Your Expanding Attack Surface: What It Means and How to Defend It

The digital landscape your business operates in is rapidly changing, and so is your attack surface – it’s not just growing, it’s exploding.

According to Jupiter One’s 2023 State of Cyber Asset Report, cloud attack surfaces have surged by an astonishing 600%. That’s six times more opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities and wreak havoc.

This explosive growth shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve been following cybersecurity trends. The rise of IoT devices, SaaS applications, remote work setups, and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies has opened up countless new points of entry for attackers. And hackers? They’re capitalizing on every single one of them.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by this ever-expanding attack surface. With a proactive approach called Attack Surface Management (ASM), you can identify, monitor, and secure your vulnerabilities before hackers strike. Let’s break it down step by step, so you can take control.

Understanding Your Attack Surface and How to Protect It

Your attack surface is essentially every possible way a hacker could gain access to your organization. Think of it as your digital fortress: every door, window, and weak spot in the walls represents a potential vulnerability. Hackers are constantly searching for these entry points, and the larger your attack surface, the harder it becomes to defend.

Here’s what makes up an attack surface:

• Digital assets: Servers, websites, applications – anything connected to the internet.
• Devices: Laptops, smartphones, printers, and other hardware.
• Social engineering: When hackers exploit your employees through phishing emails, scam calls, or ransomware attacks.

With the number of devices, applications, and connections increasing, your attack surface is likely growing faster than you think. Let’s dive deeper into each category.

Categories of Attack Surfaces

Digital Attack Surface

This encompasses all assets that are exposed to the internet. Examples include:

• Servers
• Laptops and desktop computers
• Databases
• Websites and web applications

Each of these assets can become a potential entry point if not properly secured. For instance, an outdated server or a database with poor security settings could provide an open door for hackers. Ensuring these assets are regularly updated and monitored is essential.

Device Attack Surface

Your physical devices play a critical role in your organization’s security. Examples include:

• Mobile devices and tablets
• Printers and copiers
• Security cameras
• Routers

A compromised device, like an unencrypted mobile phone or a printer with outdated firmware, can be exploited to bypass digital defenses. Each device must be securely configured and regularly checked for vulnerabilities.

Social Engineering Attack Surface

Unlike the other categories, this one targets your people instead of your technology. Hackers use psychological manipulation to trick employees into revealing sensitive information. Examples include:

• Phishing emails
• Fraudulent phone calls
• Scam websites
• Ransomware attacks

These attacks rely on human error, making training and awareness crucial to defending against them.

The Growing Impact of an Expanding Attack Surface

As attack surfaces grow, the challenges for businesses become more significant:

• Increased vulnerability: More entry points mean more opportunities for hackers to find weaknesses.
• Higher complexity: Managing the security of hundreds or thousands of devices, applications, and systems can feel overwhelming.
• Rapid attacks: Hackers use automated tools to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in hours.

According to Randori’s State of Attack Surface Management 2022, 67% of organizations reported substantial growth in their attack surface between 2020 and 2022. Unfortunately, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are often prime targets because they may lack the resources for comprehensive cybersecurity measures.

So, how do you protect something so vast and ever-changing?

How Attack Surface Management (ASM) Can Help

Attack Surface Management (ASM) is like hiring a locksmith and a security guard for your digital fortress. ASM helps you identify, monitor, and fix vulnerabilities across your systems. Here’s how it works:

1. Think like a hacker: ASM examines your systems the same way hackers do, searching for weak spots like outdated software, unsecured devices, or easy-to-guess passwords.
2. Simulated attacks: Ethical hackers test your defenses by simulating real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities.
3. Continuous monitoring: ASM is an ongoing process that adapts to new threats and changes in your systems, ensuring you’re always protected.

Why Every SMB Needs ASM

You might be wondering, “Do small businesses really need this?” The answer is yes, and here’s why:

• Hidden vulnerabilities: Shadow IT – unauthorized devices or software used without your IT team’s knowledge – can create significant security risks.
• Fast-moving threats: Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities within hours using automated tools.
• Real consequences: A survey by MIT Technology Review Insights found that 50% of organizations have experienced attacks on unknown or unmanaged assets.

If you don’t know about a vulnerability, you can’t protect against it.

The Four Steps of ASM

ASM simplifies attack surface management into four key steps to keep your systems safe:

1. Discovery

Your IT team or Managed Service Provider (MSP) scans your systems to identify all assets, including:

• Known assets: Devices and systems already managed by your IT team.
• Unknown assets: Shadow IT devices or software connected to your network without approval.
• Rogue assets: Malicious assets like phishing websites or malware discovered in your environment.

3. Classification

After assets are identified, they’re categorized based on function, connectivity, and potential risk. For example:

• What is the asset’s purpose?
• Does it connect to other devices or systems?
• Is it critical for business operations?

3. Prioritization

Not all vulnerabilities are equally dangerous. ASM prioritizes assets based on their risk level. High-risk assets, such as outdated software or unsecured databases, are addressed first. Factors include:

• Ease of recovery: How quickly can the asset be restored after an attack?
• Ease of exploitation: How easily can hackers compromise the asset?
• Attacker priority: Is this asset a high-value target for cybercriminals?

4. Remediation

Finally, vulnerabilities are addressed and resolved. This could involve updating software, strengthening passwords, or removing unnecessary devices from the network.

Practical Steps to Reduce Your Attack Surface

While ASM is crucial, there are immediate steps you can take to improve your security:

1. Minimize devices: Use only the hardware and software essential for your operations.
2. Update regularly: Ensure all devices, applications, and systems are running the latest security patches.
3. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of protection to your logins.
4. Train employees: Educate your team on recognizing phishing scams and other common threats.
5. Adopt a zero-trust mindset: Always verify users and devices before granting access.

Your Next Move

Your attack surface will only grow as your business expands, but you don’t have to face the challenge alone. By partnering with an MSP like [t20-copmany-name], you gain access to expert support and a tailored ASM strategy. We’ll help you monitor your systems, secure your assets, and stay ahead of emerging threats.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact [t20-copmany-name] today to take the first step toward protecting your business.