In today’s cyber security landscape, the daily reality for security teams is overwhelming. The constant stream of alarms and alerts from various sources makes it challenging to identify and address the most critical vulnerabilities that pose the greatest threat to an organization. Traditional security methods, such as penetration testing and periodic vulnerability assessments, often fall short in providing a real-time view of an organization’s vulnerabilities.
One of the major pitfalls of traditional security methods is the lack of real-time data and context. For example, a periodic vulnerability assessment may only identify a misconfigured web server once a month, leaving the organization exposed to new vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers. This disjointed approach creates significant gaps in an organization’s defenses, particularly for edge service applications and infrastructure devices like VPN gateways, email servers, routers, switches, and firewalls.
Recent research has shown that vulnerabilities in edge service and infrastructure devices are increasing at an alarming rate, with these vulnerabilities being more severe compared to others. The lack of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) software in these devices makes them difficult to monitor, leaving organizations vulnerable to potential cyber attacks. In light of these challenges, a more strategic approach to managing and mitigating risks is essential, highlighting the importance of exposure management (XM).
Exposure management (XM) offers a proactive and integrated approach to identifying and prioritizing risks based on an organization’s specific context. By combining cloud security posture, identity management, internal hosts, internet-facing hosts, and threat intelligence into a unified framework, XM enables security teams to anticipate potential attack vectors and fortify their defenses effectively. Unlike traditional security measures, XM takes an “outside-in” approach, assessing how attackers might exploit vulnerabilities across interconnected systems.
The primary benefit of XM is its ability to proactively identify and prioritize risks, aligning cyber security efforts with business objectives. By providing a unified view of the entire attack path, XM helps security teams understand how vulnerabilities can be exploited and prioritize those that pose the greatest risk. This strategic approach not only improves an organization’s ability to manage security risks but also enhances communication with non-technical stakeholders by presenting complex security information in a simplified manner.
Implementing exposure management requires a comprehensive approach that involves evaluating external security stacks, leveraging Attack Surface Management (ASM) engagements, and continuously scanning and updating inventories to identify potential vulnerabilities. By visualizing the entire attack path and prioritizing remediation efforts based on potential impact and exploitability, security teams can stay ahead of emerging threats and maintain robust cyber security postures.
In conclusion, exposure management transforms the influx of security alerts into actionable intelligence, empowering businesses to proactively manage risks and maintain strong security postures. By cutting through the noise and providing a clear, prioritized roadmap for security efforts, XM enables organizations to stay one step ahead of cyber threats and enhance overall resilience in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape.