Page 219 - Cyber Defense eMagazine Annual RSA Edition for 2024

processes, ensures teams can prioritize and tackle only those vulnerabilities that affect the security of
their organization.

Building a culture of responsibility

The successful integration of a VOC extends beyond technical implementation – it also cultivates a
culture of cybersecurity awareness and accountability across all organizational levels.

Most importantly, enterprises should build on the VOC by making sure individuals in the team have clear
ownership. All team members should understand their part in the cybersecurity ecosystem. Similarly, the
centralized VOC approach provides a golden opportunity to break down siloes and get everyone on the
same page.

As a repository for all vulnerability intelligence, the VOC can help build a picture of the company’s risk
posture. Its focus on proactive risk reduction can help serve as something of a hub for other training and
awareness programs around cybersecurity best practices.

The key steps to getting started with a VOC

A VOC won't materialize overnight, and incorporating this approach into an existing cybersecurity
framework requires strategic planning, technical integration, and a shift in organizational structure. A
smooth integration requires a well-thought-out plan. Fear not.

To get things started, it's crucial to have a senior figure spearheading the initiative, accompanied
eventually by a dedicated team. The CISO is the most obvious choice, although businesses may have
other preferences based on their structure.

Under this leadership, a strong focus should be placed on streamlining existing VM tools and processes.
The team should thoroughly audit relevant solutions, cutting redundant systems and integrating the rest
into platforms rather than isolated tools. Likewise, processes need to be refined and streamlined, taking
the opportunity to automate where possible. The newfound ability to manage and prioritize effectively
should be set against service level agreements (SLAs) for key metrics like time to resolution.

Enterprises must consider their VOC a counterpart to the SOC and ensure a high level of collaboration
between the two operations. This is especially valuable for high-risk issues – for example, the SOC team
should be notified immediately if the VOC discovers a log4j vulnerability. If prevention fails, response can
swoop on in.

Finally, everything should be set against a culture of continuous improvement. Building in feedback loops
that link SOC and VOC activity will help refine strategies over time and adapt to new threats and business
needs.

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