6. Remediation (or Mitigation)

Research shows that a staggering 60% of breaches occur because of vulnerabilities that go unpatched—even when a fix is available¹.

Effective remediation and mitigation strategies are essential once vulnerabilities have been prioritized. Organizations should:

Prioritize environmental vulnerabilities first
Prioritize remediation of environmental vulnerabilities, such as deploying controls missing agents or implementing robust patch management processes. These foundational steps can significantly reduce the attack surface.

Employ mitigation strategies for un-remediated vulnerabilities
For vulnerabilities that cannot be immediately addressed, organizations should employ mitigation strategies such as leveraging EDR capabilities, applying temporary controls, and segmenting affected systems to reduce exposure.

Continually monitor and re-evaluate
Establish a cycle of continuous monitoring and reassessment to ensure that new vulnerabilities and environmental changes are integrated into the prioritization process. This proactive approach allows organizations to adapt quickly to emerging threats.

By prioritizing vulnerabilities comprehensively and implementing effective remediation strategies, organizations can significantly reduce their risk exposure and enhance their overall security posture.

1. Source: Sevco Security State of the Cybersecurity Attack Surface