An attack surface refers to the sum of all possible points, or attack vectors, where an unauthorized user can access a system and extract data. It is the set of points on the boundary of a system, a system element, or an environment where an attacker can try to enter, cause an effect on, or extract data from. The attack surface can be physical or digital, and it encompasses all the hardware and software that connect to an organizations network, including applications, code, ports, servers, and websites, as well as shadow IT. The smaller the attack surface, the better the security of the system.
Attack surface management is crucial to identifying current and future risks, as well as reaping the following benefits:
- Identifying vulnerabilities and pathways or methods that hackers can use to gain unauthorized access to the network or sensitive data.
- Reducing exposure to cyber risk.
- Gaining a better understanding of the IT environment and the elements in the attack surface that represent risk.
- Continuously monitoring the performance of the attack surface.
Common attack vectors in an organizations digital attack surface include poor coding, weak passwords, default operating system settings, exposed application programming interfaces, or poorly maintained software. The physical attack surface comprises all endpoint devices that an attacker can gain physical access to, such as desktop computers, hard drives, laptops, mobile phones, and Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives.
In conclusion, understanding and managing the attack surface is crucial for organizations to reduce their exposure to cyber risk and identify vulnerabilities that hackers can use to gain unauthorized access to the network or sensitive data.
