External Attack Surface Policy
An External Attack Surface Policy, within the context of an external assessment product like ThreatNG, is a set of instructions that dictate how the solution scans and analyzes an organization's internet-facing assets for vulnerabilities and potential threats. This policy acts as a roadmap, guiding the tool to focus on the most relevant areas and deliver targeted security insights.
Here's a breakdown of the critical components of an External Attack Surface Policy:
Scope Definition: This specifies what external assets the tool should investigate. This could include a company's:
Public web domains and subdomains
Brand mentions online
Assessment Depth: This defines the level of detail required in the assessment. For example, the policy might specify:
High-level scans for vulnerabilities
Deeper analysis to identify specific attack vectors
Prioritization: This prioritizes specific areas of the attack surface based on:
The organization's risk tolerance
Business criticality of assets
Data Filtering: This defines filters to exclude irrelevant information from the results. This helps focus on potential threats and reduce "noise" from the external environment.
Benefits of Attack Surface Policies:
Focused Assessments: By defining the scope and priorities, the policy ensures efficient assessments, focusing on the most relevant parts of the attack surface.
Actionable Insights: Tailored results provide actionable information that can be used to address specific security risks.
Reduced Noise: Data filtering eliminates irrelevant information, allowing security teams to focus on critical threats.
Optimized Resource Allocation: Prioritizing risks helps allocate security resources effectively, addressing the most pressing vulnerabilities.
An External Attack Surface Policy empowers organizations to maximize the value of external assessment products like ThreatNG. By customizing the assessment process, organizations gain deeper insights into their external attack surface and make data-driven decisions to strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture.
