Let’s start with a question: do you know every single public-facing asset your organisation has? If you just hesitated for a moment or thought, “Maybe, probably,” you’re not alone. Many businesses are skipping the critical first step of External Attack Surface Management (EASM): discovery. It might sound like an easy box to tick, but the reality is far more complex – and skipping this step can lead to some very costly mistakes.

The Shadow IT Dilemma

Imagine this: a team somewhere in your organisation spins up a new cloud instance for testing. They’re moving quickly, trying to innovate, and they don’t think twice about opening a particular port to make their lives easier. Fast forward a few months, and that forgotten test instance is still online, still public, and still accessible to anyone with a knack for scanning IP ranges. Congratulations, you’ve just met Shadow IT – one of the most common sources of vulnerability in modern businesses.

It’s not just about rogue cloud instances either. Over time, companies accumulate digital assets like barnacles on a ship’s hull. Old domains, forgotten subdomains, staging servers, or even employee-created tools that weren’t officially sanctioned can all quietly exist in the shadows. And, unless you’re actively looking for them, they’ll continue to do so – until someone with malicious intent finds them first.

The Cost of Not Knowing

Here’s the thing: breaches often come down to something incredibly preventable. A port left open, a forgotten server with an outdated patch, a misconfigured API endpoint – all of these are common entry points for attackers. And it’s maddening because these aren’t sophisticated zero-day exploits. They’re entry-level opportunities handed to attackers on a silver platter.

A significant percentage of breaches could have been avoided if businesses had a complete inventory of their digital assets. This isn’t hyperbole; it’s a sobering reality. Discovery isn’t just a step in a checklist. It’s the foundation of a robust security strategy. If you don’t know what you’re defending, how can you protect it?

Continuous Discovery: Not a One-and-Done Job

This isn’t a task you can do once and forget about. The digital landscape changes constantly. New assets are created, configurations are modified, and the line between internal and external systems blurs. Continuous discovery and monitoring are non-negotiable.

This is where a solid EASM platform like DarkInvader comes in. These platforms are designed to give businesses visibility over their attack surface – not just today, but every day. By continuously discovering and monitoring public-facing assets, they help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

It’s not about playing a game of “gotcha” with your IT teams. It’s about creating a culture where security is proactive, not reactive. When you’re continuously aware of your assets, you can identify risks before they become problems. You’re not scrambling to respond to a breach; you’re preventing it from happening in the first place.

Why Discovery Matters for Everyone

This isn’t just an enterprise-level issue. Small and medium businesses often think they’re not big enough to attract attention from attackers. But in reality, attackers don’t discriminate. Automated tools scan for vulnerabilities across the entire internet. If you’ve got an open door, someone will find it.

Discovery is the great equaliser. Whether you’re a tech giant or a small business, knowing your assets gives you the power to protect them. And in today’s threat landscape, that knowledge is everything.

Wrapping It Up

At the end of the day, EASM starts with discovery and continues with monitoring. These aren’t just technical steps; they’re fundamental shifts in how we approach security. If your business doesn’t have a comprehensive inventory of public-facing assets, now is the time to change that. Don’t wait for a breach to force you into action.

Platforms like DarkInvader’s EASM solutions make this process manageable, efficient, and, most importantly, effective. They help you find what you didn’t know existed, so you can stay ahead of threats instead of constantly playing catch-up.

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