I use the steps outlined below: 1. Assess Severity Based on Impact and Likelihood • Criticality of the Vulnerability: • Business Impact: • Exploit Likelihood: 2. Consider Asset Value and Sensitivity • Asset Criticality: • Network Exposure: 3. Account for Vulnerability Chaining • Compounding Risks: 4. Evaluate Ease of Exploitation and Detection • Attack Complexity: • Detection Potential: • Compensating Controls: 5. Evaluate Remediation Effort and Feasibility • Can you get a quick win: • Alignment with Scheduled Maintenance: Regulatory Compliance: 6. Compliance and Regulatory Requirements • Regulatory Compliance Requirements: 7. Stakeholder and Business Risk Appetite • Risk Tolerance:

Determining which vulnerabilities to address first involves a comprehensive risk assessment. We evaluate the severity, potential impact, and likelihood of exploitation for each vulnerability. Additionally, we consider the criticality and risk rating of the associated assets to the organization, factoring in whether assets are internet-facing or internal and what security controls are already in place. This analysis enables us to assess each vulnerability’s risk level based on asset risk, allowing us to prioritize remediation effectively. This approach ensures that high-risk, critical vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

To prioritize vulnerabilities, start by evaluating their severity, focusing on those with the highest potential impact, ease of exploitation, and visibility on the network. Address the most critical ones first, especially those that could lead to data breaches, service disruptions, or regulatory issues. Protect key assets immediately.

This is a common challenge—organizations often have hundreds of vulnerabilities to address. A straightforward approach is to prioritize patches based on CVSS severity, tackling the highest-rated ones first. But for those who question this method (myself included), there’s another angle: treat each vulnerability as a unique risk. Consider the potential impact if left unresolved: could it lead to information disclosure, credential theft, or brute-force attacks on the infrastructure? Draw up a risk assessment and rate each vulnerability. Then, decide on one of four actions: accept, transfer, avoid, or mitigate. This approach ensures a strategic, risk-based handling of vulnerabilities that aligns with your organization’s priorities.

We would always go with the ones that can pose a potential impact on data or devices. Even if they are not easily exploitable, they can pose threats that could create risk and damage. Better to research and remediate them. Then comes the ones that are easily exploitable