Free the CISO, a podcast series that attempts to free CISOs from their shackles so they can focus on securing their organization, is produced by CIO.com in partnership with DataBee®, from Comcast Technology Solutions.
In each episode, Robin Das, Executive Director at Comcast under the DataBee team, explores the CISO’s role through the position’s relationship with other security stakeholders, from regulators and the Board of Directors to internal personnel and outside vendors.
The recent webinar titled "Solving Your Vulnerability and Asset Exposure Management Challenges," hosted by Robin Das, Executive Director of Go-To-Market Strategy at DataBee, featured insightful discussions with Harriet Yea, Director of Vulnerability Management and Security Incidents Response at Comcast, and Jill Cagliostro, Director of Product at DataBee. The session delved into the complexities of vulnerability management, the increasing number of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), and strategies to manage and mitigate these risks effectively. [Watch the webinar here.]
Managing Vulnerability and Asset Exposure: Key Strategies and Insights
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, managing vulnerabilities and asset exposure has become a critical aspect of maintaining robust cybersecurity. With the number of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) increasing year over year1, organizations must adopt effective strategies to mitigate risks and protect their critical assets.
The Rise in CVEs
The number of CVEs has been rising steadily, with a 38% year-over-year increase. This surge can likely be attributed to several factors, including the demand for rapid product releases, advancements in technology, and improved tools for detecting vulnerabilities. The proliferation of software and IoT devices has expanded the attack surface, making vulnerability management more challenging.
Impact on Enterprises
Failing to keep up with patching vulnerabilities can have significant consequences for enterprises. "The struggle is real. The clock on how quickly you can patch to reduce your risk is getting shorter, creating a lot of pressure for security teams," said Jill Cagliostro, Director of Product at DataBee, during the panel discussion.
It is essential to manage vulnerabilities effectively to protect critical assets. Understanding the infrastructure and working cross-functionally within organizations is crucial to managing risks. "We have to understand our infrastructure. Working at a very complex organization, the scale is so vast. It's about chunking vulnerabilities into manageable ways," noted Harriett Yea, Director of Vulnerability Management and Security Incidents Response at Comcast.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Effective vulnerability management requires cross-functional collaboration. Security teams must work closely with other departments to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities. Transforming traditionally combative relationships into collaborative ones is essential. Education and support play a vital role in this process. Sharing relevant data and taking a data-driven approach to vulnerability management can enhance collaboration and efficiency. DataBee security fabric was designed to help address these challenges and enable cross functional collaboration by delivering normalized data sets that can be accessed across the organization.
Automation and AI
Automation and AI play a significant role in vulnerability management. Automation can handle repetitive tasks, allowing engineers to focus on more complex issues. Tools like automated chatbots like DataBee Beekeeper can help identify asset owners and streamline the remediation process. This not only saves time but also enables prompt attention to vulnerabilities.
Prioritization and Risk Management
Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their potential impact is crucial. Various factors influence prioritization, such as the criticality of assets, threat intelligence, and the nature of the vulnerabilities. A balanced approach that considers both business needs and security requirements is essential. Utilizing threat intelligence to understand which vulnerabilities are most likely to be exploited can help in making informed decisions.
Comprehensive Scanning
Comprehensive scanning is vital for effective vulnerability management. There are different types of scans, including unauthenticated scans, authenticated scans, and agent-based scans. Authenticated and agent-based scans provide more comprehensive coverage, helping to identify vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed. While the number of vulnerabilities may increase with more thorough scanning, this is a positive development as it indicates better coverage and awareness of potential risks.
Managing Data and Insights
With the increase in vulnerabilities, the volume of data that needs to be analyzed also grows. "By starting to normalize and consolidate data, it makes it easier when the next vulnerability comes in and you need to respond quickly,” noted Jill Cagliostro, Director of Product at DataBee. DataBee can assist in managing this data, helping teams to prioritize and address vulnerabilities effectively. DataBee AI can automate repetitive tasks, allowing security teams to focus on higher-level analysis and decision-making.
Continuous Improvement
Vulnerability management is an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement. Regularly updating the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and other systems of record ensures that asset information is accurate and up to date. This proactive approach helps in quickly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers.
Conclusion
Managing vulnerabilities and asset exposure is a complex but essential aspect of cybersecurity. "It's not for the faint-hearted to be in VM. You just have to constantly investigate, investigate, and investigate," noted Harriett Yea. By adopting a collaborative, data-driven approach and leveraging automation and AI, organizations can effectively mitigate risks and protect their critical assets. Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their potential impact and continuously improving processes are key to staying ahead of threats.
To gain a deeper understanding of these challenges and learn more about effective vulnerability management strategies, [watch the full webinar]. Reach out to DataBee at Databee@comcast.com for more information.
The recent webinar titled "Solving Your Vulnerability and Asset Exposure Management Challenges," hosted by Robin Das, Executive Director of Go-To-Market Strategy at DataBee, featured insightful discussions with Harriet Yea, Director of Vulnerability Management and Security Incidents Response at Comcast, and Jill Cagliostro, Director of Product at DataBee. The session delved into the complexities of vulnerability management, the increasing number of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), and strategies to manage and mitigate these risks effectively. [Watch the webinar here.]
Managing Vulnerability and Asset Exposure: Key Strategies and Insights
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, managing vulnerabilities and asset exposure has become a critical aspect of maintaining robust cybersecurity. With the number of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) increasing year over year1, organizations must adopt effective strategies to mitigate risks and protect their critical assets.
The Rise in CVEs
The number of CVEs has been rising steadily, with a 38% year-over-year increase. This surge can likely be attributed to several factors, including the demand for rapid product releases, advancements in technology, and improved tools for detecting vulnerabilities. The proliferation of software and IoT devices has expanded the attack surface, making vulnerability management more challenging.
Impact on Enterprises
Failing to keep up with patching vulnerabilities can have significant consequences for enterprises. "The struggle is real. The clock on how quickly you can patch to reduce your risk is getting shorter, creating a lot of pressure for security teams," said Jill Cagliostro, Director of Product at DataBee, during the panel discussion.
It is essential to manage vulnerabilities effectively to protect critical assets. Understanding the infrastructure and working cross-functionally within organizations is crucial to managing risks. "We have to understand our infrastructure. Working at a very complex organization, the scale is so vast. It's about chunking vulnerabilities into manageable ways," noted Harriett Yea, Director of Vulnerability Management and Security Incidents Response at Comcast.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Effective vulnerability management requires cross-functional collaboration. Security teams must work closely with other departments to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities. Transforming traditionally combative relationships into collaborative ones is essential. Education and support play a vital role in this process. Sharing relevant data and taking a data-driven approach to vulnerability management can enhance collaboration and efficiency. DataBee security fabric was designed to help address these challenges and enable cross functional collaboration by delivering normalized data sets that can be accessed across the organization.
Automation and AI
Automation and AI play a significant role in vulnerability management. Automation can handle repetitive tasks, allowing engineers to focus on more complex issues. Tools like automated chatbots like DataBee Beekeeper can help identify asset owners and streamline the remediation process. This not only saves time but also enables prompt attention to vulnerabilities.
Prioritization and Risk Management
Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their potential impact is crucial. Various factors influence prioritization, such as the criticality of assets, threat intelligence, and the nature of the vulnerabilities. A balanced approach that considers both business needs and security requirements is essential. Utilizing threat intelligence to understand which vulnerabilities are most likely to be exploited can help in making informed decisions.
Comprehensive Scanning
Comprehensive scanning is vital for effective vulnerability management. There are different types of scans, including unauthenticated scans, authenticated scans, and agent-based scans. Authenticated and agent-based scans provide more comprehensive coverage, helping to identify vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed. While the number of vulnerabilities may increase with more thorough scanning, this is a positive development as it indicates better coverage and awareness of potential risks.
Managing Data and Insights
With the increase in vulnerabilities, the volume of data that needs to be analyzed also grows. "By starting to normalize and consolidate data, it makes it easier when the next vulnerability comes in and you need to respond quickly,” noted Jill Cagliostro, Director of Product at DataBee. DataBee can assist in managing this data, helping teams to prioritize and address vulnerabilities effectively. DataBee AI can automate repetitive tasks, allowing security teams to focus on higher-level analysis and decision-making.
Continuous Improvement
Vulnerability management is an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement. Regularly updating the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and other systems of record ensures that asset information is accurate and up to date. This proactive approach helps in quickly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers.
Conclusion
Managing vulnerabilities and asset exposure is a complex but essential aspect of cybersecurity. "It's not for the faint-hearted to be in VM. You just have to constantly investigate, investigate, and investigate," noted Harriett Yea. By adopting a collaborative, data-driven approach and leveraging automation and AI, organizations can effectively mitigate risks and protect their critical assets. Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their potential impact and continuously improving processes are key to staying ahead of threats.
To gain a deeper understanding of these challenges and learn more about effective vulnerability management strategies, [watch the full webinar]. Reach out to DataBee at Databee@comcast.com for more information.
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