Co-authored by Thomas Green and Sid Nanda
What is Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)?
Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is a five-stage, continuous security program introduced by Gartner in 2022. It proactively assesses an organization’s exposure across networks, systems, cloud infrastructure, IoT devices, applications, and identities. Unlike traditional vulnerability assessments, CTEM prioritizes risk mitigation strategies and iteratively refines security postures through continuous validation and remediation.
By emphasizing offensive security techniques such as continuous red teaming and simulation-based testing, CTEM goes beyond basic vulnerability prioritization to identify and address weaknesses before adversaries can exploit them. The result is an adaptable, intelligence-driven security framework that enables organizations to transition from reactive defenses to proactive resilience.
Why Should Service Providers Care?
The MSSP market is increasingly competitive, and differentiation is critical. Gartner has identified CTEM as a key opportunity for MSSPs in 2024, emphasizing that “product leaders who differentiate their portfolios by offering services that result in prioritized remediation outcomes and measured reduction in exposure stand out in the crowded MSSP market.”
Moreover, the expansion of the attack surface - combined with the inability to patch all vulnerabilities in a timely manner -has made traditional vulnerability management insufficient. MSSPs must demonstrate how their services deliver tangible security benefits to customers. A well-structured CTEM program enables MSSPs to provide a continuous, data-driven security validation framework that reduces risk while aligning stakeholders across IT, security, and leadership teams.
CTEM: A Programmatic Approach
Unlike traditional security programs that rely on static tools, CTEM is an adaptive program that integrates offensive security methodologies, including red teaming, penetration testing, vulnerability management, cloud security posture management, and web application security. This holistic approach ensures alignm ..
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