What are the most useful tools and resources for staying updated on vulnerability trends and threats?

As an IT operations professional, you know how important it is to stay updated on vulnerability trends and threats that could affect your systems and data. But with so many sources of information and alerts, how do you filter out the noise and focus on the most relevant and actionable insights? In this article, we will share some of the most useful tools and resources that can help you keep track of the latest vulnerabilities, assess their impact, and prioritize your response.

1 Vulnerability databases

One of the first places to look for information on vulnerabilities is a database that collects and categorizes them according to their severity, type, and affected products. Some of the most popular and comprehensive databases are the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) list, and the Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL) repository. These databases provide detailed descriptions, references, scores, and patches for thousands of vulnerabilities, and they are updated regularly by experts and vendors.

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Ghizlane El haddad

🔴🟡 Vulnerability Analyst II @Mastercard | graduated from LaGuardia Community College | Awarded ASAP student | MasterCard-LGCC Bootcamp candidate | girls4tech volunteer | Moroccan Women in IT leadership
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Stay informed by following security blogs like Krebs on Security, subscribing to mailing lists like NIST's national vulnerability Database (NVD), an use tools like Shodan for monitoring internet-connected devices. platforms like twitter and reddit also have activity security communities sharing updates. regularly check vendor advisories and security podcasts for in-depth insights.

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James D.

Task Force Member @ Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative | Fortinet Expert (ISO 9001 ,17025 , 27002 , DEI , MDI , CISSP, NSE 3 , COI , QMS)
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Misp , cyber kill chain , mitre attack frameworks , cisa. Implementation of a framework to enhance defensive capabilities and cyber threat intelligence to stay on top of industry based emerging threats.

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2 Vulnerability scanners

Another way to stay updated on vulnerabilities is to use a tool that scans your network, devices, and applications for known or potential weaknesses. A vulnerability scanner can help you identify the vulnerabilities that exist in your environment, measure their risk level, and suggest remediation steps. Some of the most widely used vulnerability scanners are Nmap, Nessus, OpenVAS, and Qualys. These tools can perform both active and passive scans, and they can integrate with other tools and platforms for reporting and automation.

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Derrick Bourgeois, PMP®, ITIL® 4 MP, MS in IT Management

Results - Driven IT Leader with a Passion for Driving Innovation and Growth Through Effective Management - Specializing in Service Delivery, IT Project Management, Security, and Compliance
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I used to run Qualys scans and that was one of the best ways to identify vulnerabilities. Qualys also identified configuration issues or insecure protocols that wouldn't have come up in security bulletins or installing some patch reset the configuration or reenabled the protocol without you realizing it. Qualys picks that up on the next scan. Quarterly scans were critical to PCI compliance so I ran scans often to be sure I caught everything. We ran Nmap and Nessus occasionally too as that's what our penetration testers used. Those tools would occasionally pick up something that Qualys didn't so it was a good idea to run a scan before the annual pen test.

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3 Vulnerability feeds and newsletters

If you want to get timely and curated information on vulnerabilities, you can subscribe to a feed or a newsletter that delivers updates to your inbox or dashboard. A vulnerability feed or newsletter can help you stay on top of the latest threats, trends, and best practices, and it can also alert you to new patches, exploits, and advisories. Some of the most reputable and relevant feeds and newsletters are the US-CERT Cybersecurity Bulletin, the SANS @RISK newsletter, the Threatpost feed, and the Secunia Research blog.

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Derrick Bourgeois, PMP®, ITIL® 4 MP, MS in IT Management

Results - Driven IT Leader with a Passion for Driving Innovation and Growth Through Effective Management - Specializing in Service Delivery, IT Project Management, Security, and Compliance
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I've long subscribed to the US-CERT Cybersecurity Bulletin and have found it quite useful. But what I've found more directly relevant are the vendor security bulletins. I assume that falls under this same category. The last time I was responsible for this type of thing I relied heavily on RedHat and Microsoft security bulletins.

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4 Vulnerability forums and communities

Another useful resource for staying updated on vulnerabilities is a forum or a community where you can interact with other IT professionals, experts, researchers, and vendors. A vulnerability forum or community can help you learn from the experiences, insights, and tips of others, and it can also provide you with a platform to ask questions, share feedback, and report issues. Some of the most active and helpful forums and communities are the Stack Exchange Network Security site, the Reddit r/netsec subreddit, the SecurityFocus Bugtraq mailing list, and the OWASP community.

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5 Vulnerability podcasts and webinars

If you prefer to listen or watch rather than read, you can also use podcasts and webinars as sources of information on vulnerabilities. A vulnerability podcast or webinar can help you keep up with the latest news, analysis, and commentary on vulnerabilities, and it can also offer you practical advice, case studies, and interviews with experts and practitioners. Some of the most informative and engaging podcasts and webinars are the Risky Business podcast, the Security Weekly podcast network, the SANS webcasts, and the Rapid7 webinars.

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6 Vulnerability training and certification

Finally, one of the best ways to stay updated on vulnerabilities is to invest in your own skills and knowledge through training and certification. A vulnerability training or certification course can help you learn the fundamentals, techniques, tools, and standards of vulnerability management, and it can also validate your competence and credibility. Some of the most recognized and respected training and certification programs are the SANS SEC460: Enterprise Threat and Vulnerability Assessment course, the EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) course, the CompTIA Security+ certification, and the GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN) certification.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the most useful tools and resources for staying updated on vulnerability trends and threats?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Vulnerability databases

2 Vulnerability scanners

3 Vulnerability feeds and newsletters

4 Vulnerability forums and communities

5 Vulnerability podcasts and webinars

6 Vulnerability training and certification

7 Here’s what else to consider

IT Operations

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What are the most useful tools and resources for staying updated on vulnerability trends and threats?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Vulnerability databases

2 Vulnerability scanners

3 Vulnerability feeds and newsletters

4 Vulnerability forums and communities

5 Vulnerability podcasts and webinars

6 Vulnerability training and certification

7 Here’s what else to consider

IT Operations

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