Effective Vulnerability Response With ServiceNow

New technology can bring new problems when it comes to finding vulnerabilities with your IT infrastructure security. For instance, that new cloud platform could be exposing you to outside threats.

Failure to assess the security dangers presented by new points of exposure, like new laptops, could result in a complete failure of your security strategy. Don’t leave yourself exposed when the scanning process goes dormant until the next scheduled run. Stay protected and cover those in-between periods with the ServiceNow Vulnerability Response app, which allows your security policies to adapt and evolve based on data collected throughout the process.

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Best Practice #1: Eliminate Shadow IT

Shadow IT is one of the most significant points of contention for many organizations.

Systems and applications built by past or present personnel that aren’t explicitly authorized by the company are considered “shadow” IT. Intended as a quick fix to a perceived temporary problem, they often end up running continuously—with little to no documentation or oversight.

Such apps or systems can remain in the shadows until someone comes across bad data inserted into a database or a sudden unexplainable drain on resources. Many “shadow” processes have scant security, making them ripe targets for attack. Also beware of Shadow IT that retains access to critical systems for past employees.

With the ServiceNow Vulnerability Response application, your analysts can automatically track and manage vulnerable points along all aspects of your IT infrastructure.

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Unauthorized and/or undocumented systems

Best Practice #2: Create and Automate Vulnerability Management Processes

After identifying your vulnerable points, you need policies to ensure keep them protected.

It takes vigilance to prevent threats and continuously monitor for new data exposures when a change or update is performed.

As cloud architecture and services grow in popularity, don’t let the excitement of new technology cause you to overlook the step of creating SOPs to handle vulnerabilities brought by such changes. Over-reliance on manual processes or mental notes can create gaps that leave you open to hackers.

Cask helps you get ahead of threats by implementing automation capabilities of the Vulnerability Response application to identify and repair system weaknesses.

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Policies in place ensuring protection

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Best Practice #3: Use the CMBD to Manage Your Vulnerabilities

The struggle to keep up with vulnerabilities from different business areas is real.

Improper organization of vulnerabilities leads to confusion and poor utilization of the Vulnerability Response application. Attempts to manually track information outside the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) aren’t much help either.

Cask shows you how to leverage the design of the Vulnerability Response application and teach your analysts how to monitor information related to vulnerabilities discovered within their systems. We help you set rules that track weaknesses, plus actions taken and changes made to resolve the issue.

Vulnerability Scanner Integration

After importing data, Cask compares the data from each vulnerability to previously identified configuration items (CI) and software. We also configure it to allow analysts to perform tasks as needed.

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Improper organization leads to confusion

Best Practice #4: Vulnerability Prioritization and Remediation

You need a way to prioritize vulnerabilities discovered in your organization.

You’ll also need automation rules and processes to learn from the data you’ve gathered. That way you can refine your current policies and remain proactive against possible new threats.

The Vulnerability Response application ties information together by accounting for any logged group information, risk calculations, and data libraries. With it you can review and monitor your progress in triaging and resolving weak points in your system.

Change Requests and Planning Coordination

Cask designs rules that automate requests related to specific system vulnerabilities. We can also add the ability to create security incident records if the vulnerability ties back to an open security issue.

Validate Vulnerability Resolution

Use the built-in dashboards and reporting capability of Vulnerability Response to monitor and analyze data before and after resolving a vulnerability. You can also automate rescanning to confirm changes have taken effect.

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Stay proactive against new threats

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Request a complimentary consultation from Cask.

Cask expertise, on tap, to understand and align to your unique challenges and desired outcomes. Our team will contact you to better understand your needs and set up a meeting with Cask advisors, aligned to your goals.