Today, as security threats increase and regulatory requirements grow more complex, businesses are recognizing that compliance and security are business-critical priorities. However, recent industry studies have concluded that investment in compliance does not necessarily reduce risks.

To understand the dynamics behind this problem and how to solve it, Secunia has completed research into determining what is preventing the interrelation and harmony between IT security, risk management, and compliance.

This white paper outlines the limitations of traditional defense mechanisms; specifically how cybercriminals have refined the malware manufacturing and development process to systematically bypass them – thereby initiating an arms race with defenders. Security patches are found to be a primary and effective means to escape this arms race as they remediate the root cause of compromise. However, timely patching of the software portfolio of any organization is like chasing a continually moving target.


Therefore, analysis within this white paper compares different patching strategies, under the assumption of limited resources, and challenges the common trade-off between the risk of patching vs. the risk of testing.

Measurements within this white paper demonstrate that an intelligent patching strategy is an effective approach for reducing vulnerability risks, as well as for maximizing operational efficiency with minimal costs. Significantly, this research concludes that it is not the amount invested in IT security that is of importance for achieving optimal risk reduction with the same or less resources – rather, it is the type of technology and its capabilities that matter.

Download the whitepaper is PDF format here.