What are the most effective ways to report vulnerability assessment results?

2 Use a standard framework

The second step in reporting vulnerability assessment results is to use a standard framework that can help you organize and present the information in a clear and consistent way. A standard framework can also help you align your report with the industry best practices and benchmarks, and facilitate the comparison and communication of the results. One of the most widely used frameworks is the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), which provides a numerical score and a vector string for each vulnerability, based on its severity, exploitability, and impact. Another common framework is the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10, which lists the most critical web application security risks and provides guidance on how to prevent and mitigate them.

3 Highlight the key findings

The third step in reporting vulnerability assessment results is to highlight the key findings that can capture the attention and interest of your audience. The key findings should summarize the main points and conclusions of your report, such as the number and type of vulnerabilities, the risk level and impact, the root causes and trends, and the recommendations and solutions. You should also use visual aids, such as charts, graphs, tables, and screenshots, to illustrate and support your key findings. Visual aids can help you convey complex and large data in a simple and effective way, and make your report more engaging and attractive.

4 Provide actionable recommendations

The fourth step in reporting vulnerability assessment results is to provide actionable recommendations that can help your audience address and resolve the vulnerabilities. The recommendations should be specific, realistic, and prioritized, based on the severity and urgency of the vulnerabilities. You should also explain the rationale and benefits of your recommendations, and provide references and resources for further guidance. For example, you can suggest patching, updating, or configuring the software, hardware, or network components, or implementing security controls, policies, or procedures. You should also provide code snippets or examples to demonstrate how to apply your recommendations.

5 Follow up and update

The fifth step in reporting vulnerability assessment results is to follow up and update your report regularly, to ensure that the vulnerabilities are properly managed and resolved. You should communicate and collaborate with your audience, and monitor and track the progress and status of the vulnerabilities. You should also update your report with any new findings, changes, or feedback, and provide evidence and confirmation of the remediation and verification. By following up and updating your report, you can show your commitment and professionalism, and build trust and credibility with your audience.

6 Use a report template

The sixth step in reporting vulnerability assessment results is to use a report template that can help you save time and effort, and ensure consistency and quality. A report template can provide you with a predefined structure, format, and style for your report, and guide you on what to include and how to write it. You can find many report templates online, or create your own based on your preferences and requirements. However, you should always customize and adapt your report template to suit your specific context and purpose, and avoid using generic or irrelevant content.

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?