Ethical Hacking News
Despite best efforts, many organizations are failing to see the full picture when it comes to vulnerability management. A significant gap exists in the way devices and systems are scanned for vulnerabilities, leaving organizations vulnerable to attack. By understanding the causes of this gap and taking steps to address it, security teams can improve their organization's overall security posture.
There is a significant "vulnerability management gap" in the way vulnerability management is approached and executed. The gap refers to the lack of visibility into an organization's security posture, particularly for devices not connected to the network. Up to 20% of devices within an organization's network may never be scanned for vulnerabilities due to this gap. Lack of visibility is caused by devices not being seen by traditional scanning methods, such as remote workstations and IoT devices. Lack of visibility is also caused by devices without a vulnerability agent installed, such as servers and storage devices. The consequences of this gap can be severe, including increased risk of data breaches and cyber attacks. Security teams can address the gap by conducting comprehensive inventory audits and implementing ongoing monitoring. Understanding vendor-provided coverage metrics limitations is essential to identifying gaps within vulnerability management programs.
The world of cybersecurity is often likened to a never-ending game of whack-a-mole, where vulnerabilities and threats pop up constantly, only to be replaced by new ones. But despite the best efforts of security teams around the globe, there remains a significant gap in the way vulnerability management is approached and executed. This gap, which has been referred to as the "vulnerability management gap," refers to the lack of visibility into the security posture of an organization's devices and systems.
According to recent data, the majority of organizations are relying on enterprise vulnerability management platforms to identify and address vulnerabilities in their systems. However, these platforms often fail to provide a comprehensive view of an organization's security posture, leaving significant gaps that can be exploited by malicious actors. In fact, studies have shown that up to 20% of devices within an organization's network have never been scanned for vulnerabilities, despite the best efforts of security teams.
So, what is causing this gap in vulnerability management? One major issue is the lack of visibility into devices that are not connected to the network. Devices that are not connected to the network cannot be seen by traditional scanning methods, and therefore, are often overlooked by security teams. This can include devices such as remote workstations, mobile devices, or IoT devices that are not connected to the network.
Another major issue is the lack of visibility into devices that are on the network but lack an agent. Devices that do not have a vulnerability agent installed on them cannot be scanned for vulnerabilities using traditional methods. This can include devices such as servers, storage devices, or other systems that are not managed by the organization's security team.
The consequences of this gap in vulnerability management can be severe. Organizations that fail to identify and address vulnerabilities in their systems can leave themselves vulnerable to attacks from malicious actors. In fact, studies have shown that organizations that fail to address vulnerabilities in their systems are more likely to experience data breaches and other types of cyber attacks.
So, what can security teams do to address this gap in vulnerability management? The first step is to conduct a comprehensive inventory audit to identify all devices within the organization's network. This includes devices that are connected to the network, as well as those that are not. Next, security teams need to implement ongoing monitoring to catch new gaps as they emerge. This can include regular scanning of devices for vulnerabilities, as well as monitoring of device activity and configuration.
In addition, security teams should know the limitations of vendor-provided coverage metrics as their primary indicator of program health. While these metrics can be valuable, they are measuring what the platform can see, not what exists in the organization's environment. Therefore, it is essential for security teams to understand the gaps that exist within their vulnerability management program and to take steps to address them.
In conclusion, the vulnerability management gap is a significant issue that affects organizations around the world. By understanding the causes of this gap and taking steps to address it, security teams can improve their organization's overall security posture and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Vulnerability-Management-Gap-Where-Security-Teams-Are-Failing-to-See-the-Forest-for-the-Trees-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/06/24/vulnerability_management_gap_noone_talks/
Published: Tue Jun 24 13:33:49 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
