What is Vulnerability Management Framework?

The threat landscape is changing at a remarkable pace, and new vulnerabilities in applications, networks, and devices are discovered on a regular basis. To date, 9,063 application and infrastructure risks have been newly added to the US National Vulnerability Database. Instead of relying on occasional scans or piecemeal patches, organizations require an effective and comprehensive strategy to combat these increasing threats. A structured vulnerability management framework helps in a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and addressing known weaknesses to ensure that the business is in compliance with the best practices.

There are various categories of vulnerability management, ranging from basic network scans to complex governance structures. Each type is appropriate for different sizes of organizations and levels of risk. However, choosing the right approach is not just a technology issue, but about developing a clear and effective methodology. In this article, we will define what a formal program is, how it meets compliance needs, and why it is essential for cybersecurity today.

In the sections below, you will find:

• The definition and fundamentals of a vulnerability management framework.
• Why a structured method is vital in combating cybercrime.
• Key components crucial for mapping vulnerabilities to remediation tasks.
• Leading industry standards, including the NIST vulnerability management framework and the OWASP vulnerability management framework.
• How to implement a risk-based vulnerability management framework in real-world settings.
• Typical challenges when rolling out these processes, plus best practices that leverage security AI for significant cost savings.
• Practical guidance on vulnerability management types to match different infrastructures.
• How SentinelOne provides advanced tools for managing threats holistically.

What is a Vulnerability Management Framework?

A vulnerability management framework is the set of procedures and tools that are used to identify, prioritize, and remediate IT security gaps. Unlike most solutions that only address a specific layer, such as workstation patching, it spans across the application, server, container, and network device layers.

With continuous monitoring, risk scoring, and incident response steps incorporated in this framework, newly disclosed vulnerabilities are also channeled into a consistent remediation pipeline. The goal is to align detection with other aspects of risk management, and to make it easy for security personnel to identify the most serious issues. Whether it is a bug in an open source database that every programmer uses or a new vulnerability found in an application developed in-house, the framework ensures that the fix is carried out at the right time and monitors the closure of the fix.

In addition to scanning for known weaknesses, a vulnerability management framework may use threat intelligence feeds and auditing tools for threat detection. In practice, it may use the NIST vulnerability management framework approach for scanning frequency or the OWASP vulnerability management framework view to explore web application vulnerabilities further.

Many organizations also use the risk-based vulnerability management framework to ensure that they prioritize the fixes that are most dangerous to the operations or compliance. It is not a mere box-ticking exercise but makes security practices relevant to the threats that organizations face. This prevents situations where some risks are not addressed adequately or they are given less attention than they deserve, which leads to a more proactive rather than reactive approach.

Importance of Vulnerability Management Framework

According to current estimations, the global cost of cybercrime is approximately US$ 600 billion annually, or 0.8% of the world economy, and it is anticipated that it will increase in the future. These rising costs can be addressed through a strong vulnerability management framework that locates exploitable weaknesses before the adversary can turn them into opportunities. Failure to address the identified vulnerabilities may result in financial loss, regulatory action, and reputational damage. Here are five reasons why it is important that this process should be more formalized and consistent to address weaknesses:

1. Proactive Risk Identification: A scheduled scan of networks, apps, and endpoints means that new and developing vulnerabilities are not left undetected. It is crucial to prioritize discovered weaknesses by type and organize them in a way that allows the security team to address the most severe issues first. This approach fits well in risk-based vulnerability management paradigm that combines risk severity with technical vulnerability. In the end, proactive identification significantly reduces the windows of opportunity for attackers.
2. Compliance Alignment: Many standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR also mandate vulnerability scans on a schedule and documentation of the remediation of the identified issues. A recognized standard such as the NIST vulnerability management framework gives documentation and guidelines that can show compliance during an audit. It consolidates the scan, patch, and post-remediation check into a single report to ensure compliance. Such clarity is well received by regulators, partners, and customers who seek to have a clear understanding of a firm’s operations.
3. Efficient Allocation of Resources: Companies usually do not have the capability to address all the issues at once, especially if they receive thousands of alerts on a weekly basis. Dividing vulnerabilities into high, medium, and low risk allows for the best use of time and money when it is most needed. The risk-based vulnerability management framework makes sure that serious threats such as a remote code execution flaw are treated as high priority. This distinguishes between expending energy on matters that may not have any impact on the cybersecurity risk and actually mitigating the risk.
4. Holistic Security Approach: A vulnerability management plan consolidates multiple disparate solutions into an integrated process of scan engines, patches, and tickets. This integration enhances visibility, enabling one to easily detect issues within several cloud environments, physical servers, or containers. As cybersecurity continues to expand, organizations require an approach that can accommodate short-term patching and longer-term architecture changes. When it comes to problem-solving, the right framework helps you avoid partial solutions that exist within a specific compartment.
5. Credibility and Trust: Customers, vendors, and shareholders demand and require higher levels of security measures. For instance, showing that you have a vulnerability management framework for web app security provides partners with confidence that your processes are in line with industry standards. Demonstrating compliance with a particular standard helps build trust in an age where cyber attacks can bring down corporations that have been around for decades. The continuous documentation of vigilance also assures stakeholders that you are keen on protecting sensitive information.

Components of a Vulnerability Management Framework

A comprehensive vulnerability management program is usually much broader than simple scans or patch activities. Instead, it functions as a cycle that integrates discovery, categorization, repair, and confirmation into a single process. Each of them supports the other, leading to a cycle of continuous enhancement. Here, five basic components, which bind technology, people, and processes into a single security framework, are outlined.

1. Asset Inventory and Classification: Everything starts with understanding what is out there in your digital environment. Whether it is a legacy server or a new container cluster that has been set up, it is equally important to monitor it. Classification tags differentiate between essential and non-essential systems and correlate with the kinds of vulnerabilities important to each platform. Even with the most sophisticated scanning tools at their disposal, organizations can easily miss these endpoints.
2. Continuous Vulnerability Scanning: Automated and scheduled scans are the basis of every vulnerability management framework approach as they reveal newly discovered weak points. This makes it possible to track emerging threats by correlating results with known CVEs or vendor advisories. These scans should be frequent enough to detect time-bound exploits, but not necessarily so frequent that they cannot be adjusted for major changes or new deployments. The integration of real-time alerts for high-priority issues is useful so that no issue falls through the cracks.
3. Risk-Based Analysis: A risk-based vulnerability management system categorizes each identified weakness in terms of risk probability, risk severity, and exploit possibility. This makes it possible to prioritize based on the data received: while some of the flaws may be critical and require immediate attention, others can be addressed at a later date. Risk scoring also aids in standardization of technical teams and business personnel since everybody can view why a particular patch is ranked higher. In the course of the several scoring sessions, learning effects show areas of strength and weakness as well as blind spots.
4. Remediation and Patch Management: Remediation is not simply applying a patch, but it may also include checking for compatibility, coordinating time for patching, and verifying the solution. All the processes are recorded in the ticketing system to help in tracking the progress as well as guarantee compliance. Coordinating patch cycles with the type of vulnerability, such as OS updates and application layer flaws, is an example of how the different types of vulnerability management influence best practices. The other important steps are to roll back if the fix was not successful or to ensure that no new problems cropped up after fixing the bug.
5. Reporting and Continuous Improvement: Lastly, the structured feedback loop aggregates the scan results, patching status, and compliance data into easily understandable reports. These insights help inform the strategy, from decisions around purchasing new scanning equipment to training employees. For instance, a comprehensive vulnerability management framework for web applications may flag recurrent SQL injection threats that would warrant further code review. This way continuous iteration fosters a culture of security that adapts to the changing threats.

Popular Vulnerability Management Frameworks

Vulnerability management best practices are provided by various industry bodies and security alliances. Although each framework is designed for a specific purpose, some are aimed at application security and others at compliance, all of them are aimed at minimizing organizational risk. Below is the vulnerability management framework from other sources such as NIST, OWASP, and a risk-based vulnerability management framework from other experts in the field. By mapping your processes to these blueprints, you have a roadmap for following tried and tested best practices for security.

1. NIST Vulnerability Management Framework: This framework was created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and describes how potential threats can be identified, ranked, and addressed systematically. It is widely used by government agencies but is also useful for private organizations that want specific instructions. As a result, the NIST approach is easily integrated into various architectures, which are based on the continuous monitoring and cyclical processes. It is a common practice for organizations that employ it to integrate scanning intervals, real-time alerting and compliance checks under one process.
2. OWASP Vulnerability Management Framework: OWASP stands for Open Web Application Security Project and offers numerous resources for web application security. They offer recommendations on how to scan code, manage dependencies, and avoid general vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting. Adhering to an OWASP vulnerability management framework promotes secure coding practices through the use of integrated development life cycles and dynamic testing. It is especially useful for companies whose value proposition is mostly based on the web or a mobile application interface.
3. ISO/IEC 27001: Although it is not a vulnerability management framework per se, ISO 27001 provides general security controls. It calls for documented risk mitigation plans and risk assessment that must be conducted from time to time, and risk audits, all of which align with other frameworks. Integrating your vulnerability management with ISO 27001 makes compliance easier and proves to external auditors that your patching and scanning activities are supported by strict policies. For the multinationals, ISO compliance in most cases helps in easing the process of dealing with cross-border regulations.
4. CIS Controls: The CIS controls were formerly known as SANS Top 20 and they outline measures to protect against the most prevalent risks. Some of the controls include effective patching, system inventory, and continuous vulnerability scanning controls. While not presented as a unified model like NIST, the CIS controls may form the foundation of a risk based vulnerability management framework by defining the most valuable activities to perform immediately. Some organizations use CIS to monitor the progress as they incorporate more controls within their system.
5. PCI DSS: For any company dealing with payment card data, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) mandates scanning and patching. Merchants must scan their systems quarterly, act on high-priority vulnerabilities within 72 hours, and submit compliance reports. Despite the fact that PCI DSS is applied to financial transaction environments, it serves as an example of a specialized type of vulnerability management among many types. PCI compliance tends to be the foundation for more comprehensive vulnerability management processes.
6. ENISA Guidelines: In the EU, ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) provides recommendations covering all areas, including network security and threat intelligence sharing. Though it does not present a framework, these guidelines dictate how governments and enterprises address vulnerabilities. Many of the ENISA documents use the NIST vulnerability management framework or have elements of the OWASP vulnerability management framework for application security. Through compliance with ENISA, organizations that operate in the EU show that they meet the region’s standard of due care.

Steps to Implement a Vulnerability Management Framework

Establishing a vulnerability management program from the ground up or enhancing the current one is a process that should be carefully planned and coordinated with stakeholders and continuously improved. Every organization is unique but the fundamental stages are the same: identification of the scope, tool selection, priority setting, and feedback. Here is a general framework that might help you in establishing a system that best fits your infrastructure, risk tolerance levels, and compliance requirements.

1. Scope Definition & Stakeholder Involvement: Determine which assets, networks, and applications are encompassed within the framework. To make sure that all important points are covered, it is a good idea to engage IT, security, compliance, or development leaders. This step is often where alignment with industry frameworks like the NIST vulnerability management framework starts. Another advantage of a well-defined scope is that it helps in setting realistic timelines, budget, and resources.
2. Tool Selection & Integration: Once you have defined your scope, choose scanning and remediation tools that fit your environment’s size. Integration with ticketing systems, CI/CD pipelines, and threat intelligence feeds is crucial for effective operation. Here, a vulnerability management framework can be used to assess app-centric scanners, whereas a large-scale enterprise may require a layered approach. Remember, it is important to ensure tool compatibility on the cloud, container, and on-premises environment to prevent blind spots.
3. Risk Scoring & Prioritization: The risk-based vulnerability management framework perspective highlights the importance of a sound scoring system. Each weakness should be ranked by its severity, the extent to which the exploit is available and known, and its criticality to the business. This method helps in identifying which defects require correction in the current cycle and which ones can be planned for correction in the subsequent cycles. Make sure to explain how these scores are reflected in practice—such as when an organization releases an emergency patch and when it delivers a routine update.
4. Remediation Planning & Execution: Create a plan on how best to apply a patch, reconfigure or uninstall the vulnerable components. For major fixes, it is recommended to use staging environments and phased rollouts to avoid outages. Connecting these steps to the existing vulnerability management framework provides structure and increases accountability. It is recommended to always maintain records of updates made, results of tests carried out, and the systems that have been affected in case of an audit.
5. Monitoring & Continuous Improvement: After the initial implementation, conduct follow-up assessments to check whether the KPIs you set, including time to patch, are being achieved. Get feedback from teams using the patches, implementing new scan features, or handling actual incidents. Modify your strategy in response to changes in threats or performance, utilizing the vulnerability management framework or other emerging vulnerability management techniques. Finally, the framework evolves as your organization evolves and as new threats emerge.

Challenges in Implementing a Vulnerability Management Framework

There are several internal and external challenges that may hinder the implementation of a formal system to address the vulnerabilities. These constraints include budget constraints, lack of skilled personnel, employee resistance, and lack of top management support, which may hinder or even stop essential security projects. In the following section, we discuss five common issues that organizations face when implementing a new or updated program. Awareness of these potential problems helps in planning their solutions and maintaining the proper functioning of the vulnerability management framework.

1. Tool Overload and Complex Integrations: Many organizations deploy numerous scanners, patch managers, and SIEM platforms that do not integrate well. This fragmentation makes it difficult to draw a clear link between different types of risk factor and to gain a coherent understanding of the overall risk picture. Coordinating with a vulnerability management framework can assist in unifying these systems under the common objective. However, there are still some issues that require proper planning to organize the workflows for improved scanning and patching.
2. Inconsistent Asset Inventories: Without an inventory of servers, applications, and connected devices, scans can fail to capture large areas of the environment. This results in partial coverage and a feeling that they are adequately protected. When integrating continuous discovery tools with the vulnerability management framework, the approach and the new resources added are easily noticed. However, having an up-to-date inventory requires the collaboration of the IT department, DevOps, and procurement department.
3. Resistance to Downtime: Some departments that require constant availability may not want to go through patch cycles or scan periods. This is because they are concerned about potential disruptions in production systems. It is easier to explain to executives that a breach can cost millions, and you can provide real-life examples from other companies. When it comes to business continuity planning, the OWASP vulnerability management framework approach can be aligned by scheduling updates and providing risk reports.
4. Skill Shortages and Training Gaps: Advanced scanning tools and the subsequent interpretation of the results are tasks that should be handled by professionals. Due to the lack of adequate skills, many organizations are often unable to handle the vulnerability management framework fully internally. This can be done by promoting existing staff or hiring specialized staff to handle such issues. Engaging managed security service providers also helps fill short-term gaps where teams are not yet knowledgeable enough.
5. Changing Threat Landscape: Cyber threats become more diverse and complex, and attackers are willing to look for new ways to penetrate a system even if it has minor vulnerabilities. Organizations that fail to update scanning policies, threat intelligence sources, or baseline configuration are the ones that lag behind. The static approach, where the vulnerability management framework or similar guidelines are not updated at any point in time, breeds gaps. It is crucial to remain flexible and reassess the framework to ensure that it remains relevant and effective.

Best Practices for Vulnerability Management Framework

It is imperative to understand that a vulnerability management framework requires constant adjustments as technology and threats evolve daily. Studies have shown that organizations that incorporate AI-based security automation are likely to reduce their data breach costs by approximately US $2.22 million. Below are five recommendations that will help keep your processes effective and efficient while adhering to standard frameworks to ensure that your vulnerability management framework continues to evolve and strengthen.

1. Automate Where Possible: Manual checks are less effective for the identification of emerging vulnerabilities compared to automated checks. Automated scans enable quick identification of vulnerabilities, association with published CVEs, and can even prompt patching. This approach works best with any other recognized risk-based vulnerability management framework because it expedites the closing of high risk flaws. The use of automation in the detection and response to threats minimizes human error and response time of events.
2. Foster Cross-Team Collaboration: Security is not the concern of IT alone, every developer, operations team, and executives have some responsibility in the matter. Integrating these roles within a single framework of governance makes it easier to ensure vulnerability management is integrated into business processes. In web applications, referencing an OWASP vulnerability management framework would make developers consider secure coding right from the start. It also ensures that the executive sponsors can provide for the funding of the advanced tools and specialized training, which enhances the support from all levels of the organization.
3. Implement Real-Time Threat Intelligence: Integration of external intelligence feeds to the scanning engines and risk dashboards enables real-time changes when new threats appear. If you find out that hackers are taking advantage of a recently discovered zero-day, your scans can instantly focus on that particular vulnerability. Keeping this process up-to-date can be achieved by incorporating these results into a NIST vulnerability management framework or something similar. Real-time intelligence also helps in prioritization of patches so that no vulnerability is left unaddressed for long.
4. Regularly Review Policy and Documentation: As new technologies emerge, the procedures you have in place for discovery, patching, and escalation may become obsolete. Updating them makes sure they are up to date for the employees, especially in cases where new structures such as containers or microservices have been incorporated. Also, a vulnerability management framework depends on new data—regularity of policy check ensures that your scoring models remain up-to-date. Specific and up-to-date documents also support audits and compliance checks.
5. Measure Success with Metrics: It is important to define measurable parameters like ‘mean time to patch’, ‘scan coverage’, ‘number of critical vulnerabilities outstanding’ to measure progress. When done over time, they reveal these bottlenecks—maybe the patch team is not adequately staffed, or some business units are less amenable to downtime than others. By tracking metrics over time, however, you may be able to adjust the scanning intervals or switch to a different type of vulnerability management that is more appropriate to your current threat environment. Continuous measurement is critical for an adaptive approach as it involves a forward-looking perspective.

How Can SentinelOne Help?

SentinelOne can do a security audit of your organization’s infrastructure and help you choose the proper vulnerability management framework. It can patch your systems, update software, and eliminate vulnerabilities with its 1-click automated remediation. The platform can isolate suspicious devices and prevent lateral movement.

You can set up custom vulnerability management policies for your organization and consistently enforce them across hybrid ecosystems, including public and private cloud environments.

It can perform a mix of agent-based and agent-less vulnerability scans. You can enforce your security policies across your hybrid ecosystems, including public and private cloud environments. SentinelOne makes it easy to address cloud workload misconfigurations and you can also perform IaC scanning. SentinelOne’s Offensive Security Engine™ with Verified Exploit Paths™ can predict attacks before they happen.

SentinelOne provides continuous visibility into your infrastructure and helps you avoid potential threats. It can prioritize critical vulnerabilities based on several factors like likelihood of exploitation, business criticality, etc.

Book a free live demo.

Conclusion

An effective vulnerability management program is the key to establishing an ongoing security awareness culture for organizations to prevent cybersecurity threats. Altogether, the asset inventories, scanning techniques, risk rating, and automated patching enable organizations to transition from being in the reactive mode of firefighting to proactively managing security with the help of pertinent data. This not only limits the time frame available to hackers but is also crucial when trying to fulfill compliance requirements and demonstrate to your stakeholders that your assets are secure.

However, frameworks are only useful if they are kept up-to-date, regularly exercised, and connected to other security elements. To future-proof your vulnerability management, you need to adapt to new technologies, improve your processes, and leverage AI-based analytics. If you are confused or having a hard time finding such a solution, SentinelOne can be an ideal choice. Discover how SentinelOne Singularity™ offers end-to-end protection with real-time hyper-automation and artificial intelligence. Equip your teams to identify, mitigate, and prevent threats in any infrastructure – physical, cloud, or both – and protect your organization’s security for the future.