Understanding Attack Surface Management (ASM)
Cyber threats constantly evolve, making it essential for organizations to secure their digital assets. Attack Surface Management (ASM) solutions help businesses identify, monitor, and manage cyber risks by providing visibility into exposed assets. Two leading solutions in this space are External Attack Surface Management (EASM) and Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART).
What Is External Attack Surface Management?
External Attack Surface Management (EASM) helps organizations discover and monitor all internet-facing assets. It continuously scans for previously unknown assets and identifies vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of cyberattacks. By maintaining visibility into the external attack surface, companies can proactively address security gaps before they become entry points for attackers.
Key Benefits of EASM
- Comprehensive Visibility – Identifies all exposed digital assets.
- Risk Management – Prioritizes vulnerabilities based on threat severity.
- Regulatory Compliance – Helps meet security standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and NIS2.
- Continuous Monitoring – Keeps track of changes in the attack surface in real time.
What Is Continuous Automated Red Teaming?
Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART) simulates real-world cyberattacks to evaluate an organization’s security posture. Unlike traditional penetration testing, CART runs continuously, using automation to test defenses and uncover vulnerabilities.
Key Benefits of CART
- Security Validation – Continuously tests security controls.
- Threat Simulation – Emulates real-world attack scenarios.
- Automated Testing – Reduces reliance on manual assessments.
- Ongoing Risk Assessment – Provides real-time insights into security weaknesses.
Comparing EASM and CART
Both External Attack Surface Management and Continuous Automated Red Teaming strengthen cybersecurity, but they serve different purposes.
External Attack Surface Management (EASM)
- Focuses on identifying and managing internet-facing assets.
- Provides a comprehensive view of the external attack surface.
- Best for asset discovery, risk management, and compliance.
- Helps organizations prioritize and address high-risk vulnerabilities.
Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART)
- Simulates cyberattacks to test security defenses.
- Assesses vulnerabilities across internal and external systems.
- Best for security validation, penetration testing, and real-time attack simulation.
- Evaluates how well security defenses handle actual threats.
When Should Your Business Use EASM vs. CART?
Choosing the right attack surface management solution depends on your organization’s security maturity and objectives.
When to Use External Attack Surface Management
- If your organization is in the early stages of vulnerability management.
- If you have a large external attack surface that requires monitoring.
- If compliance with industry regulations is a priority.
- If you need continuous visibility into digital assets.
When to Use Continuous Automated Red Teaming
- If you have mature security practices and need to validate them.
- If you want to identify vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
- If continuous security testing is essential for your business.
- If your organization needs real-time insights into its security posture.
The Role of Attack Surface Management in Cybersecurity
Neither External Attack Surface Management nor Continuous Automated Red Teaming should be used in isolation. Instead, they should be part of a multi-layered cyber asset attack surface management strategy.
- EASM helps organizations discover, monitor, and manage external assets to reduce exposure.
- CART tests existing security defenses by simulating attacks and identifying weaknesses.
Organizations must adopt attack surface management solutions that align with their security goals. EASM is ideal for discovering and managing external assets, while CART is best suited for security validation through continuous attack simulations. Implementing both solutions strengthens security defenses and reduces cyber risks.
Invest in continuous attack surface management to stay ahead of evolving threats and safeguard your business from cyberattacks.