MARCH - 2020ENTERPRISE SECURITY| | 9• Continuous threat monitoring:Regularly reporting on emerging threats, intelligence sharing, security program assessment.How to Implement an Effective Threat and Vulnerability Management Program?An information security framework is efficient when it can address all types of security vulnerabilities rationally across all layers of organizational security. These vulnerabilities can be present in the form of a bug in the code that allows adversaries to gain root access or a misconfiguration that may cause another most time, more severe vulnerability.• Adequate employee training and educationThe first principle in any risk management exercise is to identify the risk before you proceed to handle it. It necessitates training your staff members, contractors and vendors as well. Your employees are not only your first line of defence but also in most instances, a cyber adversary’s primary target of attack. Educating your employees on the various threats that can emanate and the ways of dealing with them should form the core aspect of your threat and vulnerability management program.• Effective and regular penetration testing Penetration testing is one way of ensuring that your networks are susceptible to threats and attacks from outside. It also helps security experts to understand the inherent strength of the security of the organizational network periphery. If you can pierce a hole in your systems, it does not take much time for cybercriminals to do it either. Though pen testing is a useful threat management tool, it works better when other security aspects are in place.• Routine and intricate vulnerability scanningVulnerability scanning is similar to penetration testing as it allows an organization to understand what it is susceptible to. The differentiation comes from vulnerability scanning, identifying misconfigurations, out of date patches, and mishandling of privileges. Having a routine scanning period of the environment goes hand in hand with updates, and is essential to standing the priority list of vulnerability remediation.• Regular patching and updates With every passing day, your application program and system software become older and obsolete, thereby enabling hackers to find ways and new vulnerabilities to infiltrate it. Therefore, organizations should ensure that regular patch management programs and updates are made available to deal with the latest threats.• Effective information assets inventory managementHave a proper inventory management program in place. Obsolete computers and servers might appear harmless, but they could harbour malicious programs that the attacker is searching to exploit. Remember that the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. A proper inventory management program can take care of this aspect correctly.• Keep yourself updatedIn this online world, no one can afford to relax and drop their guard. It is imperative for security systems to always be ahead of cybercriminals who can catch up at any minute. Go through threat intelligence feeds on a real-time basis to keep your network safe from malicious attacks. Updating your knowledge can save the day for you.• Effective risk management Once you have identified the vulnerability, you must fix it, as well. Thus, security teams have to be on their toes at all times to look out for possible solutions to counter these threats. New vulnerabilities can spring up every day. Therefore, it becomes critical to ensure that your network does not end up becoming a victim. Final WordsEnterprises must adopt a proactive approach to security rather than be reactive when dealing with threats and vulnerabilities. The top management must ensure that the entire business unit is aware of the best cybersecurity practices, and performing due diligence is part of the organizational processes. It only takes one breach for the adversaries to gain access. Vigilance and due diligence are the keys to enterprise information security. ESJohn Gunter Jr.
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