In a rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape, organizations are increasingly turning to threat exposure validation as a key strategy in safeguarding their digital environments. Recent findings from Cymulate indicate that a strong majority of security professionals recognize the necessity of implementing comprehensive validation processes. Specifically, 51% of surveyed organizations have instituted security control validation, while an additional 48% are focused on filtering threat exposures based on the efficacy of these controls.
The survey, which encompassed 1,000 security leaders, SecOps practitioners, and red and blue team specialists from around the globe, reveals that nearly all respondents have integrated exposure validation into various aspects of their operations. Among these areas, cloud security stands out, with 53% of organizations employing validation processes. Other key domains include security controls (49%), incident response (36%), and general threat assessments (34%).
These insights come amidst a backdrop where validating exposure is emerging as a crucial element of modern cybersecurity strategies that not only optimize defense mechanisms but also enhance overall threat resilience. According to the report, a significant 71% of participants deemed threat exposure validation as “absolutely essential.” Organizations that conduct exposure processes at least once a month experience, on average, a 20% reduction in breaches, alongside improvements in mean time to detection and a bolstered defense against immediate threats.
One notable trend is the shift towards automation in the validation process. Participants reported that automation allows them to assess more than 200 times as many threats compared to traditional manual testing methods. Additionally, an overwhelming 97% of those utilizing automated security control validation and tracking their cyber effectiveness noted a positive impact since its implementation.
Avihai Ben-Yossef, the CTO of Cymulate, emphasized the importance of active security validation. He remarked, “This research confirms what we have always known: it’s not enough to have the right solutions in place. You must ensure they are performing as expected.” He noted that in today’s cybersecurity landscape, organizations cannot afford to be reactive. With the sophistication and rapid evolution of new threats, a shift from traditional best practices, such as manual penetration testing, is essential. The future lies in a proactive, offensive strategy that leverages automation and artificial intelligence (AI) for continuous testing and monitoring, which is vital for achieving true cyber resilience.
Looking ahead, the future of exposure management appears bright, with 98% of organizations planning to invest in this area. Remarkably, 89% intend to allocate resources in the next year alone. Among security leaders, 90% apply validation at least once a month, and 72% recognize AI’s potential role in refining exposure management. Notably, 89% of security teams are already integrating AI into their validation processes.
However, while the shift towards automation is promising, challenges still linger. Almost two-thirds of security leaders expressed concern over missing significant exposures due to manual pen testing, which they acknowledged is a significant issue. Furthermore, 67% reported that infrequent pen testing has accentuated gaps in their security assessments.
A significant number of security leaders—61%—admitted their organizations struggle to identify and remediate exposures in cloud environments. The complexity of this task is reflected in claims that it can take as long as 24 hours to validate exposure in cloud systems. Worryingly, only 9% of organizations conduct daily validation within these environments.
In terms of the overall state of exposure management, the urgency is palpable. With 96% of organizations reporting at least one security breach in the past year, the need for SecOps teams to verify the efficacy of their security controls has never been more pressing. However, the research illuminates ongoing concerns from Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) regarding their ability to fend off complex threats.
The strain on resources has left some SecOps teams in a precarious position, as they may feel compelled to overlook certain vulnerabilities. More than 30% cited insufficient resources or capacity as a significant challenge in remediating identified exposures. Additionally, 49% acknowledged that this limitation influences their decision to deprioritize remediation efforts. Compounding this dilemma, 47% of participants pointed to concerns about the effectiveness of existing compensating controls as another critical factor in managing their remediation priorities.
Finally, the insights reveal an overwhelming sense of unease among security leaders—84% expressed concerns about their defenses against sophisticated threat actors, with 42% reporting very high levels of concern. Thus, it is clear that offensive security processes, including threat exposure validation, will remain integral to the future of cybersecurity strategy as organizations strive to bolster their defenses against increasingly complex and evolving threats.