In cybersecurity, Ecosystem Risk Visibility refers to an organization's ability to comprehensively see and understand the cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities within its entire digital ecosystem. This ecosystem includes not only the organization's own IT infrastructure but also extends to its interconnected network of:

• Third-party vendors: Partners, suppliers, and other external entities with access to the organization's systems or data.

• Customers: Their interactions with the organization's digital platforms and the potential risks they might introduce.

• Subsidiaries and branches: Any other entities under the organization's umbrella that share data or systems.

• Cloud services: The security posture of cloud providers and the risks associated with data stored or processed in the cloud.

Key aspects of Ecosystem Risk Visibility:

• Identifying all entities: Having a clear picture of all the components and connections within the ecosystem.

• Assessing risks: Evaluating the cybersecurity posture of each entity and identifying potential vulnerabilities.

• Monitoring activity: Continuously tracking activity within the ecosystem to detect anomalies and potential threats.

• Understanding data flows: Mapping how data moves between different entities and identifying potential exposure points.

Why is Ecosystem Risk Visibility critical?

• Increased interconnectedness: Modern businesses rely heavily on interconnected systems and third-party relationships. A weakness in any part of the ecosystem can expose the entire organization to risk.

• Supply chain attacks: Attackers often target weaker links in the supply chain to gain access to their ultimate target.

• Regulatory compliance: Many regulations require organizations to see the risks within their ecosystem.

• Proactive risk management: Visibility enables organizations to identify and mitigate risks before they can be exploited proactively.

Challenges to achieving Ecosystem Risk Visibility:

• Complexity: Modern digital ecosystems are incredibly complex, making it difficult to gain a complete picture.

• Lack of control: Organizations often have limited control over the security practices of their third-party partners.

• Data silos: Information about different parts of the ecosystem may be scattered across various systems and departments.

Tools and techniques for improving Ecosystem Risk Visibility:

• Cybersecurity risk assessment platforms: These platforms provide visibility into the security posture of third-party vendors.

• Threat intelligence: Staying informed about the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

• Data analytics: Analyzing data from various sources to identify patterns and anomalies.

• Collaboration: Working closely with partners and vendors to improve security practices across the ecosystem.

By achieving Ecosystem Risk Visibility, organizations can significantly strengthen their cybersecurity posture and reduce their overall risk exposure.19

ThreatNG appears to be a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that offers a powerful combination of attack surface management, digital risk protection, and security ratings. Here's how its features contribute to Ecosystem Risk Visibility and how it can work with complementary solutions:

How ThreatNG Enhances Ecosystem Risk Visibility:

• Extensive Discovery: ThreatNG excels at identifying and mapping your entire digital ecosystem, including subsidiaries, third-party vendors, and even cloud assets. This provides a foundational understanding of your attack surface.

• Deep Assessment: It goes beyond essential vulnerability scanning by analyzing factors like web application security, social media presence, code exposure, and dark web mentions. This gives you a granular view of the risks associated with each entity in your ecosystem.

• Continuous Monitoring: By continuously monitoring your ecosystem, ThreatNG helps you stay ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities. This is crucial for maintaining visibility in a dynamic environment.

• Intelligence Repositories: ThreatNG leverages diverse intelligence sources, including dark web data, compromised credentials, and SEC filings. This allows you to identify potential risks that might not be visible through traditional security tools.

• Reporting and Collaboration: The platform facilitates collaboration and information sharing through role-based access controls, prioritized reporting, and evidence questionnaires. This helps different teams within your organization work together to address ecosystem risks.

Complementary Solutions and Integrations:

While ThreatNG offers a wide range of capabilities, integrating it with other security solutions can enhance its effectiveness and provide a more holistic view of your ecosystem risk. Here are some examples:

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Integrate ThreatNG with your SIEM to correlate external threat intelligence with internal security events. This can help you identify and respond to attacks more effectively.

• Vulnerability Management: Combine ThreatNG's external vulnerability assessments with internal vulnerability scanning tools to understand your organization's security posture.

• Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs): Integrate ThreatNG with TIPs to enrich your threat intelligence data and gain deeper insights into the threat landscape.

• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Integrate ThreatNG with your IAM solution to strengthen access controls and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Examples of how ThreatNG's modules and intelligence repositories can be used:

• Domain Intelligence & SEC Form 8-Ks: By analyzing SEC Form 8-Ks and correlating them with domain intelligence, ThreatNG can identify potential risks related to financial instability, legal issues, or negative news that might impact a vendor's security posture. This information can help you make informed decisions about your relationships with third parties.

• Sensitive Code Exposure & Dark Web Presence: If ThreatNG discovers sensitive code exposure through its code analysis module, it can cross-reference this information with its dark web intelligence to determine if the exposed code has been exploited or sold on underground forums.

• Cloud and SaaS Exposure & Technology Stack: By analyzing the technology stack of your vendors and their cloud and SaaS exposure, ThreatNG can identify potential risks associated with outdated software, misconfigured cloud services, or shadow IT.

ThreatNG offers a robust solution for gaining Ecosystem Risk Visibility. Organizations can proactively identify and mitigate risks across their entire digital ecosystem by combining their capabilities with complementary security solutions and effectively utilizing their intelligence repositories.