What action does closing ports and disabling weak TLS ciphers indicate in vulnerability management?

The action of closing ports and disabling weak TLS ciphers is a clear indication of mitigation within vulnerability management. Mitigation involves implementing measures to reduce the severity, seriousness, or harmful effects of potential threats or vulnerabilities. By closing ports, an organization is actively preventing unauthorized access to services that could be exploited by attackers. Similarly, disabling weak TLS ciphers enhances the security of data in transit by ensuring that only strong encryption protocols are available for protected communication.

Focusing specifically on mitigation, this stage is about taking proactive steps to minimize risk after vulnerabilities have been identified. While it may be part of a broader vulnerability management process that includes preparation, assessment, and remediation, the actions taken—closing ports and disabling weak ciphers—are fundamentally about reducing the risk of exploitation and enhancing overall security posture.