Why You Need to Know Your Digital Attack Surface – and How to Protect It

In a connected world: The digital attack surface is growing rapidly

Companies today use more digital tools and services than ever before – from cloud solutions to APIs to SaaS applications. These technologies offer countless opportunities to optimize business processes and serve customers efficiently. But they also bring with them new risks: a company’s digital attack surface is growing and becoming increasingly difficult to oversee.

What is the digital attack surface?

The digital attack surface includes all externally accessible systems, services, and resources of a company that cybercriminals could potentially exploit. These include:

• Websites and subdomains
• APIs and third-party integrations
• Cloud services and SaaS applications
• IoT devices and industrial control systems (ICS)

Why the Attack Surface Is Hard to Manage

Many companies underestimate the size and complexity of their digital attack surface. Here’s why:

• Shadow IT: Applications and services used without the knowledge of the IT department.
• Complex cloud environments: Dynamically created resources like containers or server instances often go unreviewed for security as they appear and disappear rapidly.
• Global dependencies: APIs and integrations connect systems across the world, introducing additional security risks.

What Happens If You Don’t Know Your Attack Surface?

An unmanaged attack surface can lead to serious consequences:

• Cyberattacks: Attackers often exploit unknown or poorly secured external assets as entry points.
• Data breaches: Misconfigured cloud systems or APIs are among the most common causes of data loss.
• Compliance violations: Companies risk hefty fines if they fail to meet regulatory requirements like GDPR or CCPA.
• Reputation damage: A publicly disclosed data breach can permanently erode the trust of customers and partners.

The Solution: Proactively Managing Your Digital Attack Surface

To effectively protect your business, comprehensive External Attack Surface Management (EASM) is essential. An EASM solution enables companies to:

• Create visibility: Identify all external assets, including previously unknown ones.
• Assess risks: Prioritize vulnerabilities and address them systematically.
• Ensure compliance: Monitor data flows and access points to meet legal obligations.
• Leverage early warning systems: Detect attacks or vulnerabilities before they cause damage.

How We Can Help

Our solution equips you with the tools to proactively manage your digital attack surface:

• Automated discovery: Our platform identifies all external assets in real time.
• Risk assessment: Prioritize vulnerabilities based on their criticality.
• Compliance reporting: Easily adhere to regulations like GDPR or ISO27001.
• Seamless integration: Our solution integrates effortlessly into your existing IT infrastructure.

Security Starts with Transparency

Your digital attack surface is the foundation of a robust security strategy. The more you know about your external assets, the better you can manage risks and protect sensitive data.

Ready to take control of your attack surface?

Learn more about how we can help you—and take the first step toward a secure digital future.