What is a VDP and Why is No Longer Optional in 2025

Imagine a neighbour notices your front door is wide open while you’re on holiday. They want to tell you, but they don't have your phone number. They knock, but no one answers. Frustrated and worried about being accused of trespassing, they eventually walk away, leaving your home vulnerable to actual burglars.

In the digital world, this scenario happens every day. Ethical hackers and security researchers often find bugs in corporate systems but have no safe, clear way to report them.

This is where a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP) comes in. Often described as the "digital welcome mat" for security researchers, a VDP is a public statement outlining how your organisation accepts vulnerability reports. As we move through 2024 and into 2025, having a VDP is shifting from a "nice-to-have" to a critical business requirement.

What is a VDP?

At its core, a VDP is a set of guidelines published by an organisation—usually found at company.com/security or security.txt—that tells the public:

1. We are listening: We want to know about security gaps.

2. How to report: A secure channel to send details.

3. Safe Harbour: A promise that we won’t take legal action against you for acting in good faith.

It differentiates ethical hackers (who want to help you fix locks) from malicious actors (who want to break them). Without a VDP, you are effectively silencing the community that wants to help you fly safer.

Adoption: The Gap is Closing, But Slowly

Despite the clear benefits, adoption has historically been sluggish outside the tech sector. However, the landscape is changing.

According to recent 2024 data, VDP adoption grew by approximately 11.6% year-over-year. While this progress is encouraging, significant gaps remain. A startling report on AI vendors revealed that 36% of AI companies still provide no disclosure channel whatsoever. Furthermore, while nearly all top-tier tech firms have mature programmes, legacy industries (manufacturing, healthcare, and retail) are still playing catch-up.

2024-2025 Trends: AI, Regulation, and Scalability

The conversation around VDPs is evolving. It is no longer just about having an email address; it is about how you manage the influx of data.

1. The "Bionic Hacker" Era The rise of AI is supercharging security research. We are seeing a surge in AI-assisted vulnerability discovery, with reports of AI-specific flaws (like prompt injection) spiking by over 500%. Organisations relying on simple email inboxes will struggle to triage this volume.

2. Regulatory Pressure is Mounting Governments are done asking politely. The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and directives from the US CISA are effectively mandating coordinated vulnerability disclosure. By 2027, strict compliance will be the norm, meaning organisations without a VDP may face not just security risks, but legal penalties.

3. Moving from Solo to "Formation" The most significant trend is the shift from manual handling to structured platforms. Managing reports via spreadsheets is prone to error. Forward-thinking companies are now using dedicated platforms to streamline triage and validation. This allows internal security teams and external researchers to work in a synchronised V-formation—aligned, efficient, and mutually supportive—rather than chaotic isolation.

Why You Need to Act Now

If you don't have a VDP, you are flying blind. Vulnerabilities in your software exist whether you know about them or not. A VDP gives you the chance to fix a hole before a criminal exploits it.

Moreover, it builds trust. In an era of supply chain attacks, customers want to know you take security seriously. A transparent VDP signals maturity and responsibility to your stakeholders.

Conclusion

The days of "security by obscurity" are over. In 2025, a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy is as essential as a privacy policy. It bridges the gap between your internal security team and the global community of researchers.

Ready to secure your digital assets? Don't wait for a breach to open the lines of communication. Whether you handle it manually or use a platform to streamline the process, the most important step is simply to start listening.