In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) market has undergone significant transformations. What began as a reactive approach focused on detecting and responding to threats has now matured into a more comprehensive strategy that includes proactive measures to manage and mitigate cyber risks.
At the forefront of this evolution is the integration of Exposure Management technologies, aligning with Gartner's Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) framework. This shift from a reactive to a prevention-first approach, embodied by innovations such as Adaptive Exposure Management and Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD), is paving the way for a more resilient and adaptive cybersecurity posture.
MDR services were initially designed to provide organizations with 24/7, human-led security operations that could quickly detect, investigate, and respond to threats. This model offered a turnkey solution that was particularly valuable for organizations lacking the internal resources to maintain a fully operational Security Operations Center (SOC).
In recent years, a vendor’s emphasis on threat response (the ‘R’ in MDR) became a key differentiator in distinguishing ‘true’ MDR providers from more immature or MSSP-centric vendors, and by extension a firm’s threat containment and remediation capabilities.
However, as cyber threats grew more sophisticated, it became clear that traditional MDR's reactive nature—focused primarily on detection and response—was not sufficient. According to Gartner: "Misnamed technology-first offerings that fail to deliver human-driven managed detection and response (MDR) services are confusing buyers looking to identify and select an outcome-driven provider."1
This highlighted the need for a more holistic approach that not only reacts to threats but also anticipates and mitigates them before they can cause harm. As the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; in the realm of MDR true threat prevention remains a challenge. Yet the nature of increasingly complex cyber threats like fileless and in-memory attacks means that even the most sophisticated MDR provider may not be able to stop evasive attacks before they do significant damage.
The next logical step in the evolution of MDR is the integration of Exposure Management. This proactive approach focuses on identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and other security gaps before they can be exploited by attackers. Gartner's CTEM framework emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptation to new threats, which aligns perfectly with the goals of Exposure Management.
Exposure Management involves a series of proactive measures designed to reduce the attack surface and manage security risks more effectively.
Key components include:
By incorporating these elements into MDR services, organizations can shift from a purely reactive stance to one that is both proactive and preventive.
Gartner's Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) framework outlines a structured approach to managing and mitigating threats continuously. According to Gartner: "By 2026, Organizations prioritizing their security investments based on a continuous exposure management program will be three times less likely to suffer from a breach."2
This prediction underscores the growing importance of exposure management in the cybersecurity landscape. Key Components of CTEM include:
Integrating these components into MDR services ensures a more robust and adaptive cybersecurity posture that:
Supports Transitioning to a Protection-First Approach — The traditional MDR model's reactive nature has its limitations. To achieve a truly resilient cybersecurity posture, organizations must adopt a protection-first approach. This involves not just detecting and responding to threats but actively preventing them through continuous risk management and adaptive security measures.
Provides Adaptive Exposure Management — Adaptive Exposure Management is a key component of this protection-first strategy. It involves dynamically adjusting security controls based on real-time threat intelligence and risk assessments. This approach ensures that security measures are always aligned with the current threat landscape.
Reduces the Attack Surface with CTEM — CTEM is a systematic approach and program used to identify, assess, and mitigate attack vectors and security risks linked to digital assets. However, pinpointing and prioritizing vulnerable digital assets with accuracy poses a challenge for IT and security teams juggling resource limitations, process inefficiencies, and an overwhelming influx of telemetry data. Recognizing this, organizations are turning their attention to Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) to contain the attack surface.
In recent years, enterprise teams have focused on implementing CTEM by enhancing vulnerability management, particularly by increasing the speed and quantity of patching, and improving the efficiency of breach detection and response. But despite these efforts, cyber risk and cyber-attacks continue to climb.
According to Gartner: “Enterprises fail to reduce their patchable and unpatchable exposures to threats, yet keep implementing siloed and narrow remediation processes. IT leaders must implement continuous and repeatable exposure management processes, optimizing short-term response and longer-term security posture.” 2
This has created a juncture point that has most cybersecurity practitioners asking three critical questions:
Gartner recommends that: “Security and risk management teams progressively add notions of the CTEM framework to their existing practices.” 2
Gartner states: “Continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) is an umbrella program for forward-looking and sustainable approaches to exposure reduction. Implementing CTEM enables closer alignment to business needs and risk impact. CTEM involves business leadership in identifying key assets and processes to defend against cyberattacks/business disruption.” 2
Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) is another critical innovation that supports a protection-first approach. AMTD leverages polymorphism in memory to lead attackers astray, making it significantly harder for them to exploit vulnerabilities. This dynamic alteration of the attack surface creates a constantly shifting target, disrupting the attacker's kill chain and enhancing overall security.
According to Gartner, "Turnkey threat detection, investigation and response (TDIR) capabilities are a core requirement for buyers of MDR services, who demand remotely delivered services deployed quickly and predictably."1
By integrating AMTD into MDR services, organizations can meet these demands while significantly enhancing their defensive capabilities. The integration of Exposure Management and AMTD into MDR services offers several key benefits including:
Morphisec is leading the charge in ransomware defense as the industry’s first provider to seamlessly integrate crucial elements — ransomware protection, AMTD, and CTEM —into a single, powerful solution.
Built on Morphisec’s pioneering AMTD technology, the Anti-Ransomware Assurance Suite provides multiple distinct layers of anti-ransomware protection, pre-emptively reducing an organization’s exposure, and proactively preventing attacks at multiple phases. Additionally, it protects critical system resources and data when ransomware attempts to execute, reducing mean time to recovery.
Its three distinct modules include:
The Anti-Ransomware Assurance Suite is designed to help organizations enhance their overall security posture. It provides improved visibility into threat exposure, enabling better preparation for rapid response and recovery, ultimately ensuring operational readiness.
Consider the example of Omega Systems, an award-winning MSP and MSSP that recently enhanced its endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution with Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD). Prior to this enhancement, Omega Systems relied on traditional EDR technology, which, according to market research, fails to detect or prevent as much as one-third of all endpoint security threats.
Within six months of implementing AMTD, Omega Systems noticed a significant reduction in security incidents. The continuous monitoring and proactive risk management measures identified and mitigated several critical vulnerabilities, preventing potential breaches. Additionally, the implementation of AMTD created a more challenging environment for attackers, further enhancing the organization's security posture.
According to Omega Systems COO Ben Tercha, "Over time, our Security Operations team has noticed a shift in power between sophisticated threat actors and standard EDR defense capabilities – and the balance continues to tip in the wrong direction. By embedding AMTD into our existing endpoint security solution, we can deliver a fully optimized endpoint security solution and better protect our customers against these sophisticated threats."
The evolution of the MDR market to include Exposure Management and align with Gartner's CTEM framework represents a significant advancement in cybersecurity. By shifting from a reactive detection and response approach to a prevention-first strategy, organizations can achieve a more resilient and adaptive cybersecurity posture.
Morphisec is at the forefront of this evolution, offering innovative solutions such as Adaptive Exposure Management and AMTD. These technologies provide the proactive and dynamic security measures necessary to stay ahead of sophisticated cyber threats.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, it is imperative for organizations to adopt a comprehensive approach that integrates both reactive and proactive measures. By embracing the evolved MDR model, organizations and their managed service providers can not only protect against current threats but also anticipate and mitigate future risks, ensuring continuous operational continuity and safeguarding critical assets.
MSP and MSSP product and service managers can learn more about evolving MDR with Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) and Adaptive Exposure Management in the
References:
1Gartner, Market Guide for Managed Detection and Response, June 24, 2024
2Gartner, Implement a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) Program, 11 October, 2023