Vulnerability Management: Close the Gaps Before Attackers Find Them
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.
Unpatched software is the most common way attackers get into business networks. Vulnerabilities in Windows, common applications, and network devices are published publicly, often with working exploit code, and attacked within days of disclosure. If you are patching quarterly, attackers have weeks to work with something that has already been publicly announced.
North Star IT, based in Prince George, BC, runs continuous vulnerability scans of your environment, prioritises findings by actual exploitability, and tracks remediation to closure, so your exposure window is as short as possible. We serve businesses across British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon.
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 It starts with regular authenticated scans that identify outdated software, missing patches, misconfigurations, and known vulnerabilities across servers, workstations, network devices, and applications.
Not all vulnerabilities are equal. A critical vulnerability with a working public exploit on an internet-facing server is completely different in urgency from a low-severity finding on an internal workstation running software that is not externally accessible. North Star prioritises findings using CVSS scores and real-world exploitability data from active exploit databases, so your team is 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 remains open with a reason.
What North Star Delivers
Continuous Authenticated Scanning
Regular authenticated vulnerability scans across servers, workstations, and network devices. Authenticated scans see inside the operating system, not just open ports, producing far more complete findings than unauthenticated external scans. Coverage confirmed before the service is considered live.
Risk-Based Prioritisation
Findings prioritised using CVSS scores, real-world exploit availability, and asset criticality. You always know what to fix first. Internet-facing assets with actively exploited vulnerabilities are treated as critical; low-severity findings on internal assets are scheduled into the regular patching cycle.
Patch Management
Monthly patching cycle for OS and application updates across your managed devices. Emergency patches for critical advisories (CVSS 9.0+) deployed within 48 hours of release. Patching activity documented with before/after scan comparison.
Configuration Review
Common misconfigurations, weak password policies, unnecessary services enabled, insecure protocol versions, default credentials, identified and remediated alongside software vulnerabilities.
Monthly Vulnerability Report
Open vulnerability count by severity, remediation activity in the period, new vulnerabilities introduced, and any open items with explanatory notes. Trend line over time. Suitable for internal governance reporting and cyber insurance questionnaires.
Remediation Tracking
Every finding tracked from discovery through remediation to closure with a documented owner and target date. Nothing lost between scan and fix.
How It Works
Step 1, Scope and Baseline
Asset inventory confirmed. Scan credentials provisioned. Initial scan run to establish baseline vulnerability count.
Step 2, Prioritise
Findings sorted by risk. Remediation roadmap produced with timeline matched to your patching cycle.
Step 3, Remediate
Monthly patching cycle with emergency patch SLA. Configuration findings remediated in priority order.
Step 4, Report
Monthly vulnerability report delivered. Remediation verified by follow-up scan. Trend tracked over time.
Who This Is For
- BC, Alberta, or Yukon businesses that patch when they remember to, or only when something breaks, and want a defined programme that keeps exposure windows short
- Organisations whose cyber insurer requires documented vulnerability management and patch cadence
- IT managers who run patching manually and want an automated, auditable process with reporting
- Businesses preparing for a security assessment or penetration test that want to close known vulnerabilities first
Why North Star IT
North Star is a Prince George-based MSP and cybersecurity provider serving businesses across Northern BC, BC, Alberta, and Yukon. Vulnerability management is most effective when it is integrated with your patch management process, we manage both under a single retainer so findings and fixes are tracked in one system. Monthly reporting is included, not an add-on. And emergency patch SLAs are real and monitored.
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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