Overview
In recent years, the landscape of security has drastically transformed. Traditional views of attack surfaces have become obsolete with the advent of remote work and cloud digital transformation.
As a result, the approach to attack surface management (ASM) must evolve to meet these new challenges effectively.
The Changing Nature of Attack Surfaces
Traditionally, an organization’s attack surface was relatively stable and manually monitored, with changes occurring in controlled environments. However, the contemporary attack surface is constantly shifting, expanding, and growing more complex. Relying on manual tracking has not just become impractical; it’s downright dangerous.
“Modern attack surfaces are incredibly dynamic and complex, necessitating continuous and vigilant monitoring to manage risks effectively and keep security threats at bay.”
Sam Rubin
SVP, Consulting and Threat Intelligence
Proactive Security Measures
Modern ASM solutions, like Cortex Xpanse, continuously scan the internet to provide a comprehensive and accurate inventory of all assets associated with an organization. This real-time data ensures complete visibility and forms the foundation for robust security processes and risk management.
Perhaps the most significant benefit of modern ASM is enabling cybersecurity teams to transition from reactive to proactive security. By automating the process of discovering, evaluating, and mitigating risks, ASM reduces the time and effort required for managing cybersecurity threats.
Consider SecOps with Traditional ASM
When relying on traditional asset inventories, security operations (SecOps) face several inefficiencies:
- Inaccurate Data: Vulnerability and antivirus scanners perform poorly without accurate, up-to-date asset inventories.
- Manual Investigations: Unknown assets trigger time-consuming manual investigations to identify their origins and associated risks.
- Extended Response Time: Such manual processes delay the prioritization and remediation of threats.
Moving to Proactive Security
Automating asset discovery and risk management lays the groundwork for a more efficient and effective Security Operations Center (SOC).
Key aspects include:
Risk Discovery
Continuous monitoring to find vulnerabilities, unsecured remote access, and more.
Automated Reporting
Continuous monitoring to find vulnerabilities, unsecured remote access, and more.
Benefits for CISOs:
- Reduced Downtime: Minimizes the impact and costs associated with ransomware and data breaches.
- Comprehensive Management: Ensures all vulnerabilities are rapidly identified and addressed.
“Xpanse helps shift cybersecurity from reactive to proactive, saving time and reducing costs associated with cyberattacks.”
Lee Klarich
Chief Product Officer
Conclusion
Modern ASM is indispensable for keeping up with the evolving attack surfaces. By ensuring a continuous, automated approach to tracking and mitigating risks, solutions like Cortex Xpanse provide a vital foundation for a secure and resilient organization.
By rethinking and automating attack surface management, organizations can stay ahead of threats and maintain robust security in an ever-changing digital landscape.
