Episode 71 — Vulnerability Management II: Scanners, False Positives, and SLAs
Once assets are identified, the next challenge is analyzing their weaknesses efficiently and accurately. This episode explores how vulnerability scanners operate—probing systems for missing patches, misconfigurations, and outdated software versions. You’ll learn how different types of scans (authenticated, unauthenticated, network, and web application) reveal unique insights, and how to interpret risk ratings like CVSS scores without treating them as absolute truth. The discussion also highlights the importance of validating results to separate true vulnerabilities from false positives that waste effort and erode trust in the program.
Listeners will gain practical strategies for triage and communication. We explain how Service Level Agreements (SLAs) define timelines for remediation, how to assign responsibility, and how dashboards keep stakeholders informed without technical overload. The episode closes by linking scanning results to patch management and change control, showing how vulnerability management becomes an ongoing cycle rather than a one-time event. By mastering these techniques, you’ll be prepared to discuss the entire lifecycle—discovery, validation, and remediation—on both the exam and in the field. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
