To determine which one to patch first, you need to first assess which system contains the vulnerabilities. This is so that you would know which one needs to be patched first. You need to then evaluate which one poses the most threat to you. This is so that you would know which one needs to be prioritized. You must also patch those that you use most frequently. This is to avoid it from opening you up to any vulnerabilities and threats.

First, assess the potential impact and likelihood of exploitation for each vulnerability. Consider: 1. Severity of the vulnerability 2. Exposure to external threats 3. Criticality of affected systems 4. Availability of exploits in the wild 5. Ease of patching Next, factor in business priorities and compliance requirements. Sometimes, a less severe vulnerability might need immediate attention due to regulatory demands. Create a risk matrix to visualize and rank vulnerabilities. This helps in making informed decisions and communicating with stakeholders.

"Not all vulnerabilities are created equal; wisdom lies in knowing which ones demand immediate attention." 🎯 Assess CVSS scores to understand severity objectively 🎯 Evaluate exploitability in your specific environment 🎯 Identify vulnerabilities with active exploitation in wild 🎯 Consider proximity to crown jewel assets and data 🎯 Analyze potential business impact of each vulnerability 🎯 Check for dependencies between vulnerabilities 🎯 Review threat intelligence for targeting likelihood 🎯 Evaluate effectiveness of existing compensating controls 🎯 Consider patch stability and potential for disruption 🎯 Assess regulatory compliance implications of delays 🎯 Consult internal stakeholders for business context

In high-stakes environments, I’ve found that prioritizing patches isn’t just about CVSS scores—it’s about context. I weigh exploitability, asset value, business impact, and exposure level. A flaw in an internet-facing system with known active exploits always trumps an internal-only risk, regardless of severity. Risk-based vulnerability management, supported by threat intelligence feeds and asset criticality mapping, ensures we act with precision. To stay resilient, patch what’s actively exploited first—then tackle what matters most to your operations. Prioritization isn’t optional; it’s a security posture strategy.

Prioritise patching based on: Exploitability: Is there a known exploit in the wild? Actively exploited vulnerabilities are the highest priority. Severity: What's the potential impact (data breach, system down)? Use CVSS scores and vendor ratings. Critical vulnerabilities demand immediate attention. Asset Criticality: How important is the affected system to business operations? Prioritise patching critical systems first. Ease of Patching: Consider the complexity and potential downtime. Balance urgency with practicality. Threat Intelligence: Stay updated on current threat trends and target vectors.