Vulnerability Alert Management Policy (VAMP)

A Vulnerability Alert Management Policy (VAMP) is created within an organization to establish consistent rules for the review, evaluation, application, and verification of system updates to alleviate vulnerabilities in one’s environment and the risks associated with them. This process sets out goals and timing around applying patches to address critical vulnerabilities within your environment. Applicable vulnerability alerts, discovered via threat hunting, vulnerability alert services, and security assessments, require an appropriate, timely, repeatable, and documented response in order to prevent damage to a company’s systems, goodwill, and ultimately their reputation.

A Business’s vCISO and MSP typically provide oversight on vulnerabilities and critical issues through many online sources including cybersecurity email lists, forums like CISA and Microsoft, and even government agency alerts (FBI, NSTAC, and NSA) are reviewed as needed.

Security alerts must be reviewed and assigned to a 3-point criticality scale, defined below and based upon established classifications within the cybersecurity industry. Your cybersecurity lead is responsible for escalating, reviewing, recommending a course of action, and then tracking the resolution and mitigation of each critical vulnerability alert.