Vulnerability Management: close the gaps attackers look for.
Unpatched software is the most common way attackers get into business networks. Vulnerabilities in Windows, common applications, and network devices are published publicly and exploited within days of disclosure. North Star's vulnerability management programme runs continuous scans of your environment, prioritises findings by actual risk, and tracks remediation to closure - so your exposure window is as short as possible.
What is vulnerability management?
Vulnerability management is the ongoing process of finding, prioritising, and fixing security weaknesses in your IT environment. It starts with regular automated scans that identify outdated software, missing patches, misconfigurations, and known vulnerabilities across your servers, workstations, network devices, and applications. Not all vulnerabilities are equal: a vulnerability in a public-facing server that is actively being exploited is far more urgent than a low-risk finding on an internal workstation. North Star prioritises findings using CVSS scores and real-world exploitability data so you are always working on what matters most. Patching is applied through your RMM platform on a defined monthly cycle, with emergency patches deployed within 48 hours of critical advisories. Every month you receive a report showing your vulnerability count, what was remediated, and what is still open.
What North Star delivers.
Continuous authenticated scans of your full environment.
North Star runs authenticated vulnerability scans on a regular cadence across servers, workstations, and network devices. Authenticated scans see vulnerabilities that unauthenticated external scans miss.
Risk-based ranking, not just a raw count of findings.
CVSS severity scores combined with real-world exploit availability data let us tell you which vulnerabilities to fix first, not just which ones exist.
OS and third-party application patching on a defined cycle.
Monthly patch cycles for Windows, macOS, and common third-party applications like Adobe Reader, browsers, and productivity suites. Emergency patches within 48 hours for critical zero-day advisories.
Monthly trend reports tracking remediation over time.
See your vulnerability count by severity before and after each patch cycle. Track trend lines over time to confirm your security posture is improving.
Every finding tracked to closure with owner and deadline.
Vulnerabilities that require more than patching - configuration changes, software upgrades, architecture changes - are tracked in a remediation register with assigned owners and target dates.
What buyers ask before they sign.
How is vulnerability management different from a penetration test?
Vulnerability scanning identifies known weaknesses using automated tools. Penetration testing uses human expertise to actively exploit vulnerabilities and chain them together to demonstrate real-world impact. Both are valuable: vulnerability management is ongoing, while pen tests are periodic and provide the expert judgment layer.
How often should vulnerability scans run?
North Star recommends weekly automated scans for servers and externally-facing systems, and monthly scans for internal workstations. New vulnerabilities are disclosed daily, so infrequent scanning leaves long windows of exposure.
What if we cannot patch a system immediately because it runs critical software?
Some systems cannot be patched on a standard cycle without testing or vendor coordination. North Star documents these exceptions, applies compensating controls where possible (network isolation, enhanced monitoring), and works with your vendors to establish a patching path.
Does vulnerability management cover cloud services and SaaS applications?
Vulnerability management covers infrastructure you control: servers, workstations, network devices, and on-premises applications. Cloud services and SaaS applications have their own shared responsibility models. North Star reviews your cloud configuration separately as part of a cloud security assessment.
What does vulnerability management cost?
For most SMBs in BC and AB, vulnerability management and patch management is included as part of a managed IT or managed security retainer. Standalone vulnerability management starts around $500 to $1,500 per month depending on environment size.
Ready to close your vulnerability gaps?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
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