Recognizing known vulnerabilities in time – this is how companies prepare for it
Known vulnerabilities are rarely the real problem
Manufacturers regularly publish information about newly discovered security vulnerabilities in their products. Affected users are usually already provided with security updates or specific recommendations for action. At first glance, all the prerequisites are thus in place to promptly fix known vulnerabilities.
Nevertheless, practice shows a different picture: vulnerabilities continue to constitute a significant part of the attack surface for cyberattacks. The BSI also regularly points this out in its situation report (most recently in Situation report 2025) The crucial question is therefore not: „Is there already a patch available?“, But rather: „Does anyone in our company even realize in time that we are affected?“. Even the best security information is useless if it doesn’t reach the right people or trigger concrete actions.
Today, security vulnerabilities are usually discovered within the context of a so-called Responsible Disclosure Procedure published. This means that manufacturers are initially informed confidentially and are given the opportunity to provide a security update. Only then are details of the vulnerability made public.
For companies, this is generally good news. Often, a solution already exists – provided that your own organization recognizes in time that it is affected.
In practice, this is often the real challenge: It’s not the lack of information that’s the problem, but the process of turning information into action.
Why information does not reach where it is needed
With each newly published vulnerability, companies ask themselves the same questions:
The more complex the IT landscape becomes, the more difficult it can be to answer these questions quickly and reliably. If there are no up-to-date overviews of the systems in use or clear responsibilities, there is a risk that security-relevant information will not be processed in time. This can result in known vulnerabilities persisting longer than necessary.
Increasing demands increase the pressure to act
A structured approach to security vulnerabilities is no longer just a technical recommendation. The implementation of the NIS-2 directive is also placing the issue more prominently on the regulatory agenda.
Whether a company falls directly under the legal requirements or not, customers, business partners, and increasingly also insurers expect comprehensible processes for handling security risks.
Documented vulnerability management helps to identify risks early on, establish responsibilities, and implement security measures in a comprehensible manner.
Four practical tips for effective vulnerability management
A manageable process doesn't have to be complicated. The following organizational measures can already help you process security information more efficiently.
1. Maintain an overview of your own IT landscape
Only well-known systems can be evaluated and protected. Companies should therefore document as up-to-date as possible which servers, applications, cloud services, and publicly accessible systems are being used.
This transparency forms the basis for assessing whether publicly disclosed vulnerabilities affect one's own company.
2. Evaluate security information in a structured manner
Every day, many safety reports are published by various manufacturers and institutions.
Instead of receiving information sporadically, a structured process is recommended that regularly evaluates relevant sources and compares them with its own systems.
3. Prioritize risks in a comprehensible way
Not every security vulnerability requires the same speed of reaction. Among other things, it is crucial to consider: how critical the vulnerability is, whether the affected systems are publicly accessible, whether the vulnerability is already actively exploited, and what impact a compromise would have on the company. A clear prioritization helps to target available resources.
4. Create clear responsibilities
A functioning process requires clear responsibilities. It should be clearly regulated: who evaluates safety reports, who makes decisions, who implements measures, and how their implementation is documented. In this way, it is possible to prevent important information from being lost in everyday work.
The external view makes internal processes more meaningful
Even in established processes, it can be useful to regularly review one’s own IT landscape from an external perspective. A vulnerability scan from the perspective of a potential attacker shows which systems are publicly accessible and whether known security vulnerabilities or configuration errors are discernible. This allows for the identification of risks that might otherwise go unnoticed in day-to-day operations. An external vulnerability scan does not replace internal vulnerability management, but it provides a solid foundation for better understanding one’s own attack surface and for targeting measures more specifically.
Conclusion
Known vulnerabilities cannot be completely avoided. However, companies can create organizational prerequisites to evaluate information more quickly and respond appropriately.
A structured process for vulnerability management, clear responsibilities, and a regular review of the publicly accessible attack surface help to identify security risks early and to reduce them specifically.
FAQ
What is meant by vulnerability management?
Vulnerability management refers to the structured process of identifying, evaluating, prioritizing, and implementing appropriate measures for known security vulnerabilities in deployed IT systems. It is crucial not only to ensure that information about vulnerabilities is available, but also to ensure that it reaches the appropriate individuals in a timely manner and triggers concrete actions.
Why are known vulnerabilities for companies still a risk?
Although manufacturers often provide security updates or guidance on how to address vulnerabilities, known vulnerabilities remain an essential part of the attack surface. In practice, the challenge often lies in identifying in time whether one’s own company is affected and which systems are specifically at risk.
What role do clear responsibilities play?
In order to effectively manage vulnerabilities, clearly defined responsibilities are required. Companies should establish who evaluates security reports, makes decisions regarding measures, implements these measures, and documents their implementation. This prevents relevant security information from being lost in the day-to-day work.
What foundation does effective vulnerability management require?
Companies should document as current as possible which servers, applications, cloud services, and publicly accessible systems they use. Only when the company’s own IT landscape is known can a reliable assessment be made of whether a publicly disclosed vulnerability affects the company.
How should companies prioritize security vulnerabilities?
Not every vulnerability requires the same speed of reaction. When prioritizing, the criticality of the vulnerability, the public accessibility of affected systems, any possible active exploitation, and the potential consequences of a compromise should be taken into account in particular.
Can an external vulnerability scan replace internal vulnerability management?
No. An external vulnerability scan complements internal processes, but does not replace them. It can identify which systems are accessible from the internet and whether known security vulnerabilities or configuration errors are visible from the outside. This gives companies an additional view of their attack surface and enables them to prioritize measures more specifically.
