Securing Exposure over Endpoints – the WHAT, WHY & HOW ?

Vulnerability in cybersecurity has undergone a paradigm shift in its appreciation. In pre-Stuxnet era – plugging vulnerability meant strength of an IT Infrastructure to withstand external intrusion causing damage to process & technology. In the post-Stuxnet era – plugging vulnerability means appetite of the IT Infrastructure to withstand both external & internal targeted attacks on people, process & technology. Earlier, the remedy was to protect endpoints while now it is to keep endpoints behind layers of physical & digital security solutions – manned & unmanned. While in the previous times, device native application(s) would alert & protect; now the layers of security exponentially increase in number, size, strength and velocity to protect the endpoints under their wings. But in both these cases, cost for security is directly proportional to the number of endpoints. In 2023, India witnessed more than 101 crore smartphones in operation - the number is projected to cross 135 crores in 2030 and 153 crores in 2040 respectively**. Adding to them are the innumerable sensor-driven IoTs that make our life more accessible & affordable. This complex eco-system requires multiple redundancy in connectivity for lag-less continuity. Cumulatively, no amount of vulnerability protection methods can ensure pre-emptive, preventive and remedial security from relentless AI-BOT driven surface-less attacks that target the zillions of exposures every IT Infrastructure generates in minutes. Hence, the need for managing exposure of an IT Infrastructure has evolved as a viable alternative over the conventional endpoint-based vulnerability (i.e., weakness) protection. Typically, Exposure Management ensures an engulfing security around every exposure of an IT Infrastructure irrespective of the endpoints and their vulnerabilities it comprises.