IBM: Sun Best in OS Vulnerabilites Reporting and Patching

IBM: Sun Best in OS Vulnerabilities Reporting and Patching - 2009-1H

I know what you are thinking, IBM thinks Sun outperformed the rest of the market in regards to OS security?

Apparently, in the 1st half of 2009, IBM commends Sun for security above all other competitors, even their own coders and product partners!

Sun is the best at sharing information about its operating system's vulnerabilities and patching them, reports IBM's "X-Force 2009 Mid-Year Trend and Risk Report." This analysis of various online threats and vulnerabilities examined statistics for the first half of 2009.

By what metrics did IBM measure?

Solaris had only 26 percent of the total number of OS vulnerabilities... Microsoft had the most ... with 39 percent of the total.

But this was not the only metric...

Sun's patch rate also was deemed impressive with only four percent left unpatched. "For the vast number of disclosures Sun makes, they have an impressive patch rate (only four percent left unpatched)"... The average patch rate within the industry is 49 percent. Sun's four percent rate tops Apple's 18 percent and Microsoft's 17 percent.

This is fairly eye opening to the industry - Sun clearly is better controlling their own destiny with Solaris than the competitors.