With the digital-first world today, each employee, bit of software, cloud service, and device is an open entryway to cyber attackers. With each expansion of business and addition of technology, a company’s attack surface expands and that is where Attack Surface Management (ASM) comes in.
In this post, we’ll throw some light on what is Attack Surface Management, why it’s important, and how your business can utilize it to be ahead of the security threat.
What is an Attack Surface?
Before we move on to management, let’s define what the “attack surface” really is.
Your attack surface is the total of all of those locations where an unauthorized user (i.e., a hacker) would attempt to get in or extract information from your systems. They include:
- Web sites and web applications
- Cloud infrastructure
- APIs
- Servers
- IoT devices
- Remote worker devices
- Third-party integrations
Now consider all those assets growing day by day, typically beyond central control. That’s an enormous risk! The work of keeping this constantly shifting landscape in check is Attack Surface Management.
So, What is Attack Surface Management?
Attack Surface Management (ASM) is the ongoing process of discovery, analysis, prioritization, and mitigation of possible vulnerabilities within all your digital assets—known and unknown.
Imagine it as the cybersecurity version of walking around your home and shutting every door and window… but all day, every day, with automated software.
Why Does ASM Matter in Cybersecurity?
The bigger your company is online, the bigger your attack surface is. And the hackers are always looking for weaknesses.
That’s why Attack Surface Management matters:
1.Continuous Asset Discovery
You can’t protect what you don’t realize you have. Attack Surface Management tools keep scanning your ecosystem to alert you of:
- New web applications
- Undisclosed subdomains
- Mistyped cloud storage buckets
- Open APIs
- Asset discovery creates a catalog of real-time for everything that is connected to your company.
2. Real-Time Risk Detection
ASM continually searches for vulnerabilities on your attack surface. Unpatched software, unsecured ports, or poor passwords are a few things that ASM marks in advance for hackers to discover.
3. Prevention Is Better Than Reaction
Security has always responded after an attack has already been in progress. ASM is not a reactive system and assists you in finding weaknesses before they turn into incidents. This can prevent your company from being struck with data breaches, legal repercussions, and loss of reputation.
4. Increased Compliance
With regulatory compliances such as GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, businesses are required to have secure digital assets. ASM helps with regulatory compliances through helping you document, track, and keep everything that comes under risk management.
What Does Attack Surface Management Include?
Examples of what a solid ASM strategy typically includes:
- Asset Discovery (External & Internal)
Documenting all domains, subdomains, IP, servers, apps, and services for your business.
- Vulnerability Scanning
Scanning all assets in real-time for vulnerabilities like misconfigurations or unpixed apps.
- Risk Prioritization
Not every vulnerability is high-risk. ASM tools are prioritized by exploitability, severity, and business impact so your team can address the most critical issues first.
- Threat Intelligence Integration
ASM is even more powerful when augmented with threat intelligence giving context to vulnerabilities based on what is being exploited in the wild today.
- Remediation Workflow
It is simple to find vulnerabilities but more difficult to remediate. ASM platforms are likely to be integrated with ticketing systems so your security and IT team can close the loop.
Common Issues in Your Attack Surface Management
Even with fantastic tools, a number of the issues businesses see:
- Shadow IT: Your end users are able to install malicious apps or use their own devices, hiding threats.
- Cloud Misconfigurations: Misconfigured servers or cloud storage will put your sensitive data in plain sight for all to see.
- Third-Party Risk: Attack surface can be threatened by partners or vendors, thus expanding the attack surface.
- Rapid Digital Expansion: Newly added applications or services without security scans create new avenues for the attackers.
These vulnerabilities end up being realized too late in the absence of a good ASM strategy.
Real-World Case Study: The SolarWinds Breach
Arguably the latest, and definitely one of the most disastrous, cyber breaches the SolarWinds supply chain attack did rather graphically show the raw necessity of excellent Attack Surface Management.
Here, malware code was inserted by the attackers in SolarWinds’ Orion software, which was installed by over 30,000 organizations, ranging from Fortune 500 firms to U.S. government institutions. Following the installation of tainted software, unauthorized access for hackers was gained into classified networks and information.
In this instance, the hackers inserted malicious code into SolarWinds’ Orion software, which had been installed by over 30,000 organizations, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to U.S. government entities. Upon installing infected software, hackers’ unauthorized access to classified networks and data was gained.
If it had been present a solid ASM system that was constantly on the lookout for suspicious software activity or unusual software changes, the incident would have been caught earlier before its mass impact.
Statistics of ASM & Cyber Risk Today
The worth of ASM is exemplified in solid statistics:
A study by Gartner reveals that by 2026, the companies that integrate ASM into their overall cybersecurity approach will minimize security breaches by 60% compared to the others.
The Ponemon Institute’s 2024 study finds that 43% of the companies owned at least one online digital asset in regard to which they were not cognizant.
In 2023, the average breach cost was $4.45 million, IBM Security’s Cost of a Data Breach Report discovered.
They share in the ways in which unmanaged digital assets drive up levels of risk—and the way that ASM mitigates that risk in real time.
Attack Surface Management in Action: A Brief Example
Imagine a marketing team building a campaign microsite. Thrown together in a hurry, launched, and abandoned when the campaign end date arrives.
A year later, the site remains active—spreading outdated software and storing customer form information. No one’s even noticed.
Imagine instead a hacker finding that site with a web scanner, loading malware, and getting access to your customer information.
With ASM implemented, the system would have identified the new location, scanned for vulnerabilities, and alerted the security team prior to any problem arising.
Deeper Dive into ASM Tools
Below is a closer look at some of the best Attack Surface Management solutions:
Palo Alto Cortex Xpanse
Ongoing scanning of the global web for your organization’s internet-facing assets and live threat detection.
CyCognito
Automatic discovery and scoring of unmanaged and shadow IT assets, such as third-party exposures.
Randori Recon
Developed by offensive security engineers, Randori discovers the most desirable targets like an actual hacker would.
These tools don’t just scan—They deliver actionable intelligence that enables teams to act faster and smarter.
Extended Best Practices for ASM
Some extra practices to enhance your digital defenses:
Integrate ASM into SIEM Systems
Send ASM notifications to your SIEM system for faster analysis and correlation.
Perform Red Team Exercises
Recreate real-world attacks to detect blind spots in your attack surface.
Prepare a Response Plan
Make your team document and rehearse an incident response plan when ASM picks up vulnerabilities.
Use Automation
Manual asset tracking is inadequate in the high-speed world today. Leverage automated ASM tools for real-time tracking.
Zero Trust Architecture
Trust no device or user. It is to minimize any potential exposure coming from a compromised asset.
Third-Party Integration Monitoring
Vendors are usually the blind spot. Include them in your attack surface scanning.
Conclusion
Since cyberattacks are no longer a matter of if but when, the ability to visualize and manage your attack surface in real-time is no longer optional it’s essential.
Attack Surface Management stays ahead of the threat curve, actively reducing risk and securing every corner of your digital ecosystem. Whether you’re a growing start-up or a global enterprise, investing in ASM is a vital step toward building a resilient, future-proof cybersecurity strategy.
Now is the time to take control of your expanding online presence. Implementing Attack Surface Management today ensures your business stays protected tomorrow.
Stay safe. Stay secure.
