Asset Discovery
In cybersecurity, asset discovery identifies and catalogs all the assets that comprise an organization's IT infrastructure. This includes hardware, software, data, and cloud services. Asset discovery is a crucial first step in establishing a strong security posture, providing visibility into what must be protected.
Here's why asset discovery is essential in cybersecurity:
Identifying vulnerabilities: Once assets are discovered, they can be assessed for vulnerabilities attackers could exploit.
Prioritizing security efforts: Knowing the value and criticality of different assets allows organizations to prioritize their security efforts and allocate resources effectively.
Ensuring compliance: Asset discovery helps organizations comply with regulatory requirements that mandate the identification and protection of sensitive data.
Improving incident response: A comprehensive asset inventory can be invaluable during incident response, enabling faster identification and containment of security breaches.
Asset discovery provides the foundation for effective cybersecurity management by enabling organizations to understand their attack surface and proactively protect their critical assets.
ThreatNG is a powerful solution for asset discovery in the context of cybersecurity, especially for identifying and assessing external assets. Here's how ThreatNG aligns with the key aspects of asset discovery:
ThreatNG's core strength is its ability to perform unauthenticated external discovery without relying on internal access or agents. This means it can identify all an organization's internet-facing assets, including those that may not be known to internal teams or managed by traditional asset discovery tools.
Comprehensive Asset Identification
ThreatNG goes beyond essential asset identification by providing detailed information about each asset, such as:
Domain names and subdomains: ThreatNG performs comprehensive domain and subdomain enumeration, uncovering potentially unknown or forgotten assets.
IP addresses and ASNs: ThreatNG identifies IP addresses associated with assets and maps them to their respective Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), providing insights into ownership and network infrastructure.
TLS certificates: ThreatNG analyzes TLS certificates associated with assets, including their status, issuers, and expiration dates, helping identify potential security risks.
Technologies used: ThreatNG identifies the technologies used by each asset, such as web servers, frameworks, and programming languages, providing valuable context for security assessments.
Cloud and SaaS services: ThreatNG discovers cloud services and SaaS applications used by the organization, including both sanctioned and unsanctioned services.
Social media presence: ThreatNG identifies social media accounts and pages associated with the organization, providing insights into potential social engineering risks.
Dark web presence: ThreatNG scans the dark web for mentions of the organization, its assets, or its employees, helping identify potential data leaks or compromised credentials.
ThreatNG's external assessment capabilities provide valuable context for prioritizing and securing discovered assets. Here are some examples of how ThreatNG's assessments can help with asset discovery:
Identifying Vulnerable Web Applications: ThreatNG's Web Application Hijack Susceptibility rating can identify weaknesses in web applications, helping prioritize remediation efforts for critical web assets.
Detecting Subdomain Takeovers: ThreatNG's Subdomain Takeover Susceptibility rating can uncover vulnerable subdomains, allowing organizations to reclaim or secure them before attackers exploit them.
Assessing Data Leak Risks: ThreatNG's Data Leak Susceptibility rating evaluates the likelihood of exposing sensitive data, helping organizations prioritize data protection measures for critical assets.
ThreatNG's continuous monitoring capabilities ensure that the asset inventory remains up-to-date by continuously scanning for new assets and changes in existing assets. This helps organizations maintain visibility into their evolving attack surface.
ThreatNG's investigation modules enable deep dives into specific assets or areas of concern. For example, the Domain Intelligence module provides detailed information about domain names, subdomains, and associated technologies. In contrast, the Cloud and SaaS Exposure module offers insights into the organization's cloud services and SaaS applications.
ThreatNG's intelligence repositories provide valuable context for understanding the threat landscape and assessing the risks to discovered assets. This information can help prioritize security efforts and inform mitigation strategies.
Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG can integrate with other security solutions to enhance asset discovery and management. For example, ThreatNG can complement:
Vulnerability Scanners: ThreatNG can provide external context and threat intelligence to help prioritize vulnerabilities that scanners identify.
Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs): ThreatNG can enrich CMDB data with information about external assets and their associated risks.
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) Tools: ThreatNG can complement CSPM tools by providing visibility into cloud assets and their security configurations from an external perspective.
Examples of ThreatNG Helping with Asset Discovery
Discovering Unknown Web Servers: ThreatNG could uncover a forgotten web server that is still accessible online, allowing the organization to assess its security posture and take appropriate action.
Identifying Shadow IT: ThreatNG could identify unsanctioned cloud services or SaaS applications used by employees, helping organizations bring these assets under management and ensure they are adequately secured.
Detecting Vulnerable Subdomains: ThreatNG could identify a subdomain vulnerable to takeover, allowing the organization to reclaim or secure it before attackers exploit it.
By combining its powerful external discovery and assessment capabilities with continuous monitoring and investigation modules, ThreatNG provides a comprehensive cybersecurity asset discovery solution. This enables organizations to access their external attack surface, prioritize security efforts, and proactively protect their critical assets.
