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What’s the Difference Between Vulnerability Management and Exposure Management?

Published on:

Monday, May 27, 2024

By Danial

In cybersecurity, two terms—vulnerability management and exposure management—sound like they’re playing the same game. But nope, they’re actually teammates with different positions.

Think of it like owning both a cat and a dog. Sure, they’re both pets, but you wouldn’t treat them the same, right? Let’s dive into how these two cybersecurity strategies differ, and when to bring each one off the bench.


Vulnerability Management: Fixing Internal Weaknesses

Vulnerability management targets internal risks—things like unpatched software or misconfigurations. It’s an ongoing process that includes:

  1. Asset Discovery – List your digital treasures.

  2. Vulnerability Scanning – Spot the cracks.

  3. Risk Assessment – Decide how bad those cracks are.

  4. Remediation – Patch them up!

  5. Continuous Monitoring – Keep an eye on things.

The goal? To minimize internal weaknesses attackers could exploit.


Exposure Management: Securing Your Attack Surface

While vulnerability management looks inward, exposure management looks outward, focusing on risks from how your systems are exposed to external threats.

The process includes:

  1. Asset Inventory – Note what’s exposed to the outside world.

  2. Attack Surface Mapping – Identify your weak spots (e.g., open doors).

  3. Continuous Monitoring – Track any changes to these entry points.

  4. Exposure Assessment – How likely is someone to exploit these?

  5. Mitigation – Strengthen your defenses (firewalls, better locks).

Exposure management looks at the bigger picture—your organization’s external risks.


Vulnerability vs. Exposure Management: Key Differences

Feature Vulnerability Management Exposure Management Focus Internal weaknesses External risks Goal Fixing internal vulnerabilities Minimizing external exposure Key Activities Vulnerability scanning, patching Attack surface mapping, threat analysis Prioritization Based on vulnerability severity Based on threat likelihood and impact Outcome Reduced system vulnerabilities Reduced exposure to external threats

Both are crucial for strong cybersecurity.


When to Focus on Each

  • Go with vulnerability management when internal weaknesses are your top worry (think unpatched software).

  • Focus on exposure management when outside threats—like open ports—keep you up at night.

Ideally, both should work together to protect your organization from all angles.


The Future: Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)

As threats evolve, continuous, proactive management becomes critical. Enter Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). This framework continuously monitors internal and external risks in real time, helping organizations reduce breaches by up to two-thirds by 2026, according to Gartner.


Conclusion:

Both vulnerability and exposure management are essential for a strong cybersecurity strategy. By using both together, you can create a holistic defense against ever-evolving threats.

Stay Ahead of Threats!

Want more insights on how to strengthen your security strategy?

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Continuously watching out for security flaws

Copyright © 2024 Flawtrack Sdn. Bhd.
All Rights Reserved

Continuously watching out for security flaws

Copyright © 2024 Flawtrack Sdn. Bhd.
All Rights Reserved

Continuously watching out for security flaws

Copyright © 2024 Flawtrack Sdn. Bhd.
All Rights Reserved