Glossary

Remediation represents the comprehensive process of addressing and resolving identified risks or threats within an organization’s cybersecurity landscape. It involves implementing corrective measures and controls to eliminate vulnerabilities, mitigate potential harm, and strengthen the overall security posture. Remediation efforts aim to eradicate the root cause of security weaknesses and prevent their exploitation by threat actors, thereby reducing the likelihood and impact of security incidents and breaches.

Remediation activities may include patching software vulnerabilities, updating security configurations, implementing access controls, conducting security awareness training for employees, and enhancing incident response capabilities. In contrast, mitigation focuses on reducing the potential damage or impact of a threat before it can be fully remediated.

Mitigation measures are often implemented as interim solutions to minimize risk exposure and protect critical assets and data until more permanent remediation actions can be implemented. Examples of mitigation techniques include deploying temporary security patches, isolating compromised systems or networks, implementing compensating controls, and enhancing monitoring and detection capabilities to detect and respond to ongoing threats.

While mitigation aims to contain and limit the consequences of a security incident or vulnerability, remediation seeks to address the underlying issues and prevent future occurrences. Together, remediation and mitigation strategies form integral components of an organization’s cybersecurity risk management framework, enabling proactive identification, assessment, and response to security threats and vulnerabilities.

By prioritizing remediation efforts and implementing effective mitigation measures, organizations can strengthen their resilience against cyber threats, safeguard sensitive assets and data, and maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of their digital infrastructure in the face of evolving security challenges.