By Nemanja Krstić, Operations Manager – Managed Security Services at Galix
Every organisation today operates in a complex, interconnected digital environment that extends far beyond its traditional perimeter.
Cloud workloads, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, remote devices and third-party integrations have created countless entry points for attackers.
While most businesses focus on securing the “front door”, the real risk often lies in the forgotten side doors, service hatches and unguarded windows that make up the modern attack surface.
Attack Surface Management (ASM) addresses this challenge by providing a complete, real-time view of an organisation’s digital footprint.
It identifies assets, exposes vulnerabilities and allows security teams to see the environment the way an attacker would. However, visibility alone is not enough.
Organisations need continuous analysis, automated processes and 24/7 oversight, which is why Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) play a crucial role.
From reactive defence to continuous visibility
Traditional security models rely on scheduled assessments such as weekly scans, monthly patches or quarterly audits.
ASM replaces them with continuous monitoring, automatically discovering and analysing every element of an organisation’s technology estate, from core systems to previously unidentified assets.
By providing an ongoing, comprehensive view of risk, ASM allows security teams to detect and prioritise vulnerabilities as they arise.
This shift towards continuous visibility strengthens both responsiveness and resilience, ensuring issues are addressed before they escalate into incidents.
Strengthening protection in multi-cloud and hybrid environments
As businesses expand into multi-cloud and hybrid ecosystems, visibility becomes even more critical. Most organisations rely on a mix of hyperscaler cloud providers and other SaaS tools, each with its own security model and potential weak points.
When these systems are interconnected, a single compromise can cascade across multiple environments.
ASM helps organisations understand these interdependencies. By offering a unified, contextualised view of their attack surface, it becomes possible to identify where security controls are strongest and where additional measures are needed.
It also plays a vital role in addressing shadow IT: the unsanctioned devices, applications and cloud services that employees introduce to stay productive.
These tools often fall outside governance and compliance frameworks, creating data leakage risks that are invisible to traditional monitoring. ASM, supported by clear policy and process, helps bring these assets into view and under control.
The role of MSSPs in delivering scalable protection
Many organisations lack the specialised skills and knowledge, as well as the robust platforms and ability to conduct ongoing analysis, which are required to implement and maintain effective ASM.
By offering a combination of technical capability, consulting and advisory expertise, MSSPs can help to bridge this gap. They assist clients with automating remediation workflows, interpreting results and deploying and integrating ASM tools.
Scalability is a major benefit of the managed service model. Businesses can use ASM as a service, paying for only the features they require while still having access to enterprise-level analytics, reporting and monitoring.
This adaptability ensures cost-effectiveness without sacrificing protection by enabling security operations to adapt dynamically to meet business activity.
In addition, MSSPs offer a maturity advantage. They can benchmark clients’ security postures, find best practices and match ASM activities with established governance frameworks, thanks to their cross-industry experience.
They help businesses to transform their security from a reactive process into a robust, adaptable, proactive function by integrating automated response and continuous monitoring into routine operations.
Building resilience through insight and partnership
The modern attack surface evolves constantly, shaped by new technologies, integrations and business initiatives.
Effective protection therefore requires both comprehensive visibility and operational agility. Attack Surface Management provides the visibility; a trusted Managed Security Service Provider delivers the agility to act on it.
Together, they enable organisations to prioritise critical risks, strengthen defences where they matter most, and uphold compliance and resilience in a continuously shifting threat landscape.
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