Attack surface management (ASM) is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating the security risks associated with an organization’s attack surface. The attack surface is the sum of all potential ways that an attacker can gain access to an organization’s systems and data.

ASM is an important part of any comprehensive security program. By identifying and mitigating security risks, ASM can help to prevent costly data breaches and other security incidents.

What is Attack Surface Management?

Attack surface management is a continuous process that includes the following steps:

  1. Identifying the attack surface: The first step in ASM is to identify all of the potential ways that an attacker can gain access to an organization’s systems and data. This includes identifying all of the organization’s assets, such as computers, networks, applications, and data. It also includes identifying all of the organization’s external facing services, such as websites and web applications.
  2. Assessing the attack surface: Once the attack surface has been identified, it needs to be assessed to determine the level of risk associated with each asset or service. This assessment should consider the following factors:
    • The value of the asset or service
    • The likelihood that it could be attacked
    • The impact of an attack
  3. Mitigating the attack surface: Once the attack surface has been assessed, it needs to be mitigated to reduce the level of risk. This can be done by implementing security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access controls. It can also be done by educating employees about security best practices.

The Benefits of Attack Surface Management

There are a number of benefits to implementing ASM, including:

  • Reduced risk of data breaches: ASM can help to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers to steal data.
  • Increased compliance: ASM can help you to meet security compliance requirements, such as those mandated by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
  • Improved customer confidence: By demonstrating that you are taking steps to protect your organization from attack, you can improve customer confidence.

The Challenges of Attack Surface Management

There are a number of challenges associated with ASM, including:

  • Complexity: ASM can be a complex and time-consuming process.
  • Cost: ASM tools and services can be expensive to purchase and maintain.
  • Lack of resources: Many organizations do not have the resources to implement a comprehensive ASM program.

How to Get Started with Attack Surface Management

If you are new to ASM, there are a number of things you can do to get started, including:

  • Assess your security needs: Before you start implementing ASM, it is important to assess your security needs and determine which assets and services are most at risk.
  • Choose the right tools: There are a number of different ASM tools and services available, so it is important to choose the tools that are right for your needs.
  • Develop a plan: Once you have chosen your tools, you need to develop a plan that outlines how you will implement ASM.
  • Get buy-in from management: ASM is an ongoing process that requires the support of management. It is important to get buy-in from management before you start implementing ASM.

Conclusion

Attack surface management is an important part of any comprehensive security program. By identifying and mitigating security risks, ASM can help to prevent costly data breaches and other security incidents. If you are new to ASM, there are a number of things you can do to get started, including assessing your security needs, choosing the right tools, developing a plan, and getting buy-in from management.