The origin of “Cyber Exposure Management” can be traced back to the nascent stages of cybersecurity, which was predominantly based on reactive, patch-based approach. Vulnerability assessments emerged as a precursor to contemporary cyber exposure management, aimed at identifying weaknesses in Network, Cloud, Applications, Data & People to name a few.
However, throughout the evolution of cyber exposure management, the cybersecurity landscape has been marked by a perpetual cat-and-mouse game with hackers. Just as vulnerabilities were identified and addressed, hackers developed new methods to breach defences.
The term “Cyber Exposure Management” need not remain an enigma for enterprises. By taking systematic approach, organizations can bridge gap between the buzzword, and reality of effective cyber readiness.
Fundamentally, it is a cybersecurity practice that helps organizations identify and reduce their attack surface. An attack surface is the sum of all the weaknesses or vulnerabilities in an IT environment that could be exploited by cyber threats. Exposure management involves mapping the digital attack surface, assessing the cyber risk exposure, and implementing strategies to address the security risks on on-going basis.
Embracing the steps mentioned below will not only demystify exposure management but also empower organizations to proactively mitigate risks and protect their digital assets in an increasingly complex threat landscape.