CISO’s Comprehensive Guide to CTEM and Its Significance

As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, organizations must ensure their defensive strategies remain cutting-edge. A newly released free guide highlights Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) as a proactive cybersecurity approach. Access it here.

This succinct report provides compelling evidence for why CTEM offers a comprehensive strategy for strengthening cyber defenses against evolving attack methodologies. It features a practical scenario detailing how a business could withstand a formjacking attack under three different security approaches: Vulnerability Management (VM), Attack Surface Management (ASM), and CTEM. The report indicates that a VM approach may allow threats to linger undetected for weeks, while CTEM utilizes simulated attacks to disable threats before they materialize.

Importantly, the guide emphasizes that CTEM can augment existing VM and ASM systems rather than necessitating their elimination, enabling businesses to build upon their current cybersecurity framework.

To provide clarity—

Understanding CTEM

In response to the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats, Gartner introduced Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) in 2022 as a proactive approach to security. The framework encompasses a five-step sequence designed to enhance organizational defense.

Limitations of VM and ASM

The holistic methodology of CTEM enables security teams to evaluate both internal and external hazards and respond based on organizational priorities. Traditional VM practices are often reactive, concentrating solely on identifying and rectifying known vulnerabilities within the internal ecosystem. While valuable for immediate responses, these systems fail to account for evolving threats. ASM extends visibility to external assets but lacks the continuous validation mechanisms necessary for effective resilience, as outlined in the report.

By integrating the strengths of both VM and ASM, CTEM introduces continuous monitoring, threat validation, attack simulations, penetration testing, and risk prioritization aligned with business objectives.

Business Relevance of CTEM

For Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), it is imperative to prioritize security measures in accordance with business impact. Given the dynamic nature of modern web applications, security teams cannot feasibly block every minor alteration without risking functionality. CTEM aims to balance the competing imperatives of risk management and cost by prioritizing the threat factors that pose the greatest potential harm. A company’s acceptable level of risk, referred to as its risk appetite, can be more effectively managed using a CTEM solution that aligns with its specific risk tolerance.

As a mature and robust strategy for navigating today’s intricate threat landscape, CTEM not only enhances security in a cost-effective manner but also demands a strategic approach to implementation. Various CTEM solutions available on the market can meet some or all of the implementation stages outlined in the downloadable PDF. A comprehensive solution should inventory all assets within an organization’s digital infrastructure, monitor for indicators of Magecart, ransomware, and other threats, provide timely alerts that correspond to the organization’s risk appetite, and assist with compliance monitoring.

Explore the details provided in the guide to understand how CTEM can proactively safeguard your business against formjacking, ransomware, and advanced threats. Download the guide today.