Vulnerability Management Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Growth of cloud adoption and IoT: The rapid adoption of cloud technologies and the proliferation of IoT devices have created a more complex and diverse threat landscape. Many enterprises are adopting hybrid or multi-cloud strategies, integrating both on-premise and cloud-based resources. This creates complex environments that demand sophisticated vulnerability management to ensure security across all platforms. Also, the adoption of DevOps and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices in cloud environments accelerates the software release. As of 2024, 77% of enterprises deploy software using DevOps. Vulnerability management solutions are critical for ensuring that security is maintained throughout rapid development cycles.
  
  The rise of IoT devices, which often lack robust security measures, has made them prime targets for botnets. A botnet is a sizable set of devices that are taken over by a single attacker or group of attackers. Botnet attacks such as ad fraud have shown how easily IoT devices can be infected and used to launch massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. About 31% of iOS app and 25% of Android app installs are fraudulent. The total cost of ad fraud in 2022 was around USD 80 billion with Asia Pacific being the most affected region. Vulnerability management tools are essential for monitoring and securing IoT environments, and detecting weak points that can be exploited by botnets.
• Remote work and BYOD policies: A larger portion of the workforce is operating from remote locations and employees are accessing corporate networks from outside the secure perimeter of the office environment. This increases the risk of exposure to vulnerabilities, as employees may connect through unsecured networks or unpatched devices. As of 2024, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, demonstrating the rising use of remote work environments. Simultaneously, 28.2% of employees have adopted a hybrid work model.
  
  Additionally, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies allow employees to use their personal devices for work purposes, including accessing sensitive corporate data and systems. These devices are often less secure than company-issued ones and also have limited IT control. This exposes a way for potential vulnerabilities, such as outdated software or weak configuration, that attackers can exploit. Vulnerability management solutions are critical for detecting, assessing, and remediating these vulnerabilities, helping organizations secure their distributed workforces and reduce exposure to cyber risks.
• Advanced threat detection and remediation: Cyberattacks are growing in complexity, with threats such as zero-day exploits, fileless malware, advanced persistent threats (APTs), and ransomware becoming more common.  For instance, fileless attacks sometimes referred to as memory-only malware, non-malware, and zero-footprint attacks, have become far more common over recent years. They now make up over 90% of ransomware samples and are used in more than 50% of successful data breaches. Fileless attacks surged by 1400% in 2022 alone, and due to their evasive nature, they will continue to appear in greater numbers in the coming years. These advanced threats often bypass traditional security measures, making it essential for organizations to adopt vulnerability management solutions that offer real-time, advanced detection and remediation capabilities.

Challenges

• High implementation and maintenance costs: Implementing a comprehensive vulnerability management system can be expensive, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. The costs associated with purchasing software licenses, training staff, and integrating tools into existing systems can be prohibitive. Moreover, vulnerability management requires continuous monitoring, regular patching, and updates. For many organizations, the costs of ongoing maintenance, especially for cloud or hybrid environments, can be a significant burden.
• Shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals: The cybersecurity industry is facing a global shortage of skilled professionals, making it difficult for organizations to implement and manage effective vulnerability management programs. Even with vulnerability management solutions in place, businesses need cybersecurity experts to interpret data, assess risks, and prioritize remediation efforts. This shortage of professionals can hinder the full utilization of advanced vulnerability management systems.