Vulnerability Management in Computer Systems: Challenges and Approaches

Abstract

Vulnerability management is an important part of computer system security, which tends to discover physical vulnerabilities, evaluate them, and address them to limit them to be exploited by harmful actors. With the increase in the complexity, interconnection, and distribution of computer systems in the cloud and hybrid environments, vulnerabilities have become difficult to manage. The timely remediation efforts are complicated by the fact that the new threats emerge quickly, the vulnerabilities are being disclosed more, the organizational resources are quite limited, and the operations are constrained. This paper explores the notion of vulnerability management in computer systems, its fundamental processes, significant issues about the matter and current solutions applicable in managing security vulnerabilities. It puts a focus on vulnerability management lifecycle with structured vulnerability management, prioritization based on risk, automation and alignment with organizational security practices. The abstract also emphasizes the need to have proactive and ongoing vulnerability management approaches to make the system more resilient, minimize exposure to cyber threats, and benefit the overall information security goals.