Attack Surface Management: identify, monitor and secure the weak points in your digital infrastructure

Companies face a growing number of cyber threats. Attack Surface Management (ASM) is a strategy deployed to limit these risks by identifying and securing the entry points to an organisation's digital infrastructure. This approach enables vulnerabilities to be detected before they are exploited by cyber attackers. 

Thales, as a world leader in cybersecurity, supports organisations in this strategic approach by providing robust and innovative solutions tailored to the specific challenges of each sector. With over 40 years' expertise and a presence in all the continents, we help businesses secure their digital transformation while protecting their data and critical infrastructures.

Attack Surface Management

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What is Attack Surface Management?

Attack Surface Management (ASM) involves identifying, monitoring and securing the various attack surfaces in an organisation's digital infrastructure. An attack surface is the set of weak points that can be exploited by cybercriminals. This includes systems, applications, cloud infrastructures, the internet of things (IoT), Operational Technology (OT) environments and interactions with external suppliers. 

The aim of ASM is to reduce these attack surfaces by identifying vulnerabilities and correcting them before they are exploited. To combat a constantly evolving cyber threat, this approach is becoming essential for businesses adopting hybrid architectures and cloud-based solutions.

At Thales, we go beyond mere vulnerability management: we integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioural analysis to anticipate cyber threats and detect vulnerabilities that are invisible to traditional solutions.

Attack Surface Management strategy stages


An effective ASM strategy is based on several key stages that involve identifying, assessing and securing the attack surface on an ongoing basis.

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Attack surface mapping

The first stage in the ASM process is to compile a complete inventory of the company's internal and external digital assets. This includes: 

  • Servers and databases 

  • Enterprise applications and SaaS 

  • Cloud services and hybrid infrastructures 

  • IoT and OT devices 

  • Connections with third-party partners and suppliers 

  • Integration and monitoring of third-party solutions in External Attack Surface Management, etc.

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Identifying vulnerabilities

Once the attack surface has been mapped, it is essential to look for potential vulnerabilities: 

  • Incorrect configurations 

  • Obsolete software versions 

  • Unpatched security vulnerabilities 

  • Poor access management practices 

Thanks to our latest-generation SOCs and real-time threat detection solutions, we not only identify these vulnerabilities, but assess the likelihood of them being exploited by cybercriminals.

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Proactive Cyber Defense with Thales’ Vulnerability Operations Centre

In today’s evolving threat landscape, critical infrastructure operators must go beyond traditional security monitoring to protect their expanding digital ecosystems. Capitalising on high-end solutions, Thales’ Vulnerability Operations Centre (VOC) offers a powerful extension to the modern Security Operations Centre (SOC), combining continuous vulnerability intelligence, risk-based prioritisation, and automated remediation guidance. The VOC provides deep visibility into your internal and external exposure landscape, ensuring that emerging vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before adversaries can exploit them. 

Backed by Thales’ decades of experience in protecting Critical National Infrastructure worldwide, the VOC service enhanced by Thales expert teams helps your organization stay resilient, compliant, and one step ahead.

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Vulnerability Management as a service By assessing the entire infrastructure, these services identify and understand vulnerabilities, providing information for practical remediation.

By assessing the entire infrastructure, these services help identify and understand vulnerabilities, providing information for practical remediation.

 

  • A tailor-made approach, taking into account the unique needs and characteristics of each customer
  • State-of-the-art tools with constantly updated intelligence feeds to include newly discovered vulnerabilities
  • Experienced operators carrying out assessments and managing the complete vulnerability cycle, ensuring accurate identification and effective remediation.
  • Vulnerability assessment available 24/7 through our Security Operations Centers or Incident Response Teams, ensuring continuous monitoring and protection.

Benefits:

  • Coverage is comprehensive, including a wide range of assets such as IT systems, operational systems, cloud and regulated assets.
  • A contextualised view of vulnerabilities, associated with business risks and prioritised remediation efforts.
  • An improve resolution process, to become actively involved in securing digital assets.
  • Validation of vulnerability exploitability ensured through services such as penetration testing, breach and attack simulations, or code reviews, guaranteeing thorough assessment and mitigation.
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Risk prioritisation

Not all vulnerabilities involve the same threat level. It is therefore crucial to prioritise risks based on a number of criteria: 

  • Criticality of exposed assets 

  • Level of sensitivity of the data involved 

  • Ease with which vulnerabilities can be exploited 

  • Potential financial and operational impacts 

Our solutions incorporate AI and Machine Learning algorithms to automatically analyse these factors and recommend the most urgent corrective actions.

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Reducing attack surfaces and correcting vulnerabilities

One of ASM's key stages is active reduction of the attack surface. This involves actions such as: 

  • Regular software and system updates 

  • Closing ports and non-essential services 

  • Strengthening identity and access management (IAM) policies 

  • Integration of Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access management (PAM) solutions with the support of our teams 

We supplement these measures with regular penetration tests, run by our Red Teaming experts, as well as in-depth security audits.

Thales Cyber Solutions CERT is uncovering threats before they strike

Continuous monitoring and incident response

An organisation's attack surface is constantly evolving. To maintain optimum security, continuous monitoring is essential. 

  • Thanks to our 24/7 SOC, we can offer: 

  • Advanced threat detection with AI 

  • Rapid incident response solutions (DFIR) 

  • Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS) to detect data leaks on the Dark Web 

In the event of an incident, our Cyber Threat Intelligence and DFIR teams can act quickly to contain the threat and prevent any major compromise.

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Breach & Attack Simulation (BAS)

The « Defence-in-depth » concept extends beyond the information system, incorporating breach simulation for both application and infrastructure security. Rather than assuming invulnerability, breach simulation starts from a compromised asset, testing the scope of potential breaches.

Our experts execute innovative methodologies as well as cutting-edge automation tools to assess the level of security of your organization.

Red teaming and Penetration testing

In the realm of cybersecurity, organizations face the ongoing challenge of safeguarding their digital assets against sophisticated threats. While traditional penetration testing offers insights into specific vulnerabilities, Red Teaming takes a broader approach, simulating Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and assessing the full spectrum of security operations.

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Why choose Thales for Attack Surface Management?

When you entrust the management of your attack surface to Thales, you benefit from the expertise of a world leader in cybersecurity, recognised for its innovative solutions and ability to protect critical infrastructures. 

Our key assets: 

  • Over 40 years' expertise in cybersecurity 

  • 8 state-of-the-art SOCs around the world 

  • Real-time threat detection and response 

  • Advanced skills in Artificial Intelligence to automate operations and Cyber Threat Intelligence 

  • Compliance with the most stringent regulations (NIS2, ISO 27001, GDPR, etc.) 

  • Solutions tailored to IT and OT environments 

  • Managed Security Services (MSS) tailored to your needs 

Our proactive and predictive approach enables us to help you reduce your attack surface, anticipate cyber threats and protect your critical assets with unrivalled reliability. 

Strengthen your security with Thales and ensure optimum management of your attack surface. Contact us today for a customised audit.