Amid a quickly maturing digital world, industry and government alike are contending with cyber threats that legacy security strategies can no longer defend against. Gartner published their Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) framework in 2022. This new, cutting-edge, and data-driven practice fundamentally changes the way we address vulnerabilities and exposure. CTEM provides a more fluid, ongoing process to detect and eliminate risks. Unlike the traditional 30/60/90-day model that remediates vulnerabilities months later, CTEM stops them from being exploited in the first place.
By tracking the security status of key assets in real time, CTEM allows organizations to anticipate advanced cyber threats. This change represents a seismic shift away from the old-school periodic assessment model. With the growing complexity and speed of cyberattacks, businesses need proactive measures to protect their sensitive data and operations effectively.
The Limitations of the 30/60/90-Day Model
In a typical 30/60/90-day cybersecurity remediation plan, teams focus on critical and high-risk vulnerabilities in the first 30 days. They must remediate medium-risk vulnerabilities within 60 days and low-risk ones within 90 days. While this method has served organizations in the past, it is increasingly inadequate against the backdrop of rapidly evolving threats.
When cyber adversaries are just a click away and increasingly sophisticated, trusting a static timeline can expose your most vital assets to threats for long durations of time. All vulnerabilities are not equally risky, with some vulnerabilities potentially representing a much greater risk to critical business operations than others. At the same time, the 30/60/90-day model doesn’t consider the ever-changing nature of the threat landscape, with new vulnerabilities popping up every day.
CTEM gets that the clock is ticking and fast responses are important. By focusing on vulnerabilities in real-time, organizations can prioritize their efforts based on the potential impact on their business-critical assets. This forward-leaning method improves security and allows resources to be allocated most efficiently.
The Five Steps of CTEM
CTEM is founded on five core steps that serve as a roadmap for organizations to successfully execute continuous threat exposure management. Step one, Scoping, is about outlining the assets, systems, and processes that are critical to the business and thus worthy of protection. Identity management This foundational pre-screening step is critical to making sure that organizations know what they need to protect within their unique operational landscape.
The second step, Validation, is all about checking your security efforts in place today and knowing what they do and don’t cover. Organizations then proceed through the other three steps—Assessment, Remediation and Monitoring—each focused on securing vulnerabilities from every angle.
By taking these measures, CTEM fits right into organizations’ existing security toolset and workflow. This powerful integration gives users a complete picture of the global threat landscape. It gives organizations the tools to make strategic changes in real time as new risks and opportunities emerge.
A Game-Changer in Cybersecurity
CTEM is a tremendous step forward in cybersecurity practices. By moving away from periodic assessments toward a continuous model, organizations can maintain an ongoing awareness of their security posture. This change allows them to quickly react to new threats as they arise, all while reducing their attack surface.
CTEM is distinctive for its proactive approach. This enables organizations to focus their time and money on their biggest weaknesses, making sure key assets receive the proper treatment. The reality is cyber threats are more sophisticated and pervasive by the day. Embracing CTEM will be a major force multiplier for organizations serious about defending their digital ecosystems.