In today's digital world, cyber security threats evolve at an alarming rate, making it increasingly difficult for businesses to keep up. Traditional methods such as Penetration Testing or Red Team Testing are often limited to one-off or periodic engagements, which while essential and valuable, may leave gaps in continuous visibility of exposure. This is where Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) steps in, offering a proactive, cyclical approach to ensure businesses are always ahead of the curve.  

CTEM stands for Continuous Threat Exposure Management and refers to a programme involving an integrated, iterative approach to prioritising the response to identified exposures and continually refining security posture improvements. 

Below are some of the key challenges in cyber security that CTEM effectively addresses. 

1. Volume of Vulnerabilities

Businesses, especially those operating across on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments, face an overwhelming volume of vulnerabilities and exposures to deal with. Sorting through this endless stream to identify which threats are the most critical can be a Herculean task for security and IT teams – security to find them and IT teams to resolve them 

How CTEM Addresses This: 
CTEM continuously validates and prioritises the uncovered exposures to see which represent the most risk to the organisation. This enables a very focussed mobilisation of those priorities to focus on which can delivery the most security-enhancement value. Continuous scoping makes sure that all the domains of possible exposure are considered as part of the CTEM programme. 

2. Fragmentation Between Security and IT Teams

Often, security and IT teams operate in silos, leading to misaligned priorities. Security teams may be pushing to resolve every last vulnerability, while IT teams face pressure to keep systems running efficiently and often lack the resources to tackle it all. This misalignment can lead to friction, delays in remediation, and an increased risk of cyberattacks. 

How CTEM Addresses This: 
CTEM fosters collaboration between security and IT teams by establishing a cross-functional programme and providing a clear, prioritised list of actions to take based on risk. This alignment ensures both teams are working towards the same goals, improving the overall security posture without placing undue stress on IT teams​ and 3rd party providers (CTEM as a service Messa…).

3. Limited Internal Resources for Remediation

For many organisations, especially those with smaller teams, addressing the most critical vulnerabilities and exposures is challenging due to limited resources. With competing priorities, remediation efforts can often fall by the wayside, leaving organisations exposed to significant risks. 

How CTEM Addresses This: 
In addition to providing prioritised recommendations, a good CTEM programme includes validation and mobilisation. This agreed approach helps IT teams focus on what matters most, making the remediation process more manageable. For businesses that need extra support, your CTEM provider can also provide resource augmentation, ensuring that vulnerabilities and exposures are addressed swiftly even when internal capacity is low​, or allows you to clear a historic backlog to get to a healthier state (CTEM as a service Messa…)​(CTEM as a service Messa…).

4. Adapting to Emerging Threats

Cyber threats are continuously evolving, and a static, one-time solution is no longer sufficient to maintain a strong defence. The dynamic nature of modern cyberattacks requires ongoing adaptation to new exposures and attack vectors. 

How CTEM Addresses This: 
CTEM operates in a cyclical and iterative manner. By continuously monitoring the threat landscape, it adapts to new exposures and emerging risks dynamically, ensuring organisations are always improving their security posture. This approach provides continuous improvement, allowing businesses to stay ahead of cybercriminals​(CTEM as a service Messa…). 

5. Fear of Financial and Reputational Damage

A data breach can have devastating consequences for any organisation, both financially and in terms of reputation. The fear of a breach often drives businesses to invest heavily in cyber security, but without a clear strategy, these investments may not deliver the desired results. 

How CTEM Addresses This: 
By implementing CTEM, businesses are significantly reducing their risk of a breach. Gartner projects that organisations using continuous exposure management programs are three times less likely to experience a breach by 2026​(CTEM as a service Messa…). This means that businesses can better protect their critical assets while optimising their security investments, resulting in a more secure and cost-effective approach to cyber security. 

CTEM offers a proactive, continuous approach to cyber security, addressing the key challenges organisations face in managing their risk. By providing prioritised insights, fostering collaboration between security and IT teams, and ensuring continuous improvement, CTEM helps businesses significantly strengthen their security posture in a focussed and effective manner.  

To learn more about how CTEM can transform your organisation's cyber security strategy, contact Integrity360 today for a demo or download our brochure​.