Exposure management is a crucial aspect of cyber security that often goes overlooked, yet it plays a significant role in ensuring the safety of digital assets. It serves as a guiding lighthouse for organizations, helping them navigate through the hidden dangers of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and forgotten assets that could leave them vulnerable to cyber attacks.

One of the main challenges of exposure management lies in the ever-evolving nature of the attack surface. With new assets being deployed rapidly and old ones being decommissioned or forgotten, organizations face a constantly shifting landscape that can be difficult to track and secure. To cope with this challenge, organizations must adopt a proactive approach to exposure management. This involves regular scanning of the entire attack surface to identify any new or previously unknown assets and vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.

Furthermore, exposure management is not just about finding vulnerabilities; it is also about prioritizing them based on their level of risk. Given that not all vulnerabilities pose the same threat to an organization, understanding the business criticality of each asset and the potential impact of a successful attack is crucial. By prioritizing remediation efforts and focusing on the most pressing risks first, organizations can effectively manage their exposure to cyber threats.

Implementing exposure management requires a collaborative effort involving stakeholders from various departments, including IT, operations, and executive leadership. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of unity and shared responsibility in identifying and mitigating risks. Automated tools and platforms can also aid in the process by continuously monitoring the attack surface, identifying new assets and vulnerabilities, and providing valuable insights and analytics to track progress over time.

In essence, exposure management is about shining a light on the hidden dangers within an organization’s attack surface. By proactively identifying and mitigating risks, organizations can stay ahead of threat actors and safeguard their digital assets. Therefore, rather than neglecting exposure management, organizations should embrace it as a vital component of their cyber security strategy.

Remember, the Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.

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