Vulnerability management is a critical aspect of a cybersecurity strategy. It refers to the systematic and ongoing process of identifying, classifying, prioritizing, and addressing security vulnerabilities in a network environment. This proactive approach to network security aims to minimize the risk of exploitation by attackers. Vulnerability management is about staying one step ahead of potential threats.

Finding, prioritizing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities is an essential part of running software. We’ve all recognized that vulnerabilities exist and that new ones are introduced on a regular basis, so we make sure that we check for and remediate them on a regular basis. Even if the code passed all the security checks before being deployed, you still perform regular security tests to make sure everything’s secure.

No internet-connected code is truly secure. Today’s development process is deeply iterative, and this ever-shifting landscape of code can sometimes expose critical vulnerabilities. When these flaws are discovered by attackers first, zero-day exploits threaten not just your own integrity – but that of business partners and team members across the organization.

While cloud computing has ushered in a new era of connectivity and convenience, it has also exposed organizations to a myriad of vulnerabilities. Cyberattacks, data breaches, and security incidents have become all too common, leaving no room for complacency. The need for proactive cybersecurity measures has never been greater. It's in this context that vulnerability assessments play a vital role in safeguarding organizations against malicious threat actors.

According to a 2021 report by Verizon, almost half of all cyberattacks target businesses with under 1,000 employees. This figure is steadily rising as small businesses seem to be an easy target for cybercriminals. 61% of SMBs (small and medium-sized businesses) were targeted in 2021. But why are small businesses highly vulnerable to cyberattacks? We are looking into where the vulnerabilities are and what small businesses can do to protect themselves.