The role of vulnerability threat assessment in enhancing SRM efforts
Among the multiple methodologies for conducting risk management within a business, a vulnerability and threat assessment is one of the most impactful. Here’s why.
The role of vulnerability threat assessment in enhancing SRM efforts
Among the multiple methodologies for conducting risk management within a business, a vulnerability and threat assessment is one of the most impactful. Here’s why.
A step-by-step guide to conducting a vulnerability threat assessment
The process of conducting a vulnerability and threat assessment for critical infrastructure entities can be broken down into the following steps. This can be simplified with the use of risk management tools that have features to carry out streamlined risk assessments.
Identification of high-value assets
The first step is understanding the main CI assets that need to be protected. These can include energy facilities, transportation systems, water supplies, and other CI entities.
Threat/vulnerability analysis
Next, you must analyse the potential threats and internal vulnerabilities within these assets. This may include anything from potential cyberattacks to weaknesses in physical security.
Screen for threats/vulnerabilities
This step involves utilising the appropriate tools and procedures within your organisation to screen for existing and imminent threats and vulnerabilities that can affect CI assets.
Implement mitigation strategies
As the last step in the vulnerability threat assessment, you can implement the appropriate mitigation strategies to counteract potential threats and remedy existing vulnerabilities.
Best practices for conducting vulnerability assessments
Vulnerability assessments are crucial to identifying internal weaknesses. This informs major aspects of your risk management procedures and must be conducted adequately to ensure they are up to par.
Follow these best practices and achieve a higher level of risk resilience.
Take an interdisciplinary approach
Involve stakeholders from across the organisation from various disciplines, including security, engineering, and IT, to gain a holistic view of the risk landscape.
Conduct physical and cybersecurity assessments
Evaluate physical access controls and security measures alongside the integrity of the digital infrastructure to ensure you capture all potential internal weaknesses.
Encourage public-private collaborations
Leverage the resources and expertise of the private sector and other entities in the public sector to enhance the quality of the vulnerability and threat assessment.
Formulate incident response plans
CI entities may face risks not addressable by regular means, such as natural disasters, which require effective response strategies to minimise downtime and damage.
Take steps to improve public awareness
The contribution of the public is essential to maintain adequate protection within CI entities. Therefore, conduct programmes to educate the public on these matters.
Conduct faster vulnerability threat assessments and foster collaboration with SECTARA
SECTARA’s security risk assessment capabilities not only ensure compliance with the most recent CIRMP Rules but also offer a smooth and streamlined approach to conducting vulnerability and threat assessments for critical infrastructure.
Our security software follows local and international risk management standards, including ISO 31000, Standards Australia’s Handbook 167, PSPF, the NIST framework, and more.
This combined with the expertise of our risk professionals will ensure that your CI entities enjoy the highest level of security and risk resilience.
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Some of the industries we serve
Government
Identify, monitor, and manage systemic risks associated with policy implementation, public safety, and national security with a scalable and configurable risk assessment solution.
Critical infrastructure
Obtain insights to identify and mitigate potential threats to critical infrastructure like energy, transportation, and communication systems through professional risk assessments.
Mining
Ensure safe, secure, and efficient operations and overcome common mining challenges like equipment failure and environmental hazards via a professional risk assessment solution.
Defence
Obtain a comprehensive view of potential threats to national and regional security and implement effective risk management strategies with military-grade risk assessment solutions.
Healthcare
Ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and other stakeholders while managing risks associated with medical procedures and data privacy through a configurable risk assessment solution.
Finance
Identify, monitor, and manage critical risks like market volatility and data breaches with a risk assessment solution to protect stakeholder assets and ensure regulatory compliance.
Consultancy
Help your clients make informed decisions about risk management by leveraging insights from a professional risk assessment solution that helps identify, address, and monitor risks.
Cybersecurity
Protect your digital assets with our advanced cybersecurity risk assessment solutions. Stay ahead of evolving threats and fortify your defences with comprehensive risk assessments.
Education
Identify and mitigate compliance, finance, operational, and reputational risks in processes such as student selection and regulatory adherence with professional risk assessments.
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What you get with our free trial
2 users (Account Admin, Org & BU Admin, Assessor, Viewer)
2 concurrent assessments
2 organisations & business units
In product training
The ability to export assessments to MS Word
MS Excel treatment plans
White label SECTARATM platform
White-label exported documents
Audit records
Experience the capabilities of SECTARATM first-hand. Sign up for our 14-day free trial today.
What you get with our free trial
2 users (Account Admin, Org & BU Admin, Assessor, Viewer)
2 concurrent assessments
2 organisations & business units
In product training
The ability to export assessments to MS Word
MS Excel treatment plans
White label SECTARATM platform
White-label exported documents
Audit records
Start your 14-day free trial
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vulnerability threat assessment?
A vulnerability assessment is a structured approach to risk management that identifies and assesses the vulnerabilities of internal systems and external threats that can affect an organisation. This information can then be used to assess risks and manage them effectively.
What are the three components of a vulnerability assessment?
The three main components of vulnerability assessment are asset identification, vulnerability and threat assessment, and risk assessment.
What are the five types of vulnerability assessments?
The five types of vulnerability assessments are;
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Network-based scans
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Host-based scans
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Wireless scans
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Application scans
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Database scans
