A digital attack surface is an open vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious software to gain unauthorized access to your computer or network. A good example of a digital attack surface would be the login page for your bank account. Read on to learn more
Introduction to Digital Attack Surfaces
Digital attack surfaces are the locations in a network where a cybercriminal can gain access to a system. They can be physical or virtual, but both types of digital attack surfaces should be considered when creating your security plan.
Physical, digital attack surfaces include things like server racks and laptops; these devices are often used by employees who need to access sensitive information on a regular basis. When you’re planning your network security strategy, you should consider how these devices will factor into your plans for guarding against cyberattacks.
Types of Digital Attack Surfaces
There are two types of digital attack surfaces:
- Server-side attack surface: The server-side attack surface is the sum of all the entry points to a system. This includes both internal and external interfaces, such as websites, mobile apps and APIs.
- Client-side attack surface: The client-side attack surface is everything that executes on your computer or device when you use an app or website (like JavaScript).
How Digital Attack Surfaces are Exploited by Cybercriminals
Cybercriminals use digital attack surfaces to gain access to your data and information. A digital attack surface is any part of your network that is exposed to the internet and can be accessed remotely, such as a web server or an email server. As per the specialists at Risk Xchange, “By gaining access to these devices, cybercriminals can exploit them in order to steal sensitive data from you or damage your system.”
Best Practices for Securing Digital Attack Surfaces
- Use a cloud security solution.
- Use a network firewall.
- Employ web application firewalls, which can block attacks as they happen and before they affect your data or networks. They can also detect vulnerabilities and patch them automatically to ensure that your systems stay up-to-date with the latest security measures in place.
- Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS), which monitor all activity on your network and detect suspicious behavior within seconds of it happening, allowing you to take action immediately before any damage is done. NIDS are typically installed directly on servers or routers so they can monitor all traffic entering or leaving them; however, they may also be installed on endpoints such as laptops if there’s no other way for attackers to access them remotely (such as through WiFi).
- Deploy host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDSs), which operate similarly but at an individual computer level instead of across an entire network–they’re often used alongside antivirus software because both programs have different strengths when it comes to detecting threats such as malware infections versus spyware infections. HIDSs must be manually configured by IT professionals who understand how each component works together before deployment; however, this isn’t necessarily difficult if users follow instructions carefully.
The digital attack surface is a complex and dynamic environment. It’s important that you understand how the various components of your organization work together, as well as what their individual vulnerabilities are. To learn more about securing your digital attack surface, contact us today!