What should be the next step after a vulnerability scan identifies a critical vulnerability on a system?

After a vulnerability scan identifies a critical vulnerability on a system, the most appropriate next step is to perform validation to verify if the issue actually exists. Validation involves confirming whether the vulnerability is a true positive rather than a false positive, as vulnerability scanning tools can sometimes produce erroneous results.

By conducting this validation, the organization ensures that it is addressing real threats and not expending resources on issues that are not present. This step is crucial for effective risk management, as it helps prioritize remediation efforts based on confirmed vulnerabilities. It also allows security teams to assess the potential impact of the vulnerability on their systems before taking further action.

Once the existence of the vulnerability has been confirmed through validation, the organization can then proceed to implement remediation strategies such as patching, alerting management, or documenting the finding appropriately.