When people find a weakness in a computer system (we call this a vulnerability), it's like discovering a hole in the wall of your fortress. You need to fix it before invaders can get through. Here's how most places handle finding and fixing these holes:
Alert Management (Escalation): This is like sounding the alarm. When someone finds a hole, they tell the leaders, so everyone knows it's there and understands it needs to be fixed.
Prioritize: Not all holes are the same size or in the same spot. Some might let invaders in right away, while others are not so urgent. So, you need to decide which holes to fix first based on how dangerous they are.
Decide How to Fix It: Next, you choose the best way to patch the hole. Sometimes, you might put up a quick barrier, and other times, you might need to rebuild part of the wall.
Apply the Fix: This is when you actually fix the hole, using the method you decided on.
Test: After the fix, you check to make sure the hole is truly patched up and that no one can get through it anymore.
When you find a vulnerability, you need to figure out how risky it is. Is it a big hole that lets invaders in easily, or is it high up on the wall where it's harder to reach? There are special systems that can help you understand how serious a vulnerability is by giving it a score.
Can invaders get through it from the outside (the internet)?
How easy is it for them to use this hole?
Do a lot of people know how to get through this hole?
What's the worst that could happen if invaders get through? Would it be really expensive or dangerous?
Do you have any other defenses that might stop invaders even if they get past this hole?
Usually, the first holes you'll want to fix are the ones that invaders can get through from the outside without anyone noticing, especially if these are well-known weaknesses. After that, you'll look at other issues based on how easily they can be exploited and what damage they could cause.
It's like making sure your fortress is secure by fixing the most dangerous holes first and then making sure everything else is sturdy and safe too.