Continuous security monitoring (or CSM) refers to the uninterrupted mapping, analyzing, and management of an organization’s digital ecosystem — revealing their security posture. In this blog, we will discuss how CSM is used by organizations to understand their IT footprint and improve their security programs.
Why is continuous security monitoring important?
The ‘continuous’ design of this modern approach to cyber security allows organizations to track, identify, and protect their digital assets around the clock. Such a level of surveillance and visibility is especially important for organizations today in light of the increased reliance on devices and the transmission of data. The rapid digital growth we face is overwhelming, so equipping your organization with the right risk-based approach is critical — not only its protection against threats but also its development.
At a time when security breaches are becoming a norm, CSM is an increasingly favored approach to risk-management among many companies and security vendors due to its proactive nature. Up to 88% of UK companies have suffered a breach in the last year — costing enterprises an average of $3.88 million per breach. As a solution, CSM provides organizations confidence in their digital infrastructure, ultimately allowing them to protect against future cyber attacks through constant observation.
Continuous attack surface monitoring
Attack surface management is a common example of a CSM program. This process analyzes your attack surface (threat landscape) to provide real-time visibility and immediately alert you of any changes to your digital environment, allowing for quicker remediation of risks. Accessing such metrics is highly beneficial — helping you understand your live security posture. Because attack surfaces are constantly evolving, the uninterrupted analysis provided by CSM offers a level of surveillance that more traditional security solutions can’t compete with.
Continuous asset discovery tools
Asset discovery tools are another popular method of CSM. This approach allows you to discover, identify, understand, and use passive inventory for all assets in your digital environment (including those unknown to you) that contain and transmit sensitive data, such as web applications, email servers, and IP addresses.
As your online environment is constantly growing and evolving, it is crucial to monitor and manage your assets accurately. Informer uses a vast range of open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques, mimicking an attacker’s approach, to locate online assets you didn’t know you had — and our geolocation of assets is accurate to 99%.
Continuous vulnerability discovery tools
Vulnerabilities and configuration issues can be introduced at any time, expanding your attack surface and can be easily exploited by attackers. So, using automated vulnerability discovery allows you to determine where your vulnerabilities lie and resolve them as soon as they are discovered. Informer allows you to prioritize these for remediation, making the management process much more efficient.
Continuous security monitoring and compliance
It is not just about meeting industry standards anymore, more regulations are toughening and organizations must react accordingly. CSM helps security professionals build robust strategies using real-time and data-driven insights. So, it is increasingly used for security decisions, as well as ensuring compliance with data regulations. In fact, the New York Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act mandates a continuous monitoring solution is in place for all businesses that own or license the information of any New York resident to comply.
Continuous security monitoring and scalability
Scalability is also an important factor to consider when thinking about different approaches to cyber security. Innovative features like rapid asset discovery mean that attack vectors can be dealt with immediately. Informer’s cutting-edge discovery system scales with your environment as it evolves. With platforms like this available, business growth doesn’t need to be a security concern.
Final thoughts
Inadequate security strategies can be detrimental for businesses of all sizes, invoking substantial financial and reputational repercussions. A forward-thinking approach is essential, and companies must consider security as a priority. As well as being prepared for the future, having a continuous security strategy in place also provides a competitive advantage.
Informer’s single SaaS solution gives you the opportunity to view your external evolving attack surface and understand your online health. CSM offers a business-critical aspect to building a comprehensive plan to deal with inevitable and mounting risks.
Originally published at https://www.informer.io.
