What is meant by ‘Vulnerability Backlog’ in ServiceNow?

The term ‘Vulnerability Backlog’ in ServiceNow refers to a comprehensive list of unresolved vulnerabilities that require attention. This backlog is crucial for organizations as it helps prioritize and manage the remediation process of vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by threats. By maintaining an ongoing list of these unresolved issues, security teams can ensure that they focus on the most critical vulnerabilities first, thus improving the overall security posture of the organization.

Given the nature of vulnerability management, it is important to differentiate the backlog from other elements in vulnerability management processes. For instance, a list of resolved vulnerabilities is not a backlog since it pertains to issues that have already been addressed and, thus, do not require further action. Similarly, a count of vulnerabilities detected over time offers statistics but lacks the operational focus on what still needs to be addressed. Finally, a repository of external vulnerabilities would focus on vulnerabilities identified outside of the organization, which does not encapsulate the concept of a backlog related to unresolved internal vulnerabilities.

In summary, the ‘Vulnerability Backlog’ serves as a prioritized inventory for security teams, essential for effectively managing and mitigating unresolved vulnerabilities.