Cybersecurity Science with Shawn Riley

Introduction: In the constantly changing and developing cybersecurity landscape, the attack surface of modern enterprises has grown complex, leading to fatigue. Gartner, a leading research firm, has identified Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) as one of the top cybersecurity trends in 2023. As per Gartner, by 2026, organizations that prioritize their security investments based on a CTEM program will experience two-thirds fewer breaches. This article provides an overview of the concept of CTEM, its significance, and how it can be effectively implemented. What is CTEM? Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is a proactive approach to cybersecurity. It involves continually monitoring an organization's external surfaces, assessing vulnerabilities, and taking appropriate actions to reduce security risks. The primary goal is safeguarding the organization's digital and physical assets by implementing robust remediation plans aligned with the exposed surface vulnerabil

The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) is a revolutionary tool in the realm of cybersecurity, providing a fundamentally new capability for efficient, data-driven vulnerability management. Developed by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), EPSS is a data-driven effort that uses current threat information from Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) and real-world exploit data to predict the likelihood of a vulnerability being exploited. The website for the EPSS is: https://www.first.org/epss/ The Intricacies of the EPSS Model The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) model is a sophisticated tool that quantifies the likelihood of a vulnerability being exploited. It does this by generating a probability score that ranges between 0 and 1, or equivalently, 0 and 100%. A higher score signifies a greater probability that a given vulnerability will be exploited. The computation of this score is not a simple process; it involves a comprehensive analysis of vari

In the complex and ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, organizations are constantly faced with the challenge of protecting their digital assets from a wide array of threats. One of the key strategies in this endeavor is Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (RBVM), a cybersecurity process that goes beyond traditional vulnerability management. While the broader concept of risk management focuses on the selection, implementation, and assessment of security controls, RBVM emphasizes the identification and prioritization of cyber vulnerabilities based on the risk they pose to an organization. Understanding RBVM RBVM is a proactive approach to cybersecurity that identifies and prioritizes vulnerabilities based on their potential impact on an organization's network. The goal is to reduce the risk to a network by assessing vulnerabilities for risk factors and prioritizing responses to critical vulnerabilities. This approach allows organizations to focus their resources on the vulnerabilit

I. Introduction A. Background on Cybersecurity Threats Cybersecurity threats are an ongoing concern for organizations of all sizes and across all industries. As technology continues to evolve and become more integral to business operations, the threat landscape also becomes more complex and sophisticated. Cyber attackers are constantly seeking new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems. The consequences of a successful cyber attack can be severe, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences. Therefore, it is critical for organizations to have effective cybersecurity strategies in place to identify and mitigate potential threats. B. Definition of Attack Path Scenarios Attack Path Scenarios are a type of threat scenario used in cybersecurity to show the step-by-step sequence of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that a cyber attacker may use to penetrate a system, gain access to sensitive data, and ach