Part 1: 5 Myths that will Slow Down Vulnerability Remediation

Security myths create a false sense of safety, causing engineering teams to either take on unnecessary work or overlook critical vulnerabilities, leaving organizations exposed. A strong security culture, focused on risk-based remediation, reduces exposure time and builds trust. With 65% of B2B buyers prioritizing security, high-performing teams that fix issues quickly gain a competitive edge.

The 5 Security Myths and the Truths Behind Them

Myth #1: “I Have to Fix All Vulnerabilities.”

The Myth: It’s common for teams to feel that every single vulnerability uncovered needs immediate remediation. After all, any weakness could be the one an attacker exploits, right? This myth leads to overwhelmed backlogs and burnout as teams scramble to patch low-risk issues alongside critical ones.

The Truth: Not all vulnerabilities carry the same risk. Effective security teams prioritize based on impact and likelihood. Industry research shows that only a small fraction of known vulnerabilities ever get exploited in the wild – roughly 5% or fewer. Trying to “fix everything” at once is not just unrealistic; it diverts attention from the critical issues that matter most. A risk-based approach is key: focus on vulnerabilities that present the highest threat to your applications and data. Software Secured scores each vulnerability using two industry standards CVSS and DREAD.

By using a calculated approach to risk,and contextual business impact, technical leaders can ensure the team fixes the most dangerous flaws first. This approach accelerates the remediation of what truly counts rather than flooding the team with low-priority fixes. The result is faster reduction of overall risk and more efficient use of engineering effort. This would also reduce the likelihood of urgency fatigue, something that takes place when developers are constantly pushed to close the next security gap, without risk being prioritized. This dynamic can lead to more friction between departments and developers not taking future reports seriously, when it really matters.

Myth #2: “Fixing Vulnerabilities Will Slow My Development Team.”

The Myth: Some engineers and product managers believe that prioritizing security fixes will slow down development velocity and impact feature delivery.

The Truth: With proper planning, a prioritized approach based on risk, and expert guidance from your friends at Software Secured, remediation doesn’t have to be as time-consuming.

By tackling the most critical vulnerabilities first and integrating security into the development workflow, teams minimize rework and avoid last-minute disruptions.

Leveraging the expertise of the Software Secured team ensures efficient fixes, while automated security testing and DevSecOps practices catch issues early—preventing bottlenecks and keeping development on track. Organizations that embed security into their SDLC experience fewer incidents, reducing unplanned work and accelerating future development.

Myth #3: “Fixing Vulnerabilities is Less of a Priority Than Pushing New Features.”

The Myth: Some leadership teams see security fixes as secondary to feature development, believing they can always be handled later when time permits.

The Truth: While pushing new features is critical for business growth, neglecting security debt can create long-term costs that far outweigh short-term gains.

Ignored vulnerabilities compound over time, making remediation more difficult and expensive. Worse, a security breach caused by an unaddressed issue can lead to reputational damage, legal liability, customer churn and financial loss.

Failing to prioritize security can also become a major roadblock when selling to large enterprises that demand strong security assurances. Many enterprise buyers have strict security requirements and will not engage with vendors who cannot demonstrate a proactive approach to vulnerability management.

Myth #4: “The Pentesters Can't Help Me With Remediation.”

The Myth: Some engineering teams assume that penetration testers only find issues and don’t assist with fixing them.

The Truth: Software Secured offers remediation guidance, best practices, and even proof-of-concept fixes in many scenarios. You should leverage their expertise by discussing recommended mitigations, alternative fixes, and defensive strategies. Treat Software Secured’s penetration testers as partners rather than adversaries, and use their findings to strengthen long-term security improvements.

Myth #5: “I Will Fix the Vulnerability When Clients Ask.”

The Myth: Some teams delay fixing security issues until customers raise concerns, believing that if no one is complaining, the issue isn’t urgent.

The Truth: Waiting for a client to flag a vulnerability means you're already behind. Proactively addressing vulnerabilities builds trust and prevents damage before it occurs. Many enterprises evaluate security maturity when selecting vendors, and a proactive security posture can be a competitive differentiator. Additionally, attackers don’t wait for customer complaints – if a vulnerability exists, it could already be exploited before anyone reports it. Prioritizing security without external pressure demonstrates leadership, long-term thinking and also avoids the effort of recovering from a public exploit. Something that can be very difficult if not impossible to rebuild your reputation from.