In response, Gartner introduced the broader concept of continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) in 2022, and it has been evolving in the years since then. CTEM is a structured program that gives security teams a systematic way to identify and prioritize the threats that are most likely to cause business harm. It emphasizes evaluating traditional attack vectors like software vulnerabilities alongside less obvious threats, such as misconfigured cloud security settings, compromised credentials, unsafe email practices, and risky user behavior, to gain a more holistic view of threat exposure. This in turn allows organizations to focus their investments and activity in the areas that will have the greatest impact on risk.

But as with many general-purpose frameworks that Gartner or others introduce, it can be challenging to understand how to turn the concepts behind CTEM into a practical and executable strategy tailored to your organization’s unique risks.