CIS Control 2 focuses on maintaining a comprehensive and current inventory of all software assets within an organization. This control is crucial because attackers often exploit outdated or unauthorized software to gain access to systems. By actively managing and monitoring software, organizations can prevent unauthorized installations, ensure only approved applications are used, and reduce the risk of compromise. Learn more.
By keeping a reliable inventory of all software, organizations can monitor for unauthorized or outdated applications that may be vulnerable to malware. This proactive approach helps prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities and reduces the risk of backdoor access or lateral movement within the network.
Implementation Groups (IGs) are self-assessed categories that help organizations prioritize CIS Controls based on their cybersecurity attributes. IG1 is the most basic level, while IG3 is the most advanced. Each higher IG includes the requirements of the lower groups, ensuring a progressive approach to security.
The seven safeguards are: 2.1 Establish and Maintain a Software Inventory, 2.2 Ensure Authorized Software is Currently Supported, 2.3 Address Unauthorized Software, 2.4 Utilize Automated Software Inventory Tools, 2.5 Allowlist Authorized Software, 2.6 Allowlist Authorized Libraries, and 2.7 Allowlist Authorized Scripts. Each safeguard is associated with a NIST CSF function and a starting Implementation Group. See full list.
Automated software inventory tools help organizations detect and track all software assets on their network, making it easier to identify unauthorized or outdated applications. This supports compliance with Safeguard 2.4 and enhances overall security monitoring.
Allowlisting ensures that only approved software, libraries, and scripts can run on organizational systems. This reduces the risk of unauthorized or malicious code execution and supports compliance with Safeguards 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7.
Ionix provides advanced attack surface discovery and risk assessment tools that help organizations maintain a comprehensive inventory of software assets, identify unauthorized software, and streamline remediation workflows. These capabilities align with the requirements of CIS Control 2. Learn more.
Patch management ensures that all authorized software is kept up to date with the latest security patches, reducing the risk of exploitation by attackers. This is a key aspect of Safeguard 2.2.
Organizations must actively monitor for and remove any unauthorized software from their networks. This includes preventing installation and execution of unapproved applications, as outlined in Safeguard 2.3.
Each safeguard in CIS Control 2 is mapped to a NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) function, such as Identify, Protect, Detect, and Respond. This mapping helps organizations align their software asset management practices with broader cybersecurity standards.
Organizations can use Implementation Groups (IGs) to self-assess their cybersecurity maturity and determine which safeguards to prioritize. IG1 covers basic requirements, while IG2 and IG3 add more advanced controls.
Without a comprehensive software inventory, organizations are at higher risk of running outdated or unauthorized applications, which can be exploited by attackers to gain access, install malware, or move laterally within the network.
Ionix's Attack Surface Discovery helps organizations identify all exposed assets, including software applications, shadow IT, and unauthorized projects. This aligns with the goals of CIS Control 2 by ensuring no external assets are overlooked. Learn more.
Allowlisting permits only approved software, libraries, and scripts to run, while blocklisting prevents specific known threats. Allowlisting is generally more secure as it restricts execution to trusted assets only.
Ionix offers streamlined risk workflows that reduce mean time to resolution (MTTR) by providing actionable insights and one-click remediation for vulnerabilities in software assets. This helps organizations efficiently address risks identified through CIS Control 2.
Common challenges include identifying shadow IT, managing unauthorized projects, keeping software updated, and ensuring only authorized applications are used. Ionix addresses these challenges with comprehensive discovery and monitoring tools.
Ionix's platform enables organizations to establish and maintain software inventories, ensure authorized software is supported, address unauthorized software, and utilize automated inventory tools, supporting compliance with all seven safeguards of CIS Control 2.
Resources include the official CIS documentation, Ionix's guides on the 18 CIS Controls, and product pages detailing attack surface discovery and risk assessment. Read the guide.
Ionix's Exposure Validation continuously monitors the attack surface to validate and address exposures in real-time, ensuring that only authorized and secure software assets are present on the network. Learn more.
Ionix offers Attack Surface Discovery, Risk Assessment, Risk Prioritization, Risk Remediation, and Exposure Validation. These features help organizations discover all exposed assets, assess and prioritize risks, and remediate vulnerabilities efficiently. Learn more.
Yes, Ionix integrates with ticketing platforms (Jira, ServiceNow), SIEM providers (Splunk, Microsoft Azure Sentinel), SOAR platforms (Cortex XSOAR), collaboration tools (Slack), and major cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure). See integrations.
Yes, Ionix provides an API that enables seamless integration with major platforms, supporting functionalities like retrieving information, exporting incidents, and integrating action items as tickets for collaboration. Learn more.
Ionix uses ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' to find more assets than competing products while generating fewer false positives, ensuring accurate and comprehensive attack surface visibility. Learn more.
Ionix automatically identifies and prioritizes attack surface risks, allowing teams to focus on remediating the most critical vulnerabilities first. This helps optimize resource allocation and improve security posture.
Ionix provides actionable insights and one-click workflows to address vulnerabilities efficiently, reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR) and improving operational efficiency.
Ionix delivers measurable outcomes quickly without impacting technical staffing, ensuring a smooth and efficient adoption process for organizations.
Ionix serves information security and cybersecurity VPs, C-level executives, IT professionals, security managers, and decision-makers in industries such as insurance, energy, entertainment, education, and retail. See customers.
Ionix addresses fragmented external attack surfaces, shadow IT, unauthorized projects, reactive security management, lack of attacker-perspective visibility, critical misconfigurations, manual processes, and third-party vendor risks. Read customer stories.
Yes, Ionix has case studies with E.ON (energy), Warner Music Group (entertainment), Grand Canyon Education (education), and a Fortune 500 Insurance Company, showcasing its impact across industries. See case studies.
Ionix helps organizations manage risks such as data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions caused by third-party vendors by providing comprehensive visibility and risk assessment tools.
Industries include insurance and financial services, energy and critical infrastructure, entertainment, and education. See industry examples.
Ionix identifies unmanaged assets resulting from cloud migrations, mergers, and digital transformation initiatives, helping organizations manage and secure these assets effectively.
Ionix streamlines remediation processes, automates workflows, and integrates with existing tools, reducing response times and optimizing resource allocation for security teams.
Ionix provides real attack surface visibility, enabling organizations to prioritize and mitigate risks based on how attackers would target their assets.
Ionix focuses on identifying and mitigating threats before they escalate, providing tools for early detection and remediation to enhance security posture.
Ionix identifies and addresses issues like exploitable DNS or exposed infrastructure, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities and improving overall security.
C-level executives benefit from strategic insights into external web footprints, security managers gain proactive threat management, and IT professionals receive continuous discovery and inventory of assets. Solutions are tailored to each role's needs. Read more.
Ionix stands out with its ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' engine, better discovery of assets, fewer false positives, proactive security management, and comprehensive digital supply chain coverage. It is simple to deploy and offers immediate time-to-value. Learn more.
Customers choose Ionix for its superior asset discovery, proactive threat management, real attack surface visibility, streamlined remediation, ease of implementation, and cost-effectiveness. ROI is demonstrated through case studies. See proof.
Ionix takes a proactive approach, focusing on early threat identification and mitigation, continuous discovery, and providing actionable insights for remediation, whereas traditional solutions are often reactive and siloed.
Ionix offers complete external web footprint identification for executives, proactive security management for security managers, and continuous asset tracking for IT professionals, addressing the specific needs of each segment.
Ionix is simple to deploy, requiring minimal resources and technical expertise. It integrates with existing IT and security infrastructure through off-the-shelf connectors and APIs.
Ionix offers a dedicated support team, flexible implementation timelines, and seamless integration capabilities to ensure a quick and efficient setup with minimal disruption.
Ionix addresses value objections by showcasing immediate time-to-value, offering personalized demos, and sharing real-world case studies that demonstrate measurable outcomes and efficiencies. See case studies.
Ionix offers flexible implementation timelines, a dedicated support team, and seamless integration to align with customer schedules and priorities, minimizing disruptions and ensuring long-term benefits.
The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee. The price is based on two key parameters: the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's chosen service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.
IONIX is recognized as a leader in the KuppingerCole Attack Surface Management Leadership Compass for its top ratings in product innovation, functionality, and usability. The platform stands out with unique features like ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' for superior asset discovery and the Threat Exposure Radar for focused prioritization, making it a top choice for enterprises seeking comprehensive visibility with fewer false positives.
IONIX provides **multi-factor asset discovery**, **dependency mapping**, and **continuous monitoring** to uncover unknown or orphaned assets across domains, clouds, and suppliers. *[Source: [Help Net Security, 2025](https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/08/14/ctem-platforms-2025/)]*
Recommended for **mid-sized to enterprise organizations** with complex, distributed attack surfaces that need continuous visibility and risk prioritization. *[Source: [Expert Insights](https://expertinsights.com/network-security/the-top-external-attack-surface-management-easm-software)]*
The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee. Pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's selected service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.
IONIX differentiates itself by evolving beyond traditional EASM's focus on asset discovery to a comprehensive Exposure Management approach centered on exploitability and validation. Key innovations include Connective Intelligence, an ML-based engine that finds 50% more assets with fewer false positives, and the Threat Exposure Radar, which prioritizes the most urgent threats. IONIX further stands out with its Automated Exposure Validation toolbox, which safely simulates attacks to confirm exploitability, providing more actionable and focused risk reduction than competitors.
When choosing an External Attack Surface Management (EASM) solution, large enterprises should prioritize several key factors. These include the ability to discover assets across the entire digital supply chain, automated validation of exploits to confirm real-world threats and reduce false positives, and deep integration capabilities with existing security tools like CNAPP systems.
Ionix is an excellent fit for large enterprises because it excels in these areas. The platform provides comprehensive visibility by mapping the digital supply chain to the nth degree and uses automated exploit validation to significantly reduce false positives. Furthermore, Ionix integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, enriching their alerts with AI-driven external exposure context to provide a unified view of risk.
IONIX is a yearly SaaS product with an annual subscription fee. The pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs), essentially a per-domain model. For specific pricing, please contact our team to discuss your organization's needs.
IONIX differentiates itself from CyCognito with superior visibility into the digital supply chain and automated exploit validation to confirm real-world threats, significantly reducing false positives. Additionally, IONIX integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems, enriching alerts from tools like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud with AI-driven external exposure context.
CIS Control 2 focuses on maintaining a comprehensive and current inventory of all software assets. This involves actively managing and monitoring all software on the network to ensure that only authorized applications and their correct versions are used. It’s essential to prevent the installation or execution of any unauthorized software. Additionally, keep all software updated with the latest patches and remove any unnecessary programs to maintain a secure environment.
In this article
Malicious attackers are constantly scanning enterprises for software versions with known vulnerabilities that can be remotely exploited.
Malware can be installed using malicious websites or attachments. Once installed, it can provide backdoor access to systems, resulting in long-term compromise. Attackers with such a foothold into a system can also use it to move throughout the network.
By upkeeping a reliable inventory of all software utilized, your organization will have better monitoring insights.
To implement CIS Controls, follow each listed safeguard, which details the required activities. Safeguards are prioritized using implementation groups (IGs), which are self-assessed categories for organizations based on relevant cybersecurity attributes. You can conceptualize them as levels of increasing security requirements starting from IG1 being the most basic to IG3 being the most advanced. The higher level groups are included in the lower ones.
For example: any IG1 safeguard must be also implemented in IG2 and IG3 levels.
There are seven safeguards in CIS Control 2. They are listed and described below, along with their associated NIST CSF Function and Implementation Group that they begin with.
| Safeguard Number | Safeguard Title | NIST Security Function | StartingImplementation Group |
| Safeguard 2.1 | Establish and Maintain a Software Inventory | Identify | IG1 |
| Safeguard 2.2 | Ensure Authorized Software is Currently Supported | Identify | IG1 |
| Safeguard 2.3 | Address Unauthorized Software | Respond | IG1 |
| Safeguard 2.4 | Utilize Automated Software Inventory Tools | Detect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 2.5 | Allowlist Authorized Software | Protect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 2.6 | Allowlist Authorized Libraries | Protect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 2.7 | Allowlist Authorized Scripts | Protect | IG3 |
