In this post, I will expand on my previous discussions on attack surface management (ASM) with an overview of how identity management intersects with ASM and its impact. With the adoption of cloud services and the need to support remote work, the enterprise attack surface has expanded significantly. While planning to identify and reduce risk across the attack surface, organizations cannot overlook the importance of identity as an attack surface, as it creates even greater opportunities for attackers to exploit. Attacks such as credential stuffing, phishing, or privilege escalation often exploit weaknesses in identity systems to gain footholds within an organization’s network.

What is the Identity Attack Surface?

The identity attack surface refers to the broad range of systems within an organization’s network that authenticate users or automated interactions. The identity attack surface includes any system or service that relies on verifying an identity before granting access to corporate resources. Most enterprises are faced with managing hybrid environments due to the adoption of cloud solutions, and as a result, the scope of what constitutes the identity attack surface has expanded significantly, creating more potential entry points for attackers.

At the core of the identity attack surface are user directories, such as Active Directory and Azure Active Directory, which store and manage users’ credentials across the organization. These directories serve as a central hub for authentication, meaning they play a critical role in granting or denying access to systems based on an individual’s identity. If compromised, attackers could potentially gain access to a wide array of internal resources, making the security of these directories’ paramount.

Authentication mechanisms also contribute to the identity attack surface. These mechanisms, whether traditional password-based or more advanced multi-factor authentication (MFA) systems, ensure that only authorized users can access certain systems or data. If these mechanisms are weak or misconfigured, attackers may find ways to bypass them, gaining access to sensitive information or internal systems.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems are designed to control and monitor access across an organization’s network, providing a set of policies and processes to manage identities and their associated privileges. IAM solutions often integrate with a variety of applications and services, making them a critical point of vulnerability in an organization’s security posture. Poorly implemented IAM controls can leave gaps that attackers can exploit, enabling them to escalate privileges or access sensitive data.

Why Identity Management Matters for Attack Surface Management

A recent Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report highlights that the human element is responsible for initiating 82% of breaches. Whether attackers use social engineering tactics or stolen credentials, the underlying theme is that identities are often the primary vector for gaining unauthorized access. In almost all cases, it is the compromise of an individual’s identity that allows attackers to bypass defenses and infiltrate systems.

As organizations increasingly rely on cloud services and interconnected systems, identities are now frequently shared or federated across multiple platforms, which makes it easier for attackers to target them. This expanded attack surface presents more opportunities for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in the systems that manage these identities.

Privileged access accounts, which are often overprivileged or carry standing access, pose significant risks when they are compromised. These accounts can provide attackers with unrestricted access to critical systems and sensitive data, potentially allowing them to carry out devastating actions. When attackers gain control of such accounts, the potential damage can be far-reaching.

Weak identity controls within an organization can facilitate lateral movement across its network. Once an attacker gains initial access, poor identity management practices may allow them to escalate their privileges and move deeper into the network. This can lead to broader compromise of sensitive assets and further undermine the organization’s security posture.

Integrating Identity Management into ASM

Integrating identity data within your ASM strategy can greatly enhance threat visibility by adding valuable context on user risk. By feeding identity and access data into an ASM platform, organizations can gain a clearer understanding of who has access to which assets, enabling IT and cybersecurity teams to assess and prioritize vulnerabilities more effectively across the attack surface. This approach helps focus security efforts where the impact of a breach would be highest, improving overall risk management.

Recognizing that identity plays a growing role in their attack surface, organizations can shift their focus to proactively safeguarding one of the most valuable components of their security infrastructure. Identity management should no longer be seen as a secondary concern but as a core element of an overall ASM strategy. Integrating robust identity and access controls into this strategy allows companies to identify vulnerabilities early, enforce consistent authentication practices, and ensure that only authorized individuals or systems can access sensitive resources. This approach enables organizations to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats by tightly controlling who has access to what, when, and why, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.