How can you prioritize security vulnerabilities during testing?

1 Assess the impact

The first step to prioritize security vulnerabilities is to assess the impact of each one on your network. The impact is the potential damage or harm that an attacker can cause by exploiting the vulnerability. You can use a scale of low, medium, or high to rate the impact based on factors such as the sensitivity of the data, the functionality of the system, the reputation of the organization, and the legal or regulatory implications. For example, a vulnerability that allows an attacker to access confidential customer information or disrupt essential services would have a high impact, while a vulnerability that only affects a minor feature or a test environment would have a low impact.

2 Evaluate the likelihood

The second step to prioritize security vulnerabilities is to evaluate the likelihood of each one being exploited by an attacker. The likelihood is the probability or frequency of an attack occurring based on factors such as the complexity of the exploit, the availability of the exploit code, the exposure of the system, the motivation of the attacker, and the presence of mitigating controls. You can use a scale of low, medium, or high to rate the likelihood based on these factors. For example, a vulnerability that requires advanced skills, specialized tools, or physical access to exploit would have a low likelihood, while a vulnerability that is easy to exploit, widely known, or publicly disclosed would have a high likelihood.

3 Calculate the risk

The third step to prioritize security vulnerabilities is to calculate the risk of each one based on the impact and likelihood ratings. The risk is the measure of the potential loss or damage that an attacker can cause by exploiting the vulnerability. You can use a formula such as risk = impact x likelihood to derive a numerical value for the risk, or you can use a matrix or a chart to plot the impact and likelihood on two axes and assign a color code or a label to the risk. For example, a vulnerability that has a high impact and a high likelihood would have a critical risk, while a vulnerability that has a low impact and a low likelihood would have a negligible risk.

4 Prioritize the remediation

The fourth step to prioritize security vulnerabilities is to prioritize the remediation actions based on the risk ratings. The remediation is the process of fixing or mitigating the vulnerability to prevent or reduce the possibility of an attack. You can use a priority scale of urgent, high, medium, or low to assign the remediation actions based on the risk ratings. For example, a vulnerability that has a critical risk should be remediated urgently, while a vulnerability that has a negligible risk can be remediated later or accepted as part of the risk tolerance. You should also consider the cost, effort, and feasibility of the remediation actions when prioritizing them.

6 Update the process

The sixth and final step to prioritize security vulnerabilities is to update the process based on the feedback, lessons learned, and changes in the network environment. The process is the set of steps, tools, and criteria that you use to test and prioritize security vulnerabilities. You should review and improve the process regularly to ensure that it is aligned with the best practices, standards, and regulations of network security. You should also adapt the process to the evolving threats, risks, and requirements of your network. Updating the process will help you maintain a high level of network security and resilience.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?