Why Continuous Vulnerability Management Is the Top Cybersecurity Control for Q2 2025
Cybercriminals aren’t waiting for patch Tuesday—and neither should you. To understand why we’ve selected Continuous Vulnerability Management (CVM) as our Top Control for Q2 2025, let’s dive into the details of how it can impact your security program. In early 2025, the cybersecurity world saw a flurry of zero-day exploits disclosed for Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, and Android—all within the same month. Two of the Microsoft vulnerabilities allowed remote code execution and random file deletion—exactly the kind of flaws ransomware groups love to weaponize. One Apple flaw disabled USB data protections. Android had a buffer overflow bug that could give attackers root access just by playing a video file.
For security teams, it’s exhausting. For attackers, it’s prime hunting season.
That’s why continuous vulnerability management is the most practical way to keep pace with a world where the exploit window is shrinking, and AI is making attackers faster than ever.
“It’s not the case that we can do monthly patching anymore. Even weekly doesn’t cut it,” said Sherri Davidoff, CEO of LMG Security, in a recent Cyberside Chats podcast and video with Matt Durrin. “You need to make sure you have rapid vetting of software patches—and you may already be hacked.”
The Speed of Exploits Has Permanently Changed
AI-enhanced attackers are now automating reconnaissance, exploit development, and initial access.
Google’s 2024 vulnerability intelligence report revealed that the average time to exploit a disclosed vulnerability has dropped from 32 days to just 5. That’s not a typo—five days.
Meanwhile, tools like WormGPT, a dark web alternative to ChatGPT, are being used to analyze leaked source code and help cybercriminals generate working exploits. In one LMG lab demo, the team showed how quickly an AI model could analyze a leaked codebase, spot vulnerabilities, and write a working exploit chain.
AI isn’t just a threat multiplier—it’s an acceleration engine.
What Is Continuous Vulnerability Management?
Continuous vulnerability management can be a standalone implementation or a subset of continuous attack surface management. It is the proactive process of continuously identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating vulnerabilities in your IT environment. It’s not just monthly scanning or manual patching, it’s a full-cycle, real-time approach to hardening your systems.
Key elements of modern continuous vulnerability management include:
– Automated asset discovery, including cloud, SaaS, and remote devices.
– Frequent vulnerability scanning (ideally daily or continuous).
– Risk-based prioritization tied to exploitability and business impact.
– Patch management with SLAs that align with criticality.
– Configuration drift detection to catch insecure changes fast.
– Executive reporting to ensure leadership understands risk posture.
“You want to get as close to continuous vulnerability scanning as you can possibly get,” said Durrin. “You can’t scan all the time, but you can scan regularly—and that’s going to help you identify what’s known on your network.”
Case in Point: Ivanti Connect Secure VPN Exploits
While the Microsoft, Apple, and Android bugs may be headline-grabbing, one of the most chilling recent exploit stories still comes from early 2024: the zero-day chain used in the hack of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The attackers (believed to be from China’s Silk Typhoon group) used:
– A stolen API key to gain initial access,
– Two zero-day vulnerabilities in BeyondTrust’s remote access platform,
– And a previously unknown flaw in PostgreSQL, a fourth-party dependency.
This was not “spray and pray” hacking. This was a deliberate, multi-stage exploit chain, likely aided by automated tools and precise intelligence. It highlights the risk not only from your software, but also your suppliers’ suppliers.
How Continuous Vulnerability Management Helps Organizations Get Ahead
Effective continuous vulnerability management reduces your “time-to-close” for vulnerabilities, shrinking the exploit window before attackers get in. It’s not about perfection; it’s about speed, visibility, and prioritization.
Continuous vulnerability management delivers:
– Faster patching for known threats.
– Better awareness of unknown systems.
– Focused resource allocation.
– Support for compliance and cyber insurance requirements.
Continuous vulnerability management also supports regulatory compliance by providing a proactive, auditable process for identifying and mitigating security risks. It aligns with requirements from frameworks like the SEC’s disclosure rule, FFIEC guidelines, GLBA Safeguards, ISO 27001, and NIST, all of which emphasize ongoing risk assessment. A strong continuous vulnerability management program streamlines audits, reduces compliance gaps, and reinforces your organization’s due diligence.
What to Look for in a Continuous Vulnerability Management Tool
Choosing the right continuous vulnerability management tool depends on your organization’s size, infrastructure, and resources. At a minimum, your tool should support:
– Asset discovery across cloud and on-prem environments
– Continuous or scheduled scanning
– Integration with ticketing systems and patch management
– Risk scoring with exploitability data
– Customizable reporting
Make sure your solution fits into your operational workflow, and consider managed services if in-house capacity is limited. Our team can help guide you through the selection and implementation process.
Key Takeaways: How to Protect Your Organization in the AI-Driven Exploit Era
Here’s what you can do now to boost resilience against today’s fast-moving cybersecurity threats:
- Move to Frequent or Continuous Scanning: Use reputable tools like Tenable or Qualys. Scan your environment daily if possible—at least weekly for internet-facing assets.
- Patch Faster: Automate patch deployment where possible. Establish emergency patching protocols that allow rapid updates for critical systems, even outside regular change windows.
- Track Known Exploits: Subscribe to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. Check it multiple times a week, and flag new entries for immediate review.
- Secure Your Remote Access Tools: VPNs, firewalls, and security software are high-value targets. Ensure they’re monitored, patched, and segmented.
- Vet and Monitor Your Software Vendors: Just like in the BeyondTrust and SolarWinds incidents, your supply chain can be your greatest exposure. Evaluate vendor security practices and demand clear patch SLAs.
- Strengthen Identity & Access Management: Limit lateral movement by enforcing least privilege, just-in-time access, and multifactor authentication for admins.
- Assume Breach and Monitor Internally: Even with a strong CVM solution, compromise happens. Implement EDR/XDR and consider threat hunting for exploit activity.
For a deeper dive into these recommendations, watch our Software Supply Chain Webinar features live exploit demos and actionable advice.
Final Thoughts
Software vulnerabilities are now being exploited within days, and sometimes hours, of public disclosure. If your organization is still relying on monthly patch cycles and static asset lists, you’re leaving the front door wide open.
Continuous vulnerability management isn’t just a control. It’s a mindset shift. You may not be able to patch everything, but with CVM, you’ll know what’s vulnerable, how dangerous it is, and how fast you need to act.
Need help getting started? Our LMG Security team offers vulnerability management services that help you build out and operationalize CVM, from tool selection to alert triage and executive reporting. Contact us—we help organizations build smart, scalable programs that match your real-world needs.
