5 Ways a Network Digital Twin Can Revolutionize CVE Compliance

In the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, the sheer volume of Common Vulnerability and Exposure (CVE) notices has become a daunting challenge for SecOps teams. In 2023 alone, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued 28,901 CVE notices, reflecting the growing complexity and intensity of potential threats. Compounding this challenge, 74% of security breaches were found to be the result of human error, emphasizing the critical need for robust, automated systems to manage vulnerabilities effectively. 

Given this context, how can organizations manage the overwhelming number of CVEs and ensure their networks remain secure? The answer lies in leveraging a network digital twin—a powerful tool that offers unprecedented visibility, accuracy, and efficiency in managing and mitigating vulnerabilities. 

Understanding the Challenges of CVE Management 

SecOps teams are tasked with the immense responsibility of safeguarding networks against a continuous onslaught of vulnerabilities. Each CVE issued by NIST requires careful evaluation, prioritization, and remediation. However, the complexity of modern networks, which often include tens of thousands of devices from multiple vendors, makes this process increasingly difficult. Traditional methods of vulnerability management are becoming insufficient, leading to a backlog of unaddressed CVEs that leave networks vulnerable to attacks. 

Even organizations with dedicated teams for CVE management struggle to keep up. The process of scanning networks for vulnerabilities, identifying affected devices, and determining the severity of each CVE can take days, if not weeks. This delay creates a window of opportunity for attackers, who can exploit these vulnerabilities before they are patched. 

How a Network Digital Twin Transforms CVE Compliance 

A network digital twin, such as the one offered by Forward Networks, provides a game-changing approach to CVE compliance. By creating a comprehensive mathematical model of an organization’s entire network—spanning physical, virtual, and cloud environments—a digital twin offers real-time visibility into every device, configuration, and traffic path. 

Here’s how a network digital twin supports CVE compliance: 

1. Automated Vulnerability Detection: 
   The digital twin integrates with NIST’s National Vulnerability Database and vendor databases, automatically scanning your network for known vulnerabilities. This automation reduces the time and effort required to identify CVEs, allowing SecOps teams to focus on remediation rather than detection.  

2. Prioritized Remediation: 
   Not all CVEs pose the same level of risk. A network digital twin enables SecOps teams to quickly assess the severity and potential impact of each CVE by providing detailed insights into affected devices, their configurations, and the criticality of their roles within the network. This allows teams to prioritize remediation efforts, focusing on the most critical vulnerabilities first. 

3. Real-Time Network Insights: 
   One of the key advantages of a digital twin is its ability to simulate network behavior. SecOps teams can use the digital twin to predict how a vulnerability could be exploited and which parts of the network would be affected. This capability is crucial for understanding the “blast radius” of an infected host and ensuring that remediation efforts are both precise and effective. 

4. Efficiency and Time Savings: 
   By automating the detection and prioritization of CVEs, a network digital twin significantly reduces the manual effort required by SecOps teams. Forward Networks reports that users of their digital twin platform save an average of 20 hours per month on CVE management. The time saved allows teams to address vulnerabilities more quickly and frees up resources for other critical security tasks. 

5. Continuous Compliance Monitoring: Compliance isn’t a one-time task—it requires ongoing vigilance. A network digital twin continuously monitors the network for changes that could introduce new vulnerabilities or impact compliance. This ensures that security teams are always aware of the network’s state and can take action as soon as new risks are detected. 

Real-World Impact and Success Stories 

The benefits of using a network digital twin for CVE compliance are not just theoretical. In practice, organizations that have adopted this technology have seen significant improvements in their security posture. For instance, during a critical vulnerability announcement by Cisco in 2020, organizations using Forward Networks’ digital twin were able to identify affected devices and take corrective action within hours, rather than the days or weeks that would have been required using traditional methods. 

Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Network Security 

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, the tools and strategies used by SecOps teams must also advance. A network digital twin offers a powerful solution to the challenges of CVE compliance, providing the visibility, accuracy, and efficiency needed to protect today’s complex networks. By integrating this technology, organizations can stay ahead of potential threats, reduce the risk of breaches, and ensure their networks remain secure. To learn more about how a network digital twin resolves CVE issues, join our joint webinar featuring Michael Ell, SVP of Product for Empowered, and Steve Allie, VP of Technical Services at Forward Networks, on September 18, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific. Click here to register or view the event on demand after it airs.  

If you’re ready to transform your CVE management and enhance your organization’s security posture, consider exploring how a network digital twin can benefit your SecOps team. Request a demo today to see the power of this technology in action.