> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.avoca.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Risk and Vulnerability Management

> Controls that identify, assess, and minimize security risks across the Avoca platform.

# Risk and Vulnerability Management

## Continuous Monitoring

Avoca employs a multi-layered approach to vulnerability identification and management:

* **Continuous Dependency Scanning**: Automated scanning runs 24/7 on all code dependencies
* **Integrated Tooling**:
  * Delve Auditor for comprehensive security assessments
  * GitHub code security tooling with Dependabot for real-time vulnerability detection
  * Vanta automated vulnerability scanning across integrated systems
* **Infrastructure-Level Protection**: Cloud infrastructure providers conduct regular penetration testing programs, with security attestations shared through SOC 2 certifications

***

## Penetration Testing Program

* **Frequency**: Annual external penetration testing scheduled as part of SOC 2 control requirements
* **First Assessment**: Q1 2026 as part of certification readiness activities
* **Vendor Selection**: Evaluating qualified third-party security assessment providers to ensure comprehensive testing coverage
* **Scope**: External-facing systems and critical infrastructure components

***

## Vulnerability Remediation

Avoca maintains aggressive remediation timelines aligned with industry best practices:

* **Critical vulnerabilities**: Addressed within 24 hours of identification
* **High-severity issues**: Remediated within 72 hours
* **Medium severity**: Resolved within regular update cycles (maximum 30 days)
* **Low severity**: Addressed during routine maintenance windows

All remediation follows a structured process including temporary mitigations for immediate risk reduction, staging environment testing, and documented rollback procedures.

***

## Infrastructure Hardening

Avoca implements multiple layers of security controls to minimize attack surfaces.

**Authentication Security**

* Professional third-party authentication services (Supabase and Google OAuth) eliminate risks of proprietary authentication vulnerabilities
* All publicly accessible endpoints require authentication (JWT, API key, or OAuth)
* Database endpoint protection (target completion: November 15, 2025)

**DDoS Protection**

* Automated IP blacklisting through Supabase for untrusted or attacking sources
* Rate limiting and queuing capabilities throughout the architecture
* Serverless infrastructure design provides inherent scaling resilience
* Web Application Firewall (WAF) evaluation in progress (ETA: Q1 or Q2 2026)

**Network Architecture**

* No meaningful on-premises infrastructure to attack
* Production and staging environments logically separated across all cloud and SaaS platforms
* Isolation enforced at infrastructure provider level through account or project separation

***

## Patch Management

Avoca maintains aggressive patching timelines while leveraging shared responsibility models.

**Application Dependencies**

* Custom application code packages updated regularly (maximum 30 days)
* GitHub Dependabot and Vanta vulnerability scanning identify patching needs
* Critical patches prioritized for immediate deployment

**Operating Systems & Runtime Environments**

* Managed by service providers under shared responsibility model
* Serverless and SaaS architecture eliminates direct OS management responsibility
* Providers maintain security patching under their SLAs and compliance obligations

**Third-Party Products**

* GitHub Dependabot continuously monitors for vulnerable dependencies
* Vanta scanning identifies outdated third-party components
* Security patches from infrastructure providers automatically applied