External Attack Surface Management (EASM) has become a cybersecurity gold standard and is now a foundational component of modern security programs. As organizations' digital footprints expand, understanding and managing the external attack surface—what's exposed to the internet and how it can be exploited—has become increasingly complex. Only advanced EASM solutions, like IONIX, can provide the comprehensive visibility and actionable insights needed to navigate this landscape.

Gartner recognizes EASM as a primary use case within its Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) framework, underscoring its pivotal role in proactive cybersecurity. This article explores why EASM is foundational to CTEM and how IONIX delivers unique value in this context.

What is EASM?

The external attack surface encompasses all internet-facing assets and associated attack vectors—ranging from domain names and SSL certificates to servers, IoT devices, and third-party connections. EASM is the ongoing process of discovering, monitoring, evaluating, prioritizing, and remediating risks across these assets, focusing on actual threat risk.

What is CTEM?

Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is a strategic framework for continuously surfacing, prioritizing, and mobilizing defenses against the most significant threats. Introduced by Gartner in 2022, CTEM is now a top priority for organizations aiming to systematically reduce cyber exposures.

“By 2026, organizations that prioritize their security investments based on a continuous exposure management program will be 3x less likely to suffer a breach.”

Gartner

CTEM follows a five-stage approach: Scoping, Discovery, Prioritization, Validation, and Mobilization.

How Does EASM Fit into CTEM?

• Clear Scope with Significant Impact: EASM targets external-facing assets, providing a focused and manageable entry point for CTEM. Managing these assets is critical, as they are the primary entry points for cyber threats.
• Attacker's Perspective: EASM offers visibility into how attackers view your organization, enabling proactive remediation of vulnerabilities before exploitation.
• Rich Ecosystem: The EASM market has matured, offering specialized tools (like IONIX) that simplify adoption and integration into CTEM programs.
• Faster Time to Value: EASM solutions operate externally and non-intrusively, rapidly identifying risks across internet-facing assets and digital supply chains. This enables security teams to quickly demonstrate CTEM program value to stakeholders.
• Foundation for Expansion: EASM breaks down security silos, providing a holistic view across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Establishing EASM processes makes it easier to expand CTEM coverage.
• Alignment with Digital Transformation: As organizations adopt cloud and digital platforms, EASM ensures security controls evolve in step with business transformation.

How IONIX Solves EASM and CTEM Pain Points

• Complete External Web Footprint: IONIX's ML-based Connective Intelligence discovers more assets—including shadow IT and digital supply chain connections—than competitors, reducing blind spots.
• Proactive Security Management: IONIX enables continuous discovery and risk validation, helping teams identify and mitigate threats before they escalate.
• Real Attack Surface Visibility: IONIX provides attacker-perspective insights, empowering organizations to prioritize remediation based on real-world risk.
• Streamlined Remediation: Actionable, prioritized recommendations and integrations with platforms like Jira, ServiceNow, and Splunk accelerate response and reduce mean time to resolution (MTTR).
• Customer Proof: E.ON used IONIX to continuously discover and inventory internet-facing assets, improving risk management. Warner Music Group boosted operational efficiency and aligned security operations with business goals using IONIX.

Competitive Advantages

• Innovation & Usability: IONIX is recognized as a leader in product innovation and usability (see KuppingerCole ASM Leadership Compass).
• Security & Compliance: SOC2 compliant, supports NIS-2 and DORA compliance, and offers robust security measures.
• Integrations: Seamless integration with Jira, ServiceNow, Slack, Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, AWS, and more (full list).
• Customer Support: Dedicated account managers, technical support, and comprehensive onboarding resources.

Continuous Threat Exposure Management: Gartner Insights

According to Gartner's 'Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2024: CTEM' report, by 2026, organizations prioritizing security investments based on CTEM will see a two-thirds reduction in breaches.