Attack Surface Management

Struggling to keep up with the challenges of an expanding attack surface? You’re not alone.

Rootshell Security helps you stay ahead by continuously monitoring your attack surface, uncovering unidentified vulnerabilities, and responding to growing threats in real time.

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What Is Attack Surface Management?

Attack Surface Management (ASM) is the process of identifying, monitoring, and reducing all potential entry points, known as the attack surface, that an attacker could exploit within an organisation’s digital environment. This includes everything from internet-facing assets like web applications, IP addresses, and cloud services, to less visible components such as third-party vendors, shadow IT, and forgotten or misconfigured systems. If your organization doesn’t have clear visibility into its internal and external assets, it cannot protect them from cyber threats.

Types of attack surfaces

In the context of ASM, understanding the various types of attack surfaces is essential for organizations to protect their digital assets and enhance their defensive structure. An attack surface refers to all the possible points where an unauthorized user or threat actor can try to enter or extract data. These surfaces are categorized mainly into three types:
Physical attack surface
Physical attack surface
The physical attack surface includes tangible elements like computers, servers, network devices, and other hardware components. Security teams must be vigilant about ports such as USB interfaces and other physical interaction points.

Key features

network attack surface
Digital/network attack surface
This type encompasses all digital assets connected to a network, including web applications, cloud services, and various internet-facing assets. Digital surfaces are dynamic and constantly evolving, especially with the increasing adoption of cloud computing.

Key features

Human attack surface
Human attack surface
The human attack surface refers to potential security risks from employee actions or behavior. This can include susceptibility to phishing attacks, poor password management, or inadvertent disclosure of sensitive data.

Key features

Understanding diverse attack surfaces is crucial. To effectively manage these diverse attack surfaces, organizations must employ a robust EASM strategy.

Key components of this strategy include asset discovery, implementing cybersecurity solutions, and fostering a culture of security awareness.

The benefits of this approach are clear. By recognizing and securing each type of attack surface (internal and external), businesses can significantly mitigate the risks of cyber-attacks and strengthen their overall security posture.

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Discover What ASM Can Do For You

ASM solutions are designed to provide real-time visibility into an organization’s digital footprint, allowing security teams to identify potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors. ASM solutions offer a range of functionalities, including:

ASM tools help organizations discover and catalogue all digital assets, including those previously unknown, thereby minimizing blind spots.

ASM solutions assess potential vulnerabilities within an organization’s digital infrastructure, allowing your team to prioritise remediation efforts effectively.

ASM solutions integrate with other security tools, automating tasks like patch management and remediation, streamlining your security workflow.

Integrating threat intelligence feeds into ASM solutions enhances an organization’s ability to stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

ASM tools provide real-time monitoring of the attack surface, enabling rapid response to any suspicious activities or security incidents.

Safeguard your business with expert attack surface management solutions

How Attack Surface Management Works

Attack Surface Management works through several key steps that help identify, assess, and reduce your exposure to threats.

ASM begins with identifying all internet-facing assets across your environment.. This includes: Known assets like managed servers, endpoints, and websites. Unknown or shadow assets, such as unapproved cloud tools or forgotten infrastructure. Third-party assets from vendors or SaaS providers connected to your environment. Subsidiary assets inherited from acquisitions or partner networks. Malicious or rogue assets, such as phishing sites or leaked data on the dark web.

Once assets are discovered, they’re categorised, linked to owners, and assessed for vulnerabilities. ASM tools examine factors like misconfigurations, outdated software, or open ports, and determine how likely each asset is to be exploited. Threat intelligence feeds, vulnerability data, and simulated attacks (like red teaming) are often used to calculate risk scores and inform prioritisation.

Security teams act on high-priority risks first, fixing vulnerabilities, securing weak points, retiring exposed legacy assets, or bringing unmanaged tools under policy. Broader controls, like MFA or least privilege access, may also be rolled out across the environment to reduce systemic risk.

ASM is not a one-time exercise. As assets change or grow, ASM tools scan and alert teams in real time to any new exposures, ensuring your security posture evolves as fast as your infrastructure does.

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What is Included in Rootshell’s ASM services?

Our attack surface management services include a thorough vulnerability management process and external asset discovery, providing a detailed overview of potential risks within an organization’s attack surface.

Our asset discovery feature monitors for Typosquat domain and subdomain alterations, changes in public IP port/protocol configurations, and any signs of credential leakage, ensuring a proactive defence against cyber threats.

Recognized industry leader in penetration testing as a service (PTaaS)

Rootshell ASM package

12-month contract + access to The Rootshell Platform included

Build your package:

Plus see your EASM, penetration testing and vulnerability data in one single view, in the The Rootshell Platform

Rootshell ASM package

12-month contract + access to The Rootshell Platform included

Build your package:

Plus see your EASM, penetration testing and vulnerability data in one single view, in the The Rootshell Platform

Boost your security
posture with effective
attack surface
management





    Frequently Asked Questions

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    You can always Contact Our Team of experts for a chat!

    Modern IT environments are dynamic, with new assets appearing regularly. ASM helps security teams stay ahead by detecting unknown, unmanaged, or third-party assets and securing them before attackers exploit them.

    External ASM focuses on internet-facing assets, those visible to attackers without credentials, while broader ASM may include internal systems, configurations, and insider threat considerations.

    At Rootshell, we offer a combination of advanced technology and expert insight. Our Attack Surface Management solution blends continuous asset discovery and vulnerability scanning with consultancy and penetration testing. Backed by a trusted platform and experienced security professionals, Rootshell helps organisations reduce blind spots and prioritise real threats.

    An attack surface includes all entry points that could be exploited by a threat actor, such as:

    • Public-facing domains and subdomains
    • IP addresses and servers
    • APIs and endpoints
    • Cloud services and misconfigured assets
    • Third-party and supply chain components

    ASM is typically used by:

    • Security teams (SOC, Red Team, Blue Team)
    • IT operations and network admins
    • Compliance and risk management teams