For organisations · Cyber security guidance

Vulnerability assessment framework

Find and fix weaknesses in essential systems through structured assessment and testing.

Practical guidance 2 min read

Find weaknesses before an attacker does

Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) give evidence of where your defences are weak, so you can fix problems before they are exploited. Assessment finds and prioritises known weaknesses at scale; penetration testing safely demonstrates how an attacker could chain them to cause real harm. Both are needed, and neither replaces everyday patching.

Run continuous vulnerability assessment

  • Scan internet-facing and internal systems regularly, and after significant changes.

  • Prioritise findings by real risk, exposure and exploitability, not raw counts.

  • Assign owners and remediation timelines, and verify fixes with a re-scan.

  • Track exceptions with a justification and a review date.

Scope penetration tests deliberately

Define clear objectives, scope and rules of engagement, and ensure testing is authorised in writing. Use qualified, reputable testers, and agree how fragile or safety-critical systems, especially operational technology, will be handled to avoid disruption. Require evidence-based findings mapped to business risk, with practical, prioritised remediation.

Turn findings into improvement

A report is only valuable if it drives change. Feed results into your risk register and patching process, fix the root causes rather than individual symptoms, and retest to confirm closure. Over time, recurring findings reveal process gaps, such as weak configuration standards or slow patching, that deserve their own fix.

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