Web Exposure Management: Strengthening Security in the Modern Attack Surface

As websites increasingly rely on numerous third-party apps, remote services, and open-source tools, the modern attack surface continues to grow. This expansion exposes each component to potential vulnerabilities, including threats like Magecart and web skimming, supply chain attacks, misconfigurations, and data leaks that could result in privacy breaches. Such breaches can lead to severe consequences like regulatory fines and damage to a company’s reputation.

Understanding Web Exposure Management 

Gartner defines threat exposure management as a set of practices, tools, and technologies aimed at identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with an organization’s web presence. It involves monitoring and managing the expanding attack surface created by websites, web applications, and their dependencies.

Key elements of web exposure management include:

Visibility: Gartner emphasizes the importance of gaining comprehensive visibility into all components of a web presence, including websites, web applications, third-party integrations, and other related assets.

Risk Assessment: This involves evaluating the potential risks associated with the various web components, such as vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, insecure coding practices, and the impact they may have on the organization’s security posture.

Threat Detection and Response: Gartner emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and detection of web-based threats, such as Magecart, supply chain attacks, and other emerging attack vectors. It also highlights the importance of timely response and remediation to minimize the impact of these threats.

Compliance and Privacy: Gartner recognizes the significance of web exposure management in maintaining compliance with relevant regulations and protecting sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII) and payment card information (PCI), from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Governance and Control: This includes implementing policies, procedures, and controls to manage and mitigate risks associated with the web presence. It involves establishing guidelines for secure web development, vendor management, and third-party risk assessment.

Web Threats of the Ever-Expanding Attack Surface

The attack surface of websites continues to expand due to the integration of multiple third-party applications and services. This expansion increases the potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors. Some common web threats include:

Magecart and Web Skimming

Attackers inject malicious code into websites to steal sensitive information, such as credit card details, entered by users during online transactions.

Supply Chain Attacks 

Malicious actors target the supply chain of a website, compromising trusted third-party components or services to gain unauthorized access or distribute malware.

Misconfigurations 

Improperly configured web components, such as servers, databases, or cloud services, can expose sensitive data or create security loopholes.

Data Leakage

Websites can unintentionally leak sensitive data, leading to privacy violations and regulatory compliance issues.

Fighting Web Threats

Reflectiz offers a comprehensive solution for web exposure management, providing businesses with enhanced visibility and control over their web assets. Here’s how Reflectiz helps combat web threats:

Continuous Monitoring

Reflectiz continuously monitors all website components, detecting critical risks and vulnerabilities at the earliest stage. It provides real-time alerts, enabling swift responses to potential issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Baseline Establishment

Reflectiz allows businesses to establish baselines for approved and unapproved app behaviors based on their specific business context. This helps identify deviations and potential risks, ensuring proactive security measures.

Minimized Alert Fatigue

Reflectiz flags only genuine and significant changes, reducing alert fatigue. It focuses on identifying substantial modifications rather than overwhelming users with every new hash or insignificant variation.

Global Scale Management

Reflectiz enables effective management of different teams and websites on a global scale. It facilitates communication, collaboration, and the prioritization of cybersecurity risks and compliance issues.

A range of Web Exposure Management Features

Reflectiz offers a range of features that aid in effective web exposure management. Here are the main ones:

Comprehensive Inventory

Reflectiz maps all website components, including first-party, third-party, and even nth-party applications and scripts, open-source tools, and external domains. This comprehensive inventory provides a holistic view of the web environment.

Sensitive Data Management

Reflectiz helps monitor and control actions related to sensitive data, personally identifiable information (PII), and protected health information (PHI) to ensure full security compliance.

Actionable Insights

Reflectiz transforms vulnerabilities and threats into actionable insights. It provides security executives with the necessary information to make informed decisions and effectively manage web exposure risks.

Web exposure management is a critical aspect of cybersecurity in the face of an ever-expanding attack surface. Reflectiz equips businesses with the tools and insights needed to protect their web assets effectively. By continuously monitoring website components, establishing baselines, minimizing alert fatigue, and offering comprehensive visibility, Reflectiz empowers organizations to proactively mitigate web threats. With Reflectiz, businesses can take charge of their web exposure and safeguard their digital presence against evolving cyber risks in today’s threat landscape.