Managing vulnerabilities in the constantly evolving technological landscape is a difficult task. Although vulnerabilities emerge regularly, not all vulnerabilities present the same level of risk. Traditional metrics such as CVSS score or number of vulnerabilities are insufficient for effective vulnerability management because they lack business context, prioritization, and understanding of attacker opportunities. Vulnerabilities represent only a small portion of the attack surface that attackers can exploit.
Initially, organizations used manual methods to address known security weaknesses, but as technology and cyber threats evolved, a more automated and comprehensive approach became necessary. However, legacy vulnerability management tools were designed primarily for compliance, and modern tools still face prioritization challenges and limited resources, especially in dynamic and agile cloud environments.
Modern vulnerability management integrates security tools such as scanners, threat intelligence and remediation workflows to provide a more efficient and effective solution. However, organizations continue to face challenges such as:
- A growing list of vulnerabilities
- Inaccurate prioritization
- The business context is missing
- Misalignment of priorities and resources between IT and security teams
- Lack of coverage and unified view of risk
Exposures are broader than a typical CVE and can encompass more than just vulnerabilities. Exposures can result from a variety of factors, including human error, poorly defined security controls, and poorly designed and insecure architecture. Many security tools tend to focus on specific types of exposure, such as vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or identities, and address each in isolation. However, this approach does not take into account how attackers view networks and systems. Attackers don’t look at individual exposure, they take advantage of it toxic combination of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, overly permissive identities and other security gaps to move between systems and reach sensitive assets. This route is called an attack path, and this type of lateral movement can go undetected for weeks or months, allowing attackers to cause significant and sustained damage while hiding within networks.
A modern exposure management program involves combining multiple exposures into an attack graph to understand the relationship and context of risk to critical assets. This allows for targeted remediation that reduces risk in the most cost-effective way. To build a modern exhibition management programorganizations should recognize the evolution of threat actors and their tactics, establish an operational process to ensure continuous improvement of the security posture, and implement a plan that consists of remediation planning, review of remediation, risk mitigation and mitigation verification.
At XM Cyber, we believe that only by combining multiple exposures together into an attack graph that visualizes all possible attack paths, can we understand the relationship and context of risk to critical assets. And if we understand the context, we can accurately prioritize issues to focus on the exposures that need to be remedied where they converge. choke points. This allows for productive remediation that reduces risk in the most cost-effective way.
The three key pillars for building a modern exhibition management program are:
- Understanding exposure information: Continuously identify and monitor potential risks to critical assets, as well as gaps in security controls or deviations from compliance standards.
- Attack Path Analysis: Create an attack graph view that visualizes all possible attack paths to critical assets.
- Prioritize remediation efforts: Focus on the most critical issues and choke points that require immediate attention to reduce risk exposure in a cost-effective manner.
By combining these three pillars, organizations can create a comprehensive and effective exposure management program that helps protect critical assets and reduce overall risk exposure. This allows for productive remediation that reduces risk in the most cost-effective way. By continuously analyzing and monitoring exposures, organizations can create a sustainable and scalable process for managing risk over time.
Note: This article is written and contributed by Michael A. Greenberg, Director of Product Marketing at XM Cyber.
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The digital world is evolving rapidly, and one of the most important developments is the move towards exposure management. Companies must now become mindful of how they manage their public image, as even a single misstep can have an irreversible impact on their reputation. Ikaroa – a full stack tech company – specializes in helping organizations shift towards an exposure management mindset in order to minimize risks and maximize positive outcomes.
Ikaroa strives to keep organizations out of the public eye should anything potentially troublesome arise. They employ a wide array of strategies and techniques, from content moderation to proactive reputation monitoring. Their services are tailored to the needs of each client, ensuring the most effective solution for their specific circumstances.
The exposure management process begins with defining the company’s desired public image. Knowing what type of content should be presented to the public and how it should be presented will shape the rest of the process. Once a desired public image has been determined, Ikaroa can begin moderating content and conducting reputation monitoring. This entails them reviewing a company’s output, both on- and offline, to ensure all content abides by the desired public image. This may require the removal of certain content, or it may require suggestions on how to improve the presentation of the content.
It is also important to remain cognizant of the public’s opinion of the company. Ikaroa offers a variety of services to do just that, from tracking public sentiment on social media to monitoring unfavorable indicators such as complaints about products or services. Through this, Ikaroa can help companies quickly respond to potential threats to their image before any real damage is done.
In the digital age, exposure management has become critical to managing and maintaining a successful public image. Companies must remain diligent in their efforts to ensure they are presenting the image they desire, as well as monitoring public sentiment. Ikaroa can provide a comprehensive solution to these exposure management needs, offering everything from content moderation to reputation monitoring. By doing so, they can help companies realize their full potential in the digital world.
