What is attack surface management?

Attack surface management refers to the process of identifying, analyzing, and reducing the potential vulnerabilities or entry points that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s systems, applications, or data. It involves taking a comprehensive inventory of all assets, both internal and external, that could be targeted by an attacker and then systematically evaluating and mitigating any security risks associated with them.

The goal of attack surface management is to minimize the likelihood of successful cyber attacks by reducing the overall attack surface, which can include anything from network ports and services to web applications and endpoints. This process helps organizations to better understand their security posture, identify potential weaknesses, and prioritize remediation efforts to reduce the risk of cyber attacks. 

By managing the attack surface effectively, organizations can improve their overall security posture and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.

Attack Surface Management vs. Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability management and attack surface management may sound similar, but there are subtle differences in what each practice accomplishes. 

Attack surface management involves understanding a system’s architecture, components, and data flows, then analyzing how attackers would use that information to gain access to it. 

Vulnerability management differs slightly. It’s the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating only the vulnerabilities in a system, network, or application. Vulnerability management is part of attack surface management and does not serve as a substitute. 

Learn how attack surface management can better secure your organization.