Vulnerability Disclosure vs Bug Bounty: What’s the difference and why it matters

I see over and over again that IT security teams mix up Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDP) and Bug Bounty Programs (BBP). I believe this is a problem that can affect their security and reputation.

In this post, I sum up how VDPs and BBPs are different and why you need to pick the right one for your situation.

What are VDPs and BBPs?

A Vulnerability Disclosure Program is a policy that allows anyone to report security vulnerabilities regarding your IT systems, products, or services. A VDP does not have to offer any rewards except for saying thank you.

A Bug Bounty Program is designed to motivate ethical hackers to test your systems and find vulnerabilities that you might have missed.

Firstly, it may look similar, but the main difference between VDP and BBP is the purpose. A VDP is meant to enable ethical hackers to report vulnerabilities to you, while a BBP is meant to encourage them to find vulnerabilities for you.

This difference affects the whole vulnerability disclosure process, from the scope and rules to the communication.

Why does it matter to choose the right one?

Choosing the right type of program for your organization is crucial for your security and reputation. If you select a VDP when you need a BBP, you may miss out on the opportunity to discover and fix critical vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious actors. If you choose a BBP when you need a VDP, you may waste resources.

Moreover, choosing the wrong type of program may send the wrong message to the ethical hacker community and the public. If you launch a VDP but do not offer any rewards or incentives, you may appear to be exploiting the work of ethical hackers or not valuing their contributions enough. If you launch a BBP but do not offer adequate rewards or incentives, you may appear to be not taking security seriously.

Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between VDP and BBP and to choose the one that best suits your cybersecurity goals and resources.

Conclusion

Vulnerability Disclosure Programs and Bug Bounty Programs are two different types of programs that allow ethical hackers to report security vulnerabilities to organizations. They have different purposes, processes, and costs, and they require different levels of commitment and investment from both the organizations and the ethical hackers. Choosing the right type of program can have a significant impact on the security and reputation of your organization and on the relationship with the ethical hacker community.

If you want to learn more about VDPs, you can watch this short video that simply explains the topic:

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