Vulnerability exploitation has surged to become the #1 initial attack vector in corporate breaches, surpassing other common techniques like phishing and stolen credentials. According to Mandiant’s M-Trends 2025 Report, 33% of all breaches begin with exploitation of internet-facing applications. Meanwhile, CVE disclosures continue to skyrocket, with over 48,000 published in 2025 alone. It may not be fashionable, but vulnerability management has never mattered more.
Today’s cybersecurity conversation is dominated by AI: AI governance, AI identity, AI data security. These are legitimate priorities worth preparing for. But most breaches today are unrelated to enterprise usage of AI. Instead, they stem from misconfigurations, unpatched software, and exploitable vulnerabilities. Further, attackers are already leveraging AI to conduct reconnaissance, mine code repositories for bugs, and accelerate exploit development. The fundamentals remain the highest-leverage investment security teams can make.
Effective vulnerability management starts with the basics: comprehensive asset inventories, accurate technology inventories, and disciplined patch management with the ability to move fast when necessary. The Cyber Leader’s Guide to Vulnerability Management delivers the insights needed to do this work well. We analyze 2025 CVE data, examine the evolving threat landscape, and share actionable strategies for prioritizing vulnerabilities and maximizing your program’s impact. Download the guide to learn more.
