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Exposure-Driven Vulnerability Management

Stop chasing vulnerabilities.
Start reducing exposure.

Most security teams do not have a vulnerability problem. They have a prioritization problem.

CVSS is a starting point, not a remediation strategy. We help security teams identify reachable vulnerabilities, map them against exploit intelligence and asset context, and turn scanner data into a remediation roadmap your team can execute.

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N E S W
Common triggers
HIPAA audit prep Cyber insurance renewal Client security questionnaires Compliance gap assessment No dedicated security staff IT provider without security practice
0
Active KEV entries tracked
0
More vulns vs external scanning
Monthly
Advisory cadence
30 min
Monthly advisory call
Why it works differently

CVSS tells you severity.
Exposure tells you what matters first.

Turn vulnerability data into exposure-driven remediation priorities. Three things set the program apart.

01
Find internal exposure, not just perimeter risk
Go beyond perimeter visibility with Authenticated internal assessment across endpoints, servers, and critical assets reveals the exploitable weaknesses external tools cannot validate — often uncovering significantly more actionable findings than perimeter-only scanning.
Visibility Beyond the Edge
02
Prioritize by exploitability and business impact
We correlate findings against CISA KEV, exploit activity, asset context, and exposure to identify what needs action first — not just what scores highest on paper.
Threat-Informed Prioritization
03
Turn findings into a program
Vulnerability findings without ownership are just noise. Every finding gets an assigned owner, a defined deadline, and a verified closure requirement. Risk reduces because accountability is built into the program, not bolted on after.
Ownership-driven remediation
Core Services

A program that grows
with your risk posture.

Move beyond CVSS-based prioritization and remediate what truly exposes the business. Every tier stacks. Start where you are.

01
Exposure Baseline Assessment
One-Time Baseline2-week deliveryAny org size
$3,000 – $7,500
A Security Posture Assessment establishes your exposure baseline. Authenticated internal scanning surfaces the vulnerabilities perimeter tools miss. Every finding is correlated against CISA KEV and active exploit intelligence to identify what is reachable and exploitable now. You receive a risk-prioritized remediation roadmap and an executive brief that gives leadership and insurers a defensible starting point.
Authenticated vulnerability scanFull asset discovery auditShadow IT identificationCISA KEV cross-referenceRisk-prioritized roadmapExecutive brief30-day follow-up advisory
02
Exposure Management Advisory
Ongoing AdvisoryMonthly retainerCompliance-ready
From $2,000 / mo
Monthly authenticated internal scanning combined with external perimeter assessment gives you full exposure visibility across your environment. Every finding is correlated against CISA KEV and active exploit intelligence so remediation priorities reflect actual attacker behavior, not just severity scores. A monthly advisory session translates findings into a ranked action list your IT team can execute immediately.
Monthly authenticated scanningExternal perimeter assessmentThreat-Informed PrioritizationCISA KEV cross-referenceStrategic Advisory SessionStructured monthly report12 documented assessments/year
03
Log Management & Threat Hunt
Advanced Detection Add-onMonthlyexploit intelligence correlation
Add-on to VM Program
Centralized log collection and telemetry analysis surfaces high-probability indicators of compromise across your environment. Threat hunters focus on the activity automated tools miss: living-off-the-land techniques, unauthorized lateral movement, and credential abuse patterns that bypass signature-based detection.
structured telemetry analysisCentralized log collectionManual IOC threat huntLiving-off-the-land detectionLateral movement analysisCredential abuse reviewMonthly findings summary
04
Security Program Build-Out
Premium GRC RetainerCompliance-focusedPolicy development
From $4,500 / mo
For organizations building a formal security program from the ground up. We develop the policy framework, regulatory alignment, and incident response structure your auditors and insurers require. Leadership receives an Annual Risk Assessment and quarterly executive reviews, giving your organization a documented, defensible security posture that holds up under scrutiny.
Policy orchestration (WISP)HIPAA / regulatory alignmentIncident response readinessDefensible security narrativeAnnual Risk Assessment (ARA)Quarterly Executive Reviews (QERs)
What you get

We advise.
Your team executes.

Every month, you get a clear picture of your risk posture, a ranked list of what to fix, and a 30-minute call to walk through it together. Your IT company handles execution. Northstar owns the security direction.

Advisory only · Not managed IT · Not a 24/7 SOC

Monthly risk picture, every cycle
Authenticated internal scanning every month. Every finding cross-referenced against active exploit intelligence. You always know your current exposure, not just your vulnerability count.
Prioritized risk reporting your leadership can act on
Risk score, top findings, what has improved, what is still open. Structured for a business owner, not a security engineer. No 200-page technical exports.
Remediation roadmap your IT team can execute
A specific, ranked action list your IT company can work from. No ambiguity about what to fix first, what can wait, or why it matters.
12 documented assessments per year
Monthly reports build into a compliance record. Meaningful for HIPAA audits, cyber insurance renewals, and client security questionnaires.
Exploit intelligence that drives remediation priorities Live Feed

We monitor CISA KEV, ransomware associations, exploit activity, and exposure context to help security teams identify which vulnerabilities require action first.

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Microsoft CVEs
Known exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities
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Ransomware-Linked
Associated with ransomware activity
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KEV Entries
Cataloged exploited vulnerabilities
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New Additions
Added in the last 30 days
Newly Added
Ransomware Linked
Remote Code Execution
Authentication Bypass
Network Edge / VPN
Privilege Escalation
All KEV
Loading live exploit intelligence...

Not sure which of these affect your environment?

We map active exploit intelligence against your assets, exposure context, and remediation capacity so your team knows what to fix first.

For MSPs

You keep the client.
We handle the security questions.

Northstar gives MSPs a security advisory layer for vulnerability management, compliance evidence, and executive risk reporting — without competing for the managed IT relationship.

Partner Program
Northstar works alongside MSPs as a dedicated security advisory layer. Referral arrangements, white-label delivery, or co-engagement on existing clients. If your clients are asking security questions you cannot answer, let us talk.
01
Stay the Primary Relationship
Bring Northstar in as the security advisory layer. You stay the primary IT relationship. Your client gets security coverage. You get a trusted partner for the security questions that land on your desk.
02
Compliance Questions, Handled
HIPAA, PCI-DSS, cyber insurance renewals, client due diligence requests. These questions are landing on your desk. Northstar handles the security program side so you can stay focused on IT operations.
03
No Conflict. Complete Coverage.
We advise, your team executes. Northstar never competes for the managed IT relationship. We handle vulnerability management and security advisory. You handle everything else.
04
Extend Your Service Stack
Offering a security advisory partner sets your MSP apart. Give your clients a complete answer, not a referral to figure it out themselves.
Engagement Methodology

How the program
gets built.

Phase 01
Discovery
Intake session to map your infrastructure, existing IT setup, compliance obligations, and current security posture. We learn your environment before we touch anything.
Phase 02
Asset and Exposure Mapping
Full discovery of what is on your network: servers, workstations, printers, IoT devices, cloud assets. Most clients find devices they forgot existed. You cannot protect what you do not know about.
Phase 03
Authenticated Assessment
Authenticated internal scanning provides full exposure visibility into your environment — software versions, patch status, configurations, and service exposure that perimeter-only tools cannot reach. This is where real risk lives.
Phase 04
Threat and Exploit Correlation
Raw output is noise. We correlate findings against emergent exploit telemetry and the CISA KEV catalog to isolate high-risk targets. We don't just tell you it's broken. We tell you if it's currently being used as a weapon in the wild.
Phase 05
Risk-Based Reporting
Monthly report with a risk score, top findings, remediation progress, and a prioritized action list. Direct and actionable. No 200-page technical exports.
Phase 06
Remediation Planning
We tell your IT team exactly what to fix, in what order, and why. They own execution. We own the strategy. Monthly advisory call walks through everything together.
Phase 07
Program Maturity Tracking
Month over month, your program gets tighter. Scan coverage improves, remediation velocity tracks, posture scores move. You have something to show auditors, insurers, and clients who ask.
Recommended Remediation Target Framework
CRITICAL24 Hours
Actively exploited CVEs, CISA KEV entries, CVSS 9.0+
Industry median: 14 days
HIGH7 Days
Public exploit available, CVSS 7.0–8.9, network-facing assets
Industry median: 45 days
MEDIUM30 Days
No active exploit, CVSS 4.0–6.9, internal assets
Industry median: 90 days
LOW / INFO90 Days
Informational findings, patch cycle alignment
Industry median: 180+ days
Targets adjusted based on business criticality, maintenance windows, asset ownership, and compensating controls. Industry medians sourced from published vulnerability research.
How We Operate

Built to earn
operational trust.

Credential Handling

Scanning credentials are scoped, documented, and used only for authorized assessment activity. Access is not retained after the engagement scope is complete.

Safe Scanning Controls

Scan windows, exclusions, asset groups, and fragile system protocols are defined during onboarding. No scanning occurs outside agreed scope or timing.

Findings Validation

Every finding is reviewed for exploitability, asset context, and remediation priority before it becomes an action item. Not every CVE warrants the same response.

Remediation Ownership

Your IT provider executes changes. Northstar provides prioritization, guidance, verification, and reporting. We own the security direction. You own execution.

Data Handling

Reports and findings are stored and shared through approved channels with access limited to authorized stakeholders. Client data is never used outside the engagement.

Why Northstar

Security expertise built
for the real world.

Most organizations have IT coverage but no one accountable for identifying and reducing true exposure. Northstar fills that gap with a structured vulnerability management program built around ownership, prioritization, and measurable risk reduction.

Vulnerability ManagementNIST CSFHIPAASOC 2PCI-DSSISO 27001Threat HuntingRisk Reporting
For organizations with infrastructure worth protecting
Professional services, healthcare practices, legal and financial firms, and any organization with compliance obligations they cannot ignore and no dedicated security specialist on staff.
Advisory, not managed services
We guide your team through vulnerability prioritization and remediation strategy. Your IT company owns execution. We own the security direction.
Authenticated internal exposure assessment
Authenticated scanning from inside your network finds 60 to 70 percent more vulnerabilities than perimeter-only approaches. True exposure requires full internal visibility, not just what is visible from outside the firewall.
12 documented assessments per year
Monthly reports are not just useful. They are a compliance asset. Twelve documented risk assessments a year is a meaningful record for HIPAA audits, cyber insurance renewals, and client due diligence.
Common Questions

What people ask
before they engage.

How is this different from what my IT company already does?
Your MSP focuses on operations and uptime. Northstar focuses on adversarial risk and defensibility. While your IT team handles the hands-on execution of patches, we provide the Strategic Security Layer: defining the roadmap, validating the fixes, and providing the documentation your auditors and insurers actually require.
What is authenticated internal scanning and why does it matter?
External scanners see only what is visible through your firewall — the perimeter. Authenticated internal scanning uses admin credentials from within the network to assess every asset, every configuration, and every vulnerability on every system. This surfaces the exposures attackers actually target: unpatched internal systems, misconfigured services, and lateral movement paths that perimeter scans cannot reach. Most organizations do not understand the gap until they see their first internal assessment.
I do not have a security team. How does remediation actually work?
That is exactly who this is designed for. Northstar delivers a prioritized remediation roadmap every month alongside a 30-minute advisory call. Your IT company handles the actual patching and configuration changes. We tell them exactly what to fix, in what order, and why. You do not need a security engineer on staff. You need someone who gives your IT team a clear, ranked list and holds the program accountable month over month.
What compliance frameworks does this support?
The vulnerability management program directly supports HIPAA Security Rule requirements, PCI-DSS vulnerability scanning requirements, NIST CSF, SOC 2 Type II audit readiness, and cyber insurance renewal documentation. Twelve documented monthly assessments per year is a meaningful compliance record. For organizations needing formal policy and framework alignment, the Security Program Build-Out tier covers that specifically.
How much time will this take from my team each month?
The monthly advisory call runs 30 minutes. Reading the report takes another 20. Your IT company reviews the remediation roadmap and executes patches on their normal schedule. There is no standing up infrastructure, no alert queues to manage, and no ongoing technical overhead on your side. Northstar runs the program. Your team acts on the output.
Is this the same as a penetration test?
No. A penetration test is a point-in-time engagement where a tester actively tries to exploit vulnerabilities. Useful, but it goes stale the day it finishes. A vulnerability management program runs every month and tracks remediation progress over time. A pentest tells you where you stood on one day. Northstar tells you where you stand every month and whether you are getting better.
Do you replace our MSP or IT provider?
No. Your IT provider retains full ownership of infrastructure and execution. Northstar provides the security advisory layer — prioritization, validation, and reporting. The two roles are complementary, not competing.
Do you need administrative credentials?
Authenticated assessment requires scoped admin credentials for the systems being assessed. Credential handling, permissions, and scan boundaries are defined and documented during onboarding. Credentials are used only for authorized assessment activity and are not retained afterward.
What tools do you use?
We use commercial-grade vulnerability scanning, external assessment tooling, and exploit intelligence feeds including CISA KEV. Specific tooling details are shared during engagement scoping. We do not rely on a single tool — the program combines authenticated internal scanning, external perimeter assessment, and advisor-reviewed prioritization.
What do you not do?
No 24/7 SOC. No managed IT replacement. No emergency incident response unless separately scoped. No guarantee that every vulnerability can be remediated immediately — remediation execution belongs to your IT team. Northstar is a security advisory and assessment program, not a managed security service.
What happens after the first assessment?
You receive a prioritized remediation roadmap, executive brief, and a 30-minute findings call. From there, we can transition into the monthly Exposure Management Advisory program or leave you with a standalone deliverable. The baseline is also your compliance documentation starting point.
Can you support HIPAA or cyber insurance evidence?
Yes. Monthly assessments, remediation tracking, and executive summaries directly support HIPAA Security Rule documentation, cyber insurance renewals, SOC 2 audit readiness, PCI-DSS scanning requirements, and client security questionnaires. Twelve documented assessments per year is a meaningful compliance record.
Transparent Pricing

Priced on outcomes,
not hours.

No hourly billing. No ambiguity. Fixed monthly retainers so you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs. A one-time pentest costs $4,000 to $6,000 and goes stale immediately. Northstar delivers continuous monthly coverage.

"What is broken?"
$3K+
Starter · one-time baseline
  • Point-in-time baseline
  • Risk-scored roadmap
  • Asset discovery
  • CISA KEV mapping
"We tell you what is broken."
$2K/mo
Advisory Program · ongoing retainer
  • Continuous attack surface visibility
  • Monthly Advisory Sessions
  • 12 documented assessments / year
  • Exploit intelligence feed
"We build the system that keeps it from breaking."
$5K+/mo
Program Build-Out · premium GRC retainer
  • Full security governance & GRC
  • Written policy development (WISP)
  • Incident response planning
  • Annual Risk Assessment (ARA)