Rethinking vulnerability management

Playing offense to strengthen security: Why organizations must shift from a reactive approach to a proactive vulnerability management strategy, identifying and mitigating threats before they escalate

Threat actors are constantly evolving, leveraging sophisticated tactics to exploit vulnerabilities faster than organizations can patch them. Traditional security strategies that focus purely on defense are no longer enough. Instead of reacting to attacks, businesses must anticipate threats, identify weaknesses before they become entry points, and strengthen their defenses proactively with Vulnerability Management.

One way to achieve this is by expanding vulnerability management beyond conventional Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)-based assessments. Attackers don’t wait for a vulnerability to be rated ‘critical’ before exploiting it—so why should security teams? By identifying misconfigurations, weak credentials, legacy software risks, and overlooked exposures, organizations can play offense and mitigate threats before they become breaches.

At RSAC 2025, experts emphasized a shift toward a more strategic ...