Introduction
To keep all devices up to date in an organization, you need to keep track of end-of-support (EOS) dates for all your hardware and software. With dozens of vendors and thousands of products, this process can quickly become unmanageable. It is possible to track EOS dates in a spreadsheet, but it’s a manual process that requires constant updates and is prone to human error. This can lead to security vulnerabilities if devices are left unsupported and unpatched.
Fortunately, there is a new industry standard designed to kill that spreadsheet and stay safe: OpenEoX.
What is it?
Developed by the OASIS Open consortium, OpenEoX isn’t software you install. It’s a standardized, machine-readable data format (JSON). It forces vendors to publish their end-of-support timelines in a consistent wawy, making it easy for organizations to automatically keep track of EOS dates across all their devices.
Why Does It Matter?
Because it’s machine-readable, you don’t have to hunt for data. Your vulnerability scanners, asset management tools, and SIEMs can automatically assess OpenEoX feeds from vendors.
Instead of a human manually checking a website to see if a router is unsupported, your security tools just know. This allows for automated alerting on “tech debt,” ensuring unpatchable legacy systems does not hang around.
Recently championed by CISA, OpenEoX is quickly becoming the standard for automated lifecycle transparency. It’s time to stop chasing PDFs and start automating.