Vulnerability Management

With single sign-on users only have to enter one set of credentials to access their web apps in the cloud and behind the firewall – via desktops, smartphones and tablets. This foundational identity and access management (IAM) measure is a first step in building trusted experiences for your workforce, customers, and partners.

Ask for a demo
Vulnerability Management
On this page Kappa Data informs you how vulnerability management takes an important part in your organization. In the part about IoT and OT you can read about detecting assets within a network. There was also a part about Vulnerability management, but in this article, we will go more into depth

What is Vulnerability Management

Every contemporary electronic device, whether it is in a network or stand alone, comes with a small computer. On a computer you run a program. If we talk about a device, this program is called firmware. You might have noticed that software receives updates. This can be for security reasons, stability or to add new features. Devices that are not connected to a network, are not expected to be a security threat within the organization. Unfortunately, today most devices are connected. Once connected, most of the time lots of devices can see each other and communicate.
 
A hacker is a misbred IT girl or guy that abuses weaknesses of anything that can be found within a network. (Presuming black-hat hackers, not ethical hackers.) Most hackers don’t really find new bugs in software, but they search for known – so called – vulnerabilities. Whenever a new bug is found in software, related to security, this will be labeled with a CVE number (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). Hopefully the creator of the software will soon write a fix and publish it as an update/patch. Once a CVE is published (with or without a patch), hackers contribute on fora to write an exploit, so it is easy for any hacker to attack unpatched systems. For almost any exploited CVE there is already a patch available. The problem is: knowing which of your network devices have these vulnerabilities and which of them are imported to me. In the next step you would like to know where to find the fixes/updates.
 
Now vulnerability management is the process of knowing what and when to install which security patches with the right priorities in place. In long: you will need a tool to assist you in all things around installing patches. First of all, you need to know what you have in the network. For each component you need to know if there are known CVE’s. Not each CVE has been exploited, which makes the priority a bit lower, but a CVE in the core of your network would again lift the priority up. The moment you need to install an update, you need to know where to find it. It is clear that this is a huge administrative effort and it would be very welcome if some of these things could be automated.

What tool does Kappa Data Offer?

For Vulnerability management, Kappa Data has Armis ViPR in its portfolio. This cloud-based software product is very comprehensive and covers all topics mentioned above, namely discovering, identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities. The product scans and integrates with other software products in the network to get a good understanding of the vulnerabilities. An AI engine filters the results and serves what needs to be done upon a plate. A very intuitive interface has a low learning curve. The installation itself is out of scope of the ViPR software and might need more knowledge.

Implementing a Vulnerability Management Strategy

Establishing a robust vulnerability management strategy is critical for safeguarding your organization’s IT infrastructure. This process involves a series of well-coordinated steps designed to identify, assess, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities. Here is a detailed guide to help you implement an effective vulnerability management strategy.

Inventory All Assets

The first step in any vulnerability management strategy is to create a comprehensive inventory of all your IT assets. This includes hardware, software, and network devices. Understanding what you have in your environment is crucial for effective vulnerability management.

Steps to Create an Asset Inventory:

  • Automated Discovery Tools: Use automated tools to scan your network and identify all connected devices and software.
  • Manual Audits: Complement automated discovery with manual audits to ensure no assets are missed.
  • Classification and Categorization: Classify assets based on their criticality, type, and location. This helps in prioritizing vulnerability management efforts.
  • Regular Updates: Continuously update the inventory to reflect changes in the IT environment, such as new devices or software installations.

Assess vulnerabilities

Once you have a comprehensive inventory, the next step is to assess the vulnerabilities associated with each asset. This involves identifying known vulnerabilities and evaluating their potential impact on your organization.

Steps to Assess Vulnerabilities:

  • Vulnerability Scanning: Use vulnerability scanning tools like Armis ViPR to identify known vulnerabilities in your assets. These tools compare the software and firmware versions against a database of known CVEs.
  • Patch Management Systems: Integrate with patch management systems to get real-time updates on available patches for identified vulnerabilities.
  • Risk Assessment: Evaluate the potential impact of each vulnerability. Consider factors such as the exploitability, the criticality of the asset, and the potential damage in case of a breach.

Prioritize vulnerabilities

Not all vulnerabilities pose the same level of risk. Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact is crucial for effective remediation.

Criteria for Prioritization:

  • Exploitability: How easily can the vulnerability be exploited? Vulnerabilities that are actively being exploited should be prioritized.
  • Asset Criticality: The importance of the affected asset. For example, vulnerabilities in critical servers or databases should be addressed first.
  • Business Impact: The potential business impact if the vulnerability were to be exploited. This includes financial loss, data breach implications, and reputational damage.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Vulnerabilities that affect compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS should be given high priority.

Apply updates and patches

Once vulnerabilities are prioritized, the next step is to apply the necessary updates and patches. This step requires careful planning to ensure that updates do not disrupt business operations.

Steps to Apply Updates:

  • Patch Testing: Before applying patches, test them in a controlled environment to ensure they do not cause issues with existing systems.
  • Scheduled Maintenance: Schedule patch deployment during maintenance windows to minimize the impact on business operations.
  • Automated Deployment: Use automated patch management tools to deploy patches efficiently and consistently across all affected systems.
  • Rollback Plans: Have rollback plans in place in case a patch causes unexpected issues. This ensures you can quickly revert to the previous state without significant downtime.

Monitor and report

Continuous monitoring and reporting are essential to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of your vulnerability management strategy. This involves tracking the status of vulnerabilities, assessing the success of remediation efforts, and keeping stakeholders informed.

Steps for Effective Monitoring and Reporting:

  • Continuous Scanning: Regularly scan your network for new vulnerabilities and reassess existing ones. Automation tools can help in maintaining up-to-date vulnerability status.
  • Incident Tracking: Maintain a log of all identified vulnerabilities, their status, and the actions taken to remediate them. This helps in tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
  • Performance Metrics: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of your vulnerability management strategy. Examples include the number of vulnerabilities detected, mean time to patch, and the number of incidents prevented.
  • Stakeholder Reporting: Provide regular reports to stakeholders, including IT management, security teams, and executive leadership. These reports should highlight the current security posture, progress in vulnerability remediation, and any significant risks.

Continuous Improvement

Vulnerability management is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. Continuously improving your strategy ensures that you stay ahead of emerging threats and maintain a robust security posture.

Steps for Continuous Improvement:

  • Regular Reviews: Periodically review and update your vulnerability management policies and procedures to reflect changes in your IT environment and the threat landscape.
  • Training and Awareness: Ensure that your IT and security teams are well-trained on the latest tools, techniques, and best practices in vulnerability management.
  • Vendor Collaboration: Work closely with your software and hardware vendors to stay informed about new vulnerabilities and patches.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Implement feedback mechanisms to gather insights from your IT and security teams on the effectiveness of your vulnerability management strategy and areas for improvement.

Leveraging Automation with Armis ViPR

To streamline and enhance your vulnerability management efforts, leveraging automation tools like Armis ViPR can be highly effective. Armis ViPR provides comprehensive capabilities to discover, assess, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the manual effort required.

Benefits of Using Armis ViPR:

  • Comprehensive Discovery: Automatically identifies all assets in your network, providing a complete inventory.
  • Real-Time Assessment: Continuously scans for vulnerabilities and provides real-time updates.
  • AI-Driven Prioritization: Uses AI to prioritize vulnerabilities based on risk factors and business impact.
  • Automated Remediation: Facilitates the automated deployment of patches, ensuring timely and accurate updates.
  • Intuitive Interface: Features a user-friendly interface that simplifies the vulnerability management process, even for non-technical users.

Frequently asked questions

Check our FAQ section where you can find the first questions that have been asked to us during the last months.

Contact us

  • Why should an organization consider using Armis ViPR?

    An organization should consider using Armis ViPR to enhance its ability to manage and secure a diverse range of connected devices, including IoT and OT. By providing continuous visibility, real-time vulnerability assessment, and automated patch management, Armis ViPR helps organizations reduce their attack surface, improve compliance, and protect critical assets from cyber threats.

  • Why is vulnerability management important for organizations?

    Vulnerability management is crucial for organizations because it helps identify and mitigate security weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. Effective vulnerability management reduces the risk of data breaches, ensures compliance with regulatory standards, and protects the organization’s reputation and assets.

  • Which types of organizations would benefit the most from using Armis ViPR?

    Organizations with a large number of connected devices, such as those in healthcare, manufacturing, energy, transportation, and finance, would benefit the most from using Armis ViPR. These sectors often have numerous IoT and OT devices that are critical to operations and can be challenging to manage and secure.

  • What is Armis ViPR?

    Armis ViPR (Vulnerability and Patch Management) is a comprehensive security solution designed to identify, assess, and remediate vulnerabilities across all connected devices, including IoT, OT, and unmanaged devices. It provides continuous visibility and automated patch management to enhance the overall security posture of an organization.

  • What benefits can an organization expect from using Armis ViPR?

    Benefits of using Armis ViPR include:

    • Improved security posture: By identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of cyber attacks.
    • Operational efficiency: Automated patch management reduces the manual effort required to keep devices secure.
    • Regulatory compliance: Helps organizations meet compliance requirements by ensuring that vulnerabilities are promptly addressed.
    • Comprehensive visibility: Provides a complete view of all connected devices and their security status.

  • What are the key features of Armis ViPR?

    Key features of Armis ViPR include:

    • Continuous device discovery: Identifies and monitors all connected devices.
    • Vulnerability assessment: Detects and evaluates vulnerabilities in real-time.
    • Automated patch management: Streamlines the process of deploying patches to vulnerable devices.
    • Integration with existing security tools: Enhances existing security infrastructure with additional capabilities.
    • Detailed reporting: Provides actionable insights and compliance reports.

  • How does Armis ViPR work?

    Armis ViPR works by continuously scanning the network to identify all connected devices and assess their security status. It uses advanced analytics to detect vulnerabilities and provides actionable insights for remediation. ViPR integrates with existing security tools to automate patch deployment and ensure devices are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches.

  • How does Armis ViPR integrate with existing security tools?

    Armis ViPR integrates with existing security tools through APIs and connectors, allowing it to work seamlessly with SIEM systems, endpoint protection platforms, and network security tools. This integration enables organizations to leverage their current security investments while enhancing their vulnerability management capabilities.

  • How does Armis ViPR handle the patch management process?

    Armis ViPR handles the patch management process by continuously monitoring for available patches and automatically deploying them to vulnerable devices. It prioritizes patches based on the severity of vulnerabilities and the criticality of devices, ensuring that the most important updates are applied first.

  • How does Armis ViPR enhance the security of IoT and OT devices?

    Armis ViPR enhances the security of IoT and OT devices by providing continuous visibility into device vulnerabilities and automating the patch management process. It ensures that these devices are regularly updated with the latest security patches, reducing the risk of exploitation and ensuring they remain secure over time.

Contact us for a demo

Are you curious to learn whether Armis can help you with searching of assets in the network and how to protect these assets? Contact us for a demo via the below button. 

Ask for a demo