What is vulnerability management and how does it work?

Vulnerability management is a set of processes and solutions that organizations use to identify, classify, prioritize, and mitigate vulnerabilities within their systems or networks. It typically involves using passive and active vulnerability scanners to detect weaknesses and assigning mitigation tasks to eliminate vulnerabilities before they are exploited. The focus is on improving the overall cybersecurity health of the company by managing known assets.

How do passive and active vulnerability scanners differ?

Passive vulnerability scanners monitor operating systems and software in use, helping security professionals understand network traffic and endpoint status. Active vulnerability scanners test endpoints by sending transmissions and analyzing responses to uncover potential weaknesses.

What is attack surface management (ASM) and why is it important?

Attack surface management (ASM) is the process of discovering and highlighting risks associated with unknown, unmonitored, and unprotected assets. ASM provides a holistic view of a company's environment from an attacker's perspective, considering both internal and external assets and how they are interconnected. This helps organizations prioritize resources and address the most critical vulnerabilities.

What are the main differences between ASM and VM?

The main difference is scope: ASM starts by assuming unknown assets exist and focuses on discovering them, while VM manages a list of known assets. ASM considers how assets are interconnected and how a breach in one can impact others, whereas VM does not. ASM provides a holistic, attacker-centric view, while VM is asset-centric.

Why isn't vulnerability management alone enough for cybersecurity?

Vulnerability management alone is not comprehensive because it does not account for shadow IT, third-party applications, unknown cloud services, ad hoc implementations, outdated asset records, and unpatched assets. ASM complements VM by discovering unknown assets and providing visibility over the entire attack surface.

How do ASM and VM work together to improve security?

ASM and VM are complementary. VM provides insights into known assets, while ASM discovers unknown assets and highlights risks. Using both approaches ensures organizations can protect their expanding attack surface as connectivity increases.

What types of assets are included in an organization's attack surface?

An organization's attack surface includes all assets—physical, digital, and human—that might be exploited by an attacker. This spans all assets accessible from the internet, including cloud services, web apps, mail servers, and third-party connections.

How does ASM help prioritize resources for IT teams?

ASM provides guidance on prioritizing resources by highlighting the most important assets and the most likely vulnerabilities to be exploited. This helps IT teams focus on remediating critical issues first.

What are some limitations of vulnerability management tools?

Vulnerability management tools are focused on an organization’s IT environment and assets but do not consider how assets are interconnected or how a weakness in one asset may impact another. They also may not account for unknown assets or shadow IT.

Why is visibility over the entire attack surface critical?

Visibility over the entire attack surface is critical because it enables organizations to protect all assets, including those that are unknown, unmonitored, or unprotected. Without this visibility, organizations are at risk of breaches from overlooked vulnerabilities.

How does Ionix's platform support attack surface management?

Ionix's platform specializes in attack surface discovery, risk assessment, risk prioritization, and risk remediation. It enables businesses to discover all exposed assets, including shadow IT and unauthorized projects, and provides actionable insights to address vulnerabilities efficiently.

What is the role of exposure validation in Ionix's solution?

Exposure validation in Ionix's solution continuously monitors the changing attack surface to validate and address exposures in real-time, ensuring that vulnerabilities are promptly identified and remediated.

How does Ionix streamline risk workflow and remediation?

Ionix offers streamlined risk workflows with one-click remediation actions and integrations with ticketing, SIEM, and SOAR platforms, reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR) and improving operational efficiency.

What is the CTEM program and how does Ionix support it?

The CTEM (Continuous Threat Exposure Management) program is designed to continuously identify, expose, and remediate critical threats. Ionix supports CTEM by providing visibility, risk prioritization, remediation orchestration, and benchmarking/reporting.

How does Ionix help organizations manage M&A risk?

Ionix helps organizations evaluate candidates' cyber risk during mergers and acquisitions by providing visibility into unknown assets, third-party connections, and supply chain exposures.

What is the importance of controlling subsidiary risk in cybersecurity?

Controlling subsidiary risk is important because subsidiaries may have unknown or unmonitored assets that can introduce vulnerabilities. Ionix enables organizations to manage cyber risk across all subsidiaries by providing comprehensive attack surface visibility.

How does Ionix improve security posture for organizations?

Ionix improves security posture by systematically reducing risk through attack surface discovery, risk assessment, prioritization, and streamlined remediation, ensuring that critical vulnerabilities are addressed efficiently.

What is the roadmap to reducing your attack surface with Ionix?

The roadmap to reducing your attack surface with Ionix involves continuous discovery of assets, exposure validation, risk prioritization, and accelerated remediation, supported by integrations and actionable insights.

What features does Ionix offer for attack surface management?

Ionix offers attack surface discovery, risk assessment, risk prioritization, risk remediation, exposure validation, and streamlined risk workflows. It also provides integrations with ticketing, SIEM, SOAR, and cloud platforms.

Does Ionix support integrations with other security platforms?

Yes, Ionix integrates with Jira, ServiceNow, Splunk, Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Cortex XSOAR, Slack, AWS, GCP, Azure, and other SOC tools. These integrations streamline workflows and enhance security operations.

Does Ionix offer an API for integration?

Yes, Ionix provides an API that enables seamless integration with major platforms, supporting functionalities like retrieving information, exporting incidents, and integrating action items as data entries or tickets.

What are the key benefits of using Ionix?

Key benefits include unmatched visibility into the digital supply chain, immediate time-to-value, enhanced security posture, operational efficiency, cost savings, and brand reputation protection.

How does Ionix's Connective Intelligence improve asset discovery?

Ionix's ML-based Connective Intelligence finds more assets than competing products while generating fewer false positives, ensuring accurate and comprehensive attack surface visibility.

How quickly can organizations see value from Ionix?

Ionix delivers measurable outcomes quickly, with immediate time-to-value and no impact on technical staffing, ensuring a smooth and efficient adoption process.

Who are the target users for Ionix's platform?

Ionix is designed for Information Security and Cybersecurity VPs, C-level executives, IT professionals, security managers, and decision-makers in Fortune 500 companies, insurance, energy, entertainment, education, and retail sectors.

What industries are represented in Ionix's case studies?

Ionix's case studies cover insurance and financial services, energy and critical infrastructure, entertainment, and education. Notable customers include Infosys, Warner Music Group, E.ON, BlackRock, and Grand Canyon Education.

Can you share specific customer success stories using Ionix?

Yes. E.ON used Ionix to continuously discover and inventory internet-facing assets, Warner Music Group improved operational efficiency and security alignment, and Grand Canyon Education leveraged Ionix for proactive vulnerability management.

How does Ionix address fragmented external attack surfaces?

Ionix provides a comprehensive view of the external attack surface, ensuring continuous visibility of internet-facing assets and third-party exposures, as demonstrated in the E.ON case study.

How does Ionix help organizations manage shadow IT and unauthorized projects?

Ionix identifies unmanaged assets resulting from cloud migrations, mergers, and digital transformation initiatives, helping organizations manage these assets effectively.

How does Ionix support proactive security management?

Ionix focuses on identifying and mitigating threats before they escalate, enhancing security posture and preventing breaches, as shown in the Warner Music Group case study.

How does Ionix provide real attack surface visibility?

Ionix offers a clear view of the attack surface from an attacker’s perspective, enabling better risk prioritization and mitigation strategies, as demonstrated in the Grand Canyon Education case study.

How does Ionix address critical misconfigurations?

Ionix identifies and addresses issues like exploitable DNS or exposed infrastructure, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities and improving overall security posture.

How does Ionix streamline manual processes and siloed tools?

Ionix streamlines workflows and automates processes, improving efficiency and reducing response times, as demonstrated in the Warner Music Group case study.

How does Ionix help manage third-party vendor risks?

Ionix helps manage and mitigate risks such as data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions caused by third-party vendors by providing comprehensive visibility and risk assessment.

How does Ionix compare to other attack surface management solutions?

Ionix stands out with its ML-based Connective Intelligence, which finds more assets and generates fewer false positives than competing products. It offers proactive security management, real attack surface visibility, comprehensive digital supply chain coverage, and streamlined remediation.

Why should customers choose Ionix over alternatives?

Customers should choose Ionix for better asset discovery, proactive threat management, comprehensive supply chain coverage, streamlined remediation, ease of implementation, and cost-effectiveness, as demonstrated in customer case studies.

How does Ionix tailor its solutions for different user segments?

Ionix tailors its solutions for C-level executives (strategic risk insights), security managers (proactive threat management), and IT professionals (real attack surface visibility and continuous asset tracking), ensuring each persona's needs are met.

What technical requirements are needed to implement Ionix?

Ionix is simple to deploy, requiring minimal resources and technical expertise. It integrates with existing workflows and delivers immediate time-to-value without impacting technical staffing.

How does Ionix handle value objections from prospects?

Ionix addresses value objections by showcasing immediate time-to-value, providing personalized demos, and sharing real-world case studies that demonstrate measurable outcomes and efficiencies.

How does Ionix handle timing objections during implementation?

Ionix offers flexible implementation timelines, a dedicated support team, seamless integration capabilities, and emphasizes long-term benefits and efficiencies gained by starting sooner.

What is the pricing model for IONIX Attack Surface Management?

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.

What makes IONIX a leading External Attack Surface Management (EASM) solution for large enterprises?

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.

What makes IONIX stand out among EASM tools?

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/)]*

Who is IONIX best for?

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)]*

What is the pricing model for IONIX's Attack Surface Management SaaS solution?

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.

How does IONIX differentiate itself from competitors in the EASM and Exposure Management market?

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.

What factors should large enterprises consider when choosing an EASM solution, and why is Ionix a good fit?

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.

What is the pricing model for IONIX's SaaS solution?

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.

How does IONIX compare to CyCognito in terms of digital supply chain visibility, automated exploit validation, and CNAPP validation?

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.

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Attack Surface Management Vs. Vulnerability Management

Post originally appeared in Security Boulevard.

Cybersecurity is full of acronyms and industry terms. So many, in fact, that I would be hard-pressed to find someone who knows what they all stand for or clearly explain the subtle differences between many of them. Let’s not forget to mention the cybersecurity industry is still evolving at a quick pace, meaning new lingo, technology and acronyms are being added all the time. While we don’t have time to cover all the latest buzzwords and categories in the space, I wanted to dig into two important terms: Attack surface management (ASM) and vulnerability management (VM) and the differences between them.

Defining Vulnerability Management

In cybersecurity, a vulnerability is something that has the potential to be exploited by an attack. Vulnerability management is a set of processes and solutions that an organization uses to identify, classify, prioritize and mitigate these vulnerabilities within its systems or networks. The goal is to improve the overall cybersecurity health of the company.

Vulnerability scanners, either active or passive, are used to identify vulnerabilities within an organization:

● Passive Vulnerability Scanners: These monitor operating systems and software that are in use, along with the overall status of services. These scanners help security professionals understand what is being sent to and from endpoints through its network or system.
● Active Vulnerability Scanners: These test endpoints or nodes by sending out transmissions and analyzing responses for potential weaknesses with the end result of uncovering vulnerabilities.

A vulnerability management solution helps to manage the workflow process, assigning mitigation tasks to eliminate vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Vulnerability management tools are focused on an organization’s IT environment and assets but do not take into consideration how assets are interconnected and how a weakness from one asset may impact another asset.

Defining Attack Surface Management (ASM)

An organization’s attack surface includes all of its assets, physical, digital and human, that might be exploited by an attacker. The attack surface spans all assets accessible from the internet. Attack surface management (ASM) aims to discover and highlight the risks of unknown, unmonitored, and unprotected assets. It provides a holistic view of a company’s environment from the perspective of an attacker. ASM takes into account both internal and external assets, understanding how these assets are connected. This means if one asset is breached, ASM considers how this breach can impact other assets. ASM also provides guidance on the prioritization of resources. This helps IT teams address issues related to the most important assets or the most likely vulnerabilities to be exploited by a hacker.

Why Isn’t Vulnerability Management Alone Enough?

While vulnerability management is an important element of any cybersecurity strategy, it is not comprehensive. In 2022 alone, there were over 22,500 vulnerabilities discovered, which is way too many to mitigate for all potential entry points.

Vulnerability management does not take into consideration:

● Shadow IT
● Third-party applications and supply chain connections
● Ad hoc implementation
● Unknown cloud services, web apps, mail servers, etc.
● M&A risk evaluations
● Asset records that are not up to date
● The introduction of unpatched and untested assets
● Out-of-date operating systems

Companies need visibility over the entire attack surface in order to protect it, the above included.

Differences Between ASM and VM

There are a few key differences between ASM and VM. The biggest comes down to scope. ASM starts with assuming an organization has unknown assets and discovering these assets. VM, meanwhile, is focused on managing a list of known assets.

VM also doesn’t take into account how an organization’s assets are connected or how a vulnerability affecting one asset can impact another. ASM takes this into account with a holistic view, considering how an organization’s networks, assets, and applications are all connected.

Better Together

Any organization leveraging an ASM approach is also using vulnerability management. These two approaches complement one another and are stronger together. VM provides the insights you need into your known assets, while ASM adds to this, discovering assets you didn’t even know you had. Our attack surfaces are only getting bigger, as our world becomes increasingly more connected. The best way an organization can protect itself as its attack surface expands is to make sure it is employing both vulnerability management and attack surface management.

Frequently Asked Questions