continued success of your vulnerability management program.

What Are the Future Vulnerability Management Challenges?

With the rise of mobile devices, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), it has become increasingly difficult for companies to ensure the safety of their data. Additionally, the sophistication of cyber-attacks has increased, making it imperative for businesses to constantly update and enhance their security measures. However, with the right mindset and tactics, companies can stay ahead of the game in protecting their assets from potential threats. 

By prioritizing cybersecurity as a core component of their business strategy, investing in advanced technologies, and being vigilant about identifying and addressing potential weaknesses, businesses can confidently navigate through the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity.

Should I Consider Automation?

Cybersecurity is something that every business must prioritize. As our world becomes increasingly digitized, protecting your company's sensitive information and systems is no longer an option, but a requirement. 

Automated vulnerability management is a solution that can identify potential risks and vulnerabilities in your network and systems, checking every nook and cranny for weaknesses. Essentially it’s a no-brainer. Automated vulnerability management is like having a digital superhero watching your back and warding off any potential cyberattacks. 

Implementing an automated vulnerability management solution will give you peace of mind, help you stay ahead of any potential cyber threats, and allow you to focus on growing your business. 

Conclusion

Automating vulnerability management can help organizations quickly identify, detect and ultimately manage cyber security risks. It streamlines the workflow process by increasing efficiency, reduces operational costs, and allows for better compliance. 

As technology advances, so too should your organization's approach to vulnerability management. An automated solution is the best option if you want to stay ahead of potential threats and accurately assess risk levels in an efficient way. Remember to consider how automation will impact other employees, and ensure you select a system that provides transparency into results and that it supports changing needs and growth. 

By proactively managing your vulnerabilities with automation, organizations can secure their digital environment with precision and accuracy, empowering them with the safety they need to operate at full potential.

If you would like to find out more about how Nanitor can help with your vulnerability management program, book a free demo today.