7 Key Steps to a Strong Vulnerability Management Program
▼ Summary
– Cybersecurity teams struggle with prioritizing patch management due to a surge in reported vulnerabilities, as highlighted at Infosecurity Europe 2025.
– Jon Ridyard recommends integrating continuous threat exposure monitoring (CTEM) into vulnerability management to ensure ongoing evaluation and avoid reactive fixes.
– Prioritization should go beyond CVSS scores by incorporating security, asset, and business context into a company-specific risk matrix.
– Automation can streamline triage and remediation processes by gathering vulnerability data and applying logic for fixes or mitigating controls.
– Formalizing collaboration, setting protection level agreements (PLAs), and empowering security teams are key to maintaining an effective and motivated workforce.
At Infosecurity Europe 2025, Jon Ridyard, Senior Sales Engineer at Axonius, outlined seven best practices for developing a mature vulnerability management program. These strategies aim to help organizations move beyond reactive patching and establish sustainable processes that reduce exposure while maintaining team morale.
1. Transition from Projects to Continuous Processes
Treat vulnerability management as an ongoing process rather than a series of isolated projects. This shift enables continuous monitoring and timely response to emerging threats, fostering a proactive security posture.
2. Prioritize Vulnerabilities Based on Context
Move beyond relying solely on CVSS scores. Incorporate contextual factors such as asset criticality, exploit availability, and business impact to prioritize vulnerabilities that pose the most significant risk to your organization.
3. Automate Initial Triage
Implement automation tools to handle the initial assessment of vulnerabilities. This reduces manual workload and allows security teams to focus on addressing high-priority issues.
4. Streamline Remediation with Automation
Use automation to expedite the remediation process. Automated workflows can deploy patches and configuration changes more efficiently, minimizing the window of exposure.
5. Foster Cross-Team Collaboration
Encourage collaboration between security, IT, and development teams. Clear communication channels and shared responsibilities enhance the effectiveness of vulnerability management efforts.
6. Define Clear Metrics and Accountability
Establish measurable metrics and assign accountability to track progress and ensure that vulnerability management objectives are being met.
7. Support Security Team Wellbeing
Recognize the importance of your security team’s wellbeing. Implement practices that prevent burnout and maintain morale, ensuring the sustainability of security initiatives.
By adopting these strategies, organizations can transform their vulnerability management approach from reactive to proactive, effectively mitigating risks while maintaining team efficiency and morale.
(Source: Infosecurity Magazine)
