Vulnerabilities are the doorways through which attackers enter your systems. Every unpatched software flaw, misconfigured service and outdated component represents a potential entry point for malicious actors. A structured vulnerability management programme provides the systematic approach needed to identify, prioritise and remediate these weaknesses before they can be exploited.
The Vulnerability Management Lifecycle
Effective vulnerability management follows a continuous lifecycle that includes asset discovery, vulnerability scanning, prioritisation, remediation, verification and reporting. This is not a one-time activity but an ongoing operational process that adapts to your changing environment and evolving threat landscape.
Asset Discovery and Inventory
You cannot protect what you do not know about. The first step is maintaining a comprehensive, accurate inventory of all assets including servers, workstations, network devices, cloud resources, applications, containers and IoT devices. Automated discovery tools help maintain visibility, but regular manual verification is also important for catching shadow IT and unmanaged assets.
Scanning and Assessment
Regular vulnerability scanning identifies known weaknesses across your infrastructure. Our Vulnerability Scan Manager automates this process, providing continuous visibility into your security posture. Scanning should cover network infrastructure (internal and external), web applications, cloud configurations, container images and endpoints. Use authenticated scanning where possible for more accurate and comprehensive results.
Prioritisation Frameworks
Not all vulnerabilities are equal. Effective prioritisation considers the CVSS base score, whether public exploits exist, active exploitation in the wild (KEV catalogue), the criticality of the affected asset, the exposure level (internet-facing vs internal) and compensating controls already in place. Frameworks like SSVC (Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorisation) and EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) provide more contextual prioritisation than CVSS alone.
Remediation Strategies
Address vulnerabilities through patching (applying vendor-provided fixes), configuration changes (hardening settings), compensating controls (mitigating risk when patching is not immediately possible), architecture changes (redesigning to reduce exposure) or acceptance (formally accepting residual risk with appropriate documentation and approval).
Establish remediation SLAs based on severity: critical vulnerabilities within 24-48 hours, high within 7 days, medium within 30 days and low within 90 days. Track remediation progress and hold asset owners accountable for meeting SLAs.
Patch Management Integration
Patch management is a key component of vulnerability remediation. Establish a structured patching process that includes patch testing in non-production environments, scheduled maintenance windows, rollback procedures, emergency patching procedures for critical vulnerabilities and automated patching where appropriate. Coordinate patching with your Operational Security programme to minimise disruption.
Exception Management
Some vulnerabilities cannot be remediated immediately due to business constraints, technical dependencies or vendor limitations. Implement a formal exception process that requires business justification, compensating controls, risk acceptance by an appropriate authority and scheduled review dates for re-evaluation. Document all exceptions in your risk register.
Metrics and Reporting
Track key metrics including total vulnerability count by severity, mean time to remediate by severity, percentage of vulnerabilities remediated within SLA, scan coverage (percentage of assets scanned), vulnerability density (vulnerabilities per asset) and exception counts and ageing. Report these metrics regularly to management and use them to demonstrate programme effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Compliance Requirements
Many frameworks require vulnerability management capabilities. PCI DSS requires quarterly internal and external scans. ISO 27001 requires technical vulnerability management. NIS2 requires regular vulnerability handling. SOC 2 includes vulnerability management in its criteria. A managed vulnerability management service can help ensure your programme meets all applicable requirements.
Integration with Penetration Testing
Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are complementary activities. Scanning provides breadth — continuous automated coverage across your infrastructure. Penetration testing provides depth — manual exploitation and business impact assessment by skilled professionals. Together they deliver comprehensive security assurance.
Conclusion
A mature vulnerability management programme significantly reduces your attack surface and strengthens your security posture. By systematically identifying, prioritising and remediating vulnerabilities, you close the doors that attackers seek to exploit. Invest in automation, clear processes and skilled personnel to build a programme that scales with your organisation and adapts to the evolving threat landscape.