Oren is the Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Veriti, a security platform that enhances the value of existing security stacks by consolidating them. In the world of cybersecurity, exposures are increasingly important, with a large majority of breaches involving external actors. Organizations are shifting their focus from vulnerabilities and security gaps to understanding and remedying exposures to protect their assets. But how can leaders stay ahead of the curve and effectively manage these exposures?
Gartner predicts that by 2026, organizations prioritizing security investments based on Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) programs will see a two-thirds reduction in breaches. Implementing a CTEM program that continuously monitors digital environments allows security leaders to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities to prevent breaches. Threat exposure management involves a cycle of identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security exposures, with the key to success being prioritizing what needs protection.
After identifying exposures, the remediation phase is crucial to exposure management. Many organizations struggle to transition from identification to action, as they may be cautious about mobilizing resources or disrupting day-to-day operations. True exposure management means not just identifying vulnerabilities but effectively addressing them. Businesses must take actionable steps towards remediation to maintain cybersecurity.
Best practices for effective remediation include assessing exposures, vulnerabilities, and security control configurations, identifying all remediation paths, investigating the root cause of exposures, and verifying for business continuity. Remediation efforts should focus on addressing vulnerabilities promptly to reduce the risk of exploitation by hackers and minimize potential impacts on organizational assets and operations. Effective remediation is essential for ensuring business resilience in the face of cyber threats, closing the loop on threat exposure management.
Forbes Technology Council is an exclusive community for top CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. This article highlights the importance of understanding and remediating security exposures to protect organizational assets effectively. By implementing a Continuous Threat Exposure Management program and following best practices for remediation, organizations can reduce the risk of breaches and maintain business continuity in the face of cyber threats. Leaders must prioritize exposure management to stay ahead in the evolving cybersecurity landscape and protect their organizations from external actors.
