What is Cybersecurity Asset Management & Why It Matters?

If you don't know something exists, you cannot secure it in the field of cybersecurity. Therefore, cybersecurity asset management is an essential part of the framework for cybersecurity operations in enterprises of all sizes. Moreover, it is essential to attain a "whole enterprise" approach to a proactive, end-to-end security strategy. It gives your security team access to a live directory of IT assets and the security threats that go along with them.

The below blog will guide you on asset management in cyber security, its tools, and its benefits.

Introduction to CSAM (Cybersecurity Asset Management)

It is the process of identifying the IT assets that your company owns and any potential security threats or gaps that may affect them. However, assets come in a variety of shapes. They might be conventional technology, such as PCs and servers. Also, they might be specialized IoT, IIoT, or OT devices or software-defined resources. For example, a cloud-based database or a domain owned by the business. Thus, asset management in cyber security has a vast area of applications.

Any device, resource, or service that is a part of your IT estate may be exposed to dangers or flaws. Additionally, an attacker can use a compromised resource as a launching point for a larger attack. So, CSAM has become an integral part of IT infrastructure.

What is Asset in Cyber Security?

Anything valuable to an organization is an asset and it is prone to cyber attacks. These assessments may not be limited to a person, an organization, a computer, or an information technology (IT) system. These assets can be an IT network, an IT circuit, or software (both an installed instance and a physical instance). Even a virtual computing platform (common in cloud and virtualized computing) is an asset in information security.

Thus, IT assets are things that assist companies in carrying out their operations. They can be software, hardware, or cloud resources. One must manage them to maximize production, cut expenses, and ensure compliance. 

Cybersecurity Asset Management Tools

Many new technologies come into your control system environment. But, they come with additional risks and exposure to online attacks. However, new technologies are created with security posture and protection in mind. 

Some of the popular cyber asset management tools are:

1. Asset Panda

It is an asset management tool to track anything, including IT assets. Additionally, Asset Panda offers unlimited user access. Anyone who needs to track IT assets can do so in a single, central location.

2. Freshservice

This cybersecurity asset management tool provides a complete set of IT asset management tools. The platform's automated discovery capabilities are also an essential feature.

3. Upkeep 

UpKeep combines features for enterprise asset management and application performance management. It also covers computerized maintenance management systems into a single solution.

4. ManageEngine’s AssetExplorer 

This is a web-based, all-inclusive cyber asset management application. Teams can manage IT assets, including software and hardware, from deployment to retirement with the help of AssetExplorer. Its key feature is the built-in software license management tools.

5. ServiceNow

IT teams use the platform ServiceNow to link every IT function, from service management to portfolio management. They can also manage the life cycle of software, hardware, and cloud-based assets with its IT Asset Management service. From IT asset offboarding to hardware asset management and other features, built-in capabilities cover it all.

Benefits of an Asset Management Cyber Security Framework

CSAM helps to build a complete security strategy that quickly and proactively mitigates threats. Additionally, it gives your security team and the entire company the insight they need. Such a strategy offers many key benefits.

1. Active response

CSAM enables security teams to identify risks in any asset in cyber security before they develop into major issues. Thus, teams can respond before an active attack is noticed. They continuously scan the IT environment for new deployments and hazards.

2. Cybersecurity is not a distraction

Companies may deploy new IT services or resources without allowing security to become a barrier or a distraction. They must have a robust cybersecurity asset management process in place. With a proper CSAM strategy, they can identify any possible weaknesses.

3. Protection visibility

If an attack does take place, CSAM gives the security team a list of the assets and risks that it can use to learn what went wrong and when. Moreover, teams have access to an up-to-date record that they can use instantly. Thus, it saves them from deploying and configuring everything again.

What a Poor CSAM Results In?

Insufficient cybersecurity Asset management does more than just increase the difficulty of security operations. Thus, it generates major hazards for the entire business. The greatest of these is a greater chance of business interruptions. A breach could prevent the business from operating if it renders crucial data. Such interruptions not only damage the company's reputation but also have severe financial repercussions.

Moreover, maintaining a constant inventory of IT resources is also challenging by poor CSAM. You may start guessing about where the greatest risks are. This is because you are unaware of what is present in your company's IT estate. This uncertainty makes it more challenging to use security resources effectively.

Furthermore, inefficient CSAM hinders the effectiveness of security teams. Automation of security operations is also difficult in the absence of a precise inventory of the resources.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity asset management is the ability of a company to perform and maintain an accurate inventory of all cyber-enabled technology. It includes both hardware and software. Thus, you must first identify all the computers in your industrial control environment. It will help to effectively manage additions, deletions, and changes to these devices. Moreover, you can develop a strong cybersecurity program if you know what digital devices you need to manage and secure.

Frequently Asked Questions