Vulnerability management (VM) is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity, yet it’s often mired in traditional practices that don’t always align with the evolving threats and complexities of modern networks. The traditional severity-based model, while foundational, often falls short in addressing the nuanced threats faced by modern organisations. This realisation has prompted a shift towards a more strategic, risk-focused vulnerability management (VM) methodology. Drawing from my experience overseeing the security for roughly 20,000 assets across various clients, this post marks the beginning of a series aimed at exploring the intricacies of an effective VM strategy that prioritises real-world risk over theoretical severity.