Threat actors keep changing existing malware codes to create brand new codes; it's how they remain undetected by signature-based detection tools. They employ new techniques to target different attack surfaces of your organization.
The ultimate goal of an attacker is to find some vulnerability or loophole, which they can use to start an attack or ask for ransom. As cybercriminals are becoming advanced and using modern techniques, your organization needs an effective cybersecurity strategy, aka vulnerability management, which allows you to eliminate cyber risk and prevent the impact of security incidents.
Threat and Vulnerability Management Main Concept
It is a cybersecurity approach designed to assess vulnerabilities and potential threats in your system. This proactive approach gives your organization a deep insight into your vulnerabilities and an idea of where your security posture is insure. This insight is necessary for mending loopholes and patching the vulnerabilities, which could lead to a data and security breach.
Instead of becoming reactive to a threat, you can become proactive. This strategy employs a risk-based approach, making it easy for your organization to pinpoint risk. You would know where the vulnerability lies and find it solution before it causes any damage.
How Does Threat and Vulnerability Management Service Work?
If you avail of a service, then it unlocks the following phase.
Phase #1 Assessment
If you hire a service provider to manage cyber risk, experts will begin by scanning your existing threat management programs, files, digital assets, etc. The purpose here is to find the problem in the system and highlight all the areas that need improvement.
Once the assessment is done, the service provider will share some actionable recommendations that will help you improve your overall security posture.
Phase #2 Build
In case your organization doesn't have a proper vulnerability plan, service providers will create one program for them. They will define program lifestyle and documentation.
Phase #3 Improve
If you already plan to deal with vulnerabilities, experts will look into programs. The purpose is to integrate data and intelligence into the system for quick results. Generally, service providers employ advanced analytics and threat intelligence to prioritize vulnerabilities.
Data enrichment helps your risk management team manage risk in the best manner. Your team will integrate new security products and tools to boost threat management if required. Best of all, you can automate threat response and remediation workflow.
Phase # 4 Operationalize
Once you hire an outside team for vulnerability management, your organization can get various services. For example, they will conduct training for your employees and asset owners to identify and patch vulnerabilities without expert help. This team also offers operational and technical support. Besides, they allow you to transition from an external management team to an internal one.
Benefits of Threat and Vulnerability Management
Here are some main advantages you get from this management solution:
Visiblilty
When you follow this risk-based approach, your team will perform penetration testing and monitor the complete landscape. Everything will be in front of the SOC team, from cloud data to endpoint activities. They will know who logged in and logged out.
For example, when you employ EDR - a threat response tool at the endpoint, it allows you to monitor all endpoints to identify potential threats. Once your team knows where your business is vulnerable, they can take the right actions to stop this attack.
Reduce Business Impact
If cybercriminals get unauthorized access to your employee ID and password, they can initiate a cyber attack such as zero-day, ransomware, APTs, or any other. Regardless of an attacker's exact intention, your organization has to face a high impact. It's because every endpoint is connected to the complete system, and one compromise host can lead to an industry-wide breach.
Fast threat Remediation
You can't prevent an attack unless you know all about it. And when it comes to getting this information, you use a vulnerability management tool. For example, if you perform penetration testing, you will get an idea about potential attacks, which allows you to remediate harmful vulnerabilities in your business system.
Threat and Vulnerability Management Wrap up
To protect your organization against advanced threat actors, you should rely on the vulnerability management service. It allows you to find loopholes in your system, which adversaries can exploit. You need expert service even when your in-house team deals with cyber risk. It's because if your existing cybersecurity program has some areas that need improvements, experts can assess the risk factors and bring all the improvements; to ensure that attackers don't exploit any vulnerability.