The terms “patch management” and “vulnerability management” are sometimes used interchangeably, but it is important to understand the difference. Though both strategies aim to mitigate risk, patch management (the process of managing software updates) is limited in scope. To gain a deeper understanding of your environment and make informed, impactful decisions, you need to move to a more holistic approach through vulnerability management. Vulnerability management is a continuous process of identifying, prioritizing, remediating, and reporting on security vulnerabilities in systems and the software that runs on them.
Patch management is a critical component of vulnerability management, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle—and technology can make all the difference. For example, Kurt Hazel, IT security manager for financial institution Security Finance, knew his organization was an attractive target for hackers and wanted his team to be able to take a proactive approach to managing vulnerabilities. So, he made the switch and adopted Rapid7 InsightVM, enabling Security Finance to move to a more mature security program.
In a similar spot? Here’s what you can learn from Kurt’s experience.
1. Implement asset management
Your ability to reduce risk is only as good as the visibility you have into your environment. An asset management solution helps you gain a full understanding of the assets you have and the vulnerabilities associated with each asset. With that knowledge, you are equipped to prioritize vulnerabilities, remediate issues, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
According to Kurt, back when his team only did patch management, they “didn’t have the full stor ..
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