Attack Path Mapping + SPM: The Dynamic Duo of Cyber Risk Management

New to the Seguri blog? Read our previous posts on these topics: Prioritize Your Security Roadmap with Threat Modelling Security Posture Management: Beyond the Buzzword

Attack Path Mapping + SPM: The One-Two Punch Your Security Strategy Needs

In the world of cybersecurity, we’re always looking for the next big thing to give us an edge. Well, folks, we’ve found it. It’s not a shiny new tool or a fancy AI algorithm (though those are cool too). It’s the combination of two powerful approaches: Attack Path Mapping and Security Posture Management (SPM). Buckle up, because this dynamic duo is about to revolutionize how you prioritize and manage risk.

The Problem: Too Much Noise, Not Enough Signal

Let’s face it: most organizations are drowning in security alerts, vulnerabilities, and potential risks. It’s like trying to drink from a fire hose while juggling chainsaws. You know you need to prioritize, but how do you decide what’s truly critical when everything seems important?

Enter Our Heroes: Attack Path Mapping and SPM

Attack Path Mapping: The Treasure Map of Vulnerabilities

Think of attack path mapping as drawing a treasure map for hackers (except you’re the one who’s going to find and protect the treasure). It shows you:

• Potential routes attackers might take through your network
• Choke points where multiple attack paths converge
• High-value targets that attackers are likely aiming for

Security Posture Management: Your Security Fitness Tracker

SPM, as we’ve discussed before, is like a fitness tracker for your entire security infrastructure. It gives you:

• A holistic view of your security stance
• Continuous assessment and improvement
• Alignment between security metrics and business risks

The Magic Happens When You Combine Them

When you overlay attack path mapping onto your SPM framework, suddenly you’ve got a risk prioritization powerhouse. Here’s why:

1. Context is King: SPM gives you the big picture, while attack path mapping shows you the specific vulnerabilities that matter most.

2. Prioritization on Steroids: Focus on vulnerabilities that are part of critical attack paths first.

3. Proactive Defense: Identify and shore up weak points before attackers can exploit them.

4. Efficient Resource Allocation: Direct your limited resources to the areas that will have the biggest impact.

5. Better Business Alignment: Translate technical vulnerabilities into business risks more effectively.

How to Make This Dynamic Duo Work for You

1. Map Your Attack Paths: Use tools and techniques to identify potential routes attackers might take.

2. Assess Your Security Posture: Get a holistic view of your current security stance.

3. Overlay and Analyze: Combine the two to identify high-risk areas and critical choke points.

4. Prioritize and Plan: Focus on addressing vulnerabilities that are part of multiple attack paths or lead to high-value assets.

5. Implement and Iterate: Take action on your priorities, then reassess and adjust.

6. Rinse and Repeat: This isn’t a one-time thing. Keep mapping, assessing, and improving.

Real-World Example: The Power of Combination

Imagine you’re securing a large e-commerce platform. Your SPM shows that overall, your security posture is pretty good. But your attack path mapping reveals a vulnerable third-party payment plugin that’s part of multiple attack paths leading to your customer data storage.

Without attack path mapping, you might have overlooked this plugin, focusing instead on more obvious (but less critical) vulnerabilities. By combining the two approaches, you’ve identified a high-priority risk that could have serious business impacts.

The Bottom Line

Combining attack path mapping with SPM isn’t just smart—it’s a game-changer. It takes you from playing whack-a-mole with vulnerabilities to strategically fortifying your defenses where it matters most.

Ready to supercharge your risk management strategy? Let’s talk about how to make this dynamic duo work for your organization. Because in the world of cybersecurity, the best defense is a smart offense.

Remember: In chess, the masters don’t just protect their pieces—they control the board. It’s time to start playing chess with your cybersecurity strategy.