Managed Vulnerability Program.
How many Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) are needed to manage an effective Vulnerability Program?
Overview: The number of FTEs needed to manage a vulnerability management program depends on several key factors.
Key Factors to Consider
1. Organization Size
o Small (e.g. <500 endpoints): 1–2 FTEs
o Medium (500–5,000 endpoints): 2–5 FTEs
o Large (>5,000 endpoints): 5–15+ FTEs
2. IT/Asset Environment
o Number of servers, workstations, cloud assets, containers, etc.
o Complexity of the tech stack (Windows, Linux, SaaS, IoT, etc.)
3. Security Maturity Level
o Mature programs may be automated and require fewer FTEs.
o Less mature programs need more manual effort, FTEs.
4. Tooling and Automation
o Tools like Tenable, Qualys, Rapid7, or integrations with ticketing systems reduce FTE needs.
o Automation for patching, scanning, alerting, and reporting can significantly cut workload.
5. Scope of Responsibility
o Just scanning & reporting?
o Or does the team own remediation tracking, patching, threat intel correlation, compliance reporting, and executive metrics?
6. Compliance Requirements
o Regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance, defense, insurance) often require more staff to handle documentation and audits.
o Or does the team own remediation tracking, patching, threat intel correlation, compliance reporting, and executive metrics?
General Estimate (Based on Common Models)
Typical Vulnerability Team Roles
o Vulnerability Analyst / Engineer - Runs scans, investigates findings, remediation
o Vulnerability Manager / Lead - Oversees program, reports metrics
o Security Operations Analyst - Assists with triage, prioritization and remediation
o Automation/Tooling Engineer - Maintains scanners, integrations
o Compliance / Risk Liaison - Handles audits, GRC & Business Objective alignment
Optimization Guidance
o Automate wherever possible (scan scheduling, ticket creation, reporting).
o Integrate with patch management tools and CMDBs.
o Prioritize vulnerabilities using threat intelligence (CVSS + exploitability).
o Establish SLAs and ownership across IT teams.
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