VMware is pushing so many patches, it thinks users need new tools to manage the flood

VMware has found numerous security flaws in its products, leading to the creation of a new tool called HyperArmor to help users manage the influx of patches. Prashanth Shenoy, vice president of product marketing in Broadcom's VCF division, explained that the company moved to monthly software updates to tackle AI-discovered bugs.

However, Shenoy admitted that users found it difficult to keep up with the rapid changes, as testing the impact of patches takes time, even though VCF supports non-disruptive live patching. HyperArmor offers three main functionalities: virtual patching, rejecting actions that alter known good states, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Virtual patching blocks exploitation attempts without altering the vulnerable software, while the second function prevents alterations to approved changes. The third function requires users to enter SSH credentials and a secondary time-based one-time password for enhanced security against attackers using stolen credentials. HyperArmor is sold as an add-on to VCF, and Broadcom's security businesses Symantec and Carbon Black developed it.

At VMware Explore, Broadcom also unveiled AgentMinder, which aims to prevent AI from going rogue within VCF. Broadcom's Infrastructure Software Group utilizes a combination of individual team focus and collaborative efforts to innovate quickly.