In vulnerability management (VM), the task of sifting through vast amounts of data to pinpoint critical insights can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, specifically a haystack with many precious needles that all look alike. And, of course, the one needle you’re looking for is mission-critical and can mean the difference between securing your business and leaving it open to attack.

It is common knowledge that when it comes to cybersecurity, there is no one-size-fits all definition of risk, nor is there a place for static plans. New technologies are created, new vulnerabilities discovered, and more attackers appear on the horizon. Most recently the appearance of advanced language models such as ChatGPT have taken this concept and turned the dial up to eleven.

An effective detection and response capability is essential for monitoring key assets, containing threats early and eradicating them. However, due to the current disparate nature of potential attack vectors within an organization, affording the wide range of sensors necessary can be a challenge as well as the worry of the disruption of critical services. Yet, without robust detection and response processes, businesses are left vulnerable.

Zero-days are out there. Lurking just under the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike. A security team can do everything right and still experience a zero-day attack in its supply chain. And with innumerable configurations, devices, and platforms that can be exploited, zero-day exploits are becoming more common than ever.

In a world where AI is everywhere, cybersecurity regulations are on the rise, and cyber insurance is booming, we need standardized metrics for cybersecurity. Remember, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. A recent report by SecurityScorecard and the Cyentia Institute discovered a startling fact: 98% of organizations have a third party with a breach in the last two years. In cybersecurity, metrics matter; knowing how to communicate and report on metrics is essential.

When we first built the CISA KEV enrichment dashboard at Nucleus, our goal was to gain new insights into the vulnerabilities that had been confirmed by CISA as being exploited. Recently, CISA expanded the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with vulnerabilities “known to be used in ransomware campaigns”. We find this data valuable in helping organizations identify which vulnerabilities on the KEV pose greater risk.

The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol that specifies email authorization through Domain Name System (DNS) records. When an email is sent through the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), there is no requirement for authorized messages, which means that spammers can forge your domain in their phishing attacks.

Supply chain attacks are increasing. According to KPMG, 73 percent of organizations have experienced at least one significant disruption from a third-party in the last three years. These findings underscore the imperative of implementing a supply chain risk management program. But as your vendor portfolio grows, assessing your vendors for cyber risk can seem daunting and raises many questions.

Staying ahead of cyberattacks and strengthening your organization’s defenses doesn’t happen overnight and can be hard to accomplish without the right tools and cyber strategies. SecurityScorecard’s Threat Intelligence team hosted a webinar that highlights the importance of threat exposure management, its latest trends, and how to implement this framework into an organization’s cybersecurity plan.