CISO Guide: Unified CTEM Platform

Continuous Threat Exposure Management in the Era of Platformization

Introduction

This Guide will provide critical insights for CISOs and security leaders into how CTEM has evolved from its foundational framework to its current model based on a growing demand and preference for unified solutions that transcend simple convenience. Enterprises need a single unified platform that seamlessly combines multiple technologies and a common data model, underscoring the importance of scalability and increased security effectiveness.

By consolidating security tools and test findings in one unified platform, enterprises eliminate the inefficiencies of switching between multiple tools and systems and centralize automated workflows to accelerate the remediation and reporting processes.

 

This CISO Guide will specifically focus on the consolidation of various security tools across different IT environments, providing a unified view of potential threats and enabling more efficient and effective security operations, especially as modern networks become increasing complex and distributed across multiple platforms.

 

Introduction: CTEM Evolution

Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) has rapidly evolved, driven by the need for streamlined, scalable solutions to address growing complexities. Consolidated security testing leads this shift, with a clear trend toward platformization—unifying networks, security, and testing into a single agile system.

Traditional methods for assessing, identifying, and mitigating security risks are no longer sufficient to keep pace with modern adversarial tactics. This evolution calls for a shift toward a proactive, comprehensive framework that enable enterprises to manage exposure across broad and dynamic attack surfaces.

This CISO Guide examines how the CTEM framework aligns with unified platforms that integrate a common data model and security technologies, sharing test findings and contextual evidence to support robust vulnerability identification, correlation, and remediation.

CTEM becomes a critical foundation for reducing risk, improving threat response times, and achieving resilient cyber security operations.

How CTEM Has Evolved: Then and Now

Enterprises are recognizing the necessity of a unified exposure assessment platform to simplify security testing and operations while reducing the overhead of the fragmentation associated with managing disparate systems and tool sprawl.

CTEM Then

The CTEM concept provided a solid foundation, but its structure lacked a unified, data-driven, evidence-based platform and adversarial exposure technologies essential for a proactive security approach. While it emphasized processes like Scoping, Discovery, Prioritization, Validation, and Mobilization, it fell short of incorporating the modern technologies required for effective risk exposure management. Defined as a program rather than a tool, CTEM overlooked the critical role of adversarial exposure platforms in unifying technologies and standardizing data to streamline and elevate threat exposure management.

CTEM Today

In 2025, CISOs and senior level IT decision makers are largely focused on adopting unified exposure assessment platforms designed to integrate emerging technologies, emphasizing unified platforms that provide continuous, automated security testing and evidence of exposure. As a result, exposure management has emerged as a holistic process linked to unified platforms and integrated technologies.

Platform and Technology: CTEM Alignment

Offensive security technologies like Attack Surface Management, PTaaS, continuous pentesting and red teaming, when integrated with a unified exposure assessment platform, form a cohesive foundation aligned with the CTEM framework.

A fully unified platform plays a vital role by centralizing and consolidating common data insights, delivering real-time visibility, prioritizing exposures, and automating response efforts. This synergy aligns closely with CTEM’s goals of providing proactive, continuous, and comprehensive threat exposure management.

Does Your Security Program Align?

Through a unified platform, the unique contributions of each technology solution — from Attack Surface Management (ASM), Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS), to continuous and automated pentesting and red teaming — consolidates test results enabling enterprises to gain end-to-end visibility of their security landscape. This centralized approach enhances an enterprise’s ability to identify and mitigate threats with precision, effectively validating and prioritizing vulnerabilities, and continuously assessing exposures across digital assets.

By aligning security technologies and a unified platform with CTEM, security teams can leverage a streamlined, adaptive, and actionable approach to threat management ultimately driving a stronger, more resilient defense against evolving threats.

Unified Platform: Role in CTEM

All Platforms Are Not Created Equal

A Unified Exposure Assessment Platform is a specialized, unified platform that consolidates and analyzes data from multiple integrated technologies, centralizing threat exposure management. It consolidates vulnerability assessment, risk prioritization, and remediation workflows, continuously identifying and prioritizing exposures across asset types providing end-to-end visibility of the attack surface.

 

ASM: Role in CTEM

Attack Surface Management (ASM) primarily supports the Scoping and Discovery phases of CTEM by identifying and managing an organization’s attack surface. Through continuous monitoring and asset discovery, enterprises are provided with visibility into existing and new assets, helping teams prioritize areas for vulnerability assessment and ensuring comprehensive asset visibility at every stage of exposure.

ASM Alignment with CTEM

ASM typically focus on identifying and managing an organization’s attack surface, helping enterprises understand potential exposures. These solutions continuously map and monitor internal and external assets, often integrating threat intelligence for real-time insights.

Features: Continuous asset discovery, risk assessment, real-time monitoring, integration with CI/CD pipelines.

Benefits: Continuous visibility into new and emerging assets, real-time exposure tracking, streamlined identification of at-risk assets.

Challenges: Limited adversarial simulation capabilities, which may require additional tools for in-depth validation; can struggle with rapid change in dynamic environments.

PTaaS: Role in CTEM

Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) is instrumental in the Threat Exposure and Validation stage of CTEM by simulating attacker techniques to exploit vulnerable assets, test security controls and provide continuous assessment. Pentesting offers evidence-based contextual insights into critical attacker entry points for data-driven decision making to efficiently assess and prioritize security risks for remediation.

PTaaS Alignment with CTEM

PTaaS is integral to CTEM delivering automated continuous penetration testing services that include manual validation for more nuanced findings, integrated with vulnerability management to support proactive remediation.

Features: Automated and human-led pentesting, continuous penetration testing and scanning, integration with SIEM and DevOps tools, customizable testing scopes.

Benefits: Offers adaptive or custom exploit testing, scalable and consistent vulnerability identification and validation, reduced time-to-remediation, all of which are cost-effective for organizations needing frequent pentesting.

Challenges: May rely heavily on automation, lacking nuanced adversarial techniques; some platforms lack evidence-based context and have limited customization options for complex testing needs. Ensure your provider can support test findings with in-depth context and evidence.

BAS: Role in CTEM

Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS), alongside penetration testing, are instrumental in the Threat Exposure stage of CTEM by simulating attacker techniques to test security controls and provide continuous assessment. Their scenario-based simulations offer practical insights into how well an organization’s security measures detect and respond to threats, enhancing readiness and resilience.

BAS Alignment with CTEM

BAS focuses on emulating threat actor techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls. These solutions offer continuous validation through scenario-based simulations, often aligned with frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK.

Features: Automated attack simulations, threat intelligence integration, multi-vector assessments (email, endpoint, network), real-time reporting.

Benefits: Continuous exposure assessment, proactive detection of control weaknesses, compliance support through scenario-based simulations.

Challenges: Primarily simulation-focused, with limited depth for complex vulnerabilities; heavy reliance on pre-configured scenarios rather than adaptive or custom exploit testing.

CART: Role in CTEM

CART (Continuous Adversarial Red Teaming) enhances the mobilization and adversarial validation phases of CTEM by conducting in-depth, continuous red team operations that simulate real adversaries over time. These long-term engagements test organizational resilience and preparedness against sophisticated threats, providing realistic exposure validation and identifying potential security gaps.

CART Alignment with CTEM

CART simulates adversarial behavior over time to test and assess cyber resilience against sophisticated attacks through long-term threat simulations. These solutions offer a comprehensive view of security effectiveness through tailored insights into defense capabilities.

Features: Continuous red teaming, TTP emulation, integration with MITRE ATT&CK, detailed post-engagement reports.

Benefits: Realistic threat exposure insights, tailored adversarial perspectives, support for CTEM’s adversarial validation needs.

Challenges: Requires skilled in-house or external resources for configuration, higher cost due to intensive simulation, may be complex and resource-intensive for smaller teams.

Technology Analysis: CTEM

The matrix below highlights offensive security technologies and platforms (whether fully unified or lacking in CTEM alignment) and how their respective capabilities align with the objectives for Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) as defined today.

BreachLock Solutions: CTEM Alignment

BreachLock Solutions Align with CTEM Framework

BreachLock’s security technologies and Unified Platform align with the CTEM framework, providing security teams with a centralized approach to managing threats. This alignment enhances an enterprise’s ability to respond effectively to emerging threats and sophisticated attack methods, fostering a more robust and adaptable defense.

How BreachLock Can Help

Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS): BreachLock’s PTaaS provides automated on-demand and human-led penetration testing, offering a hybrid approach across a variety of environments. This includes applications (internal and external-facing), APIs, network, cloud, DevOps, and Internet of Things (IoT). By combining human-led expertise with automation, BreachLock ensures comprehensive testing at scale.

Continuous Penetration Testing: BreachLock continuous pentesting and vulnerability scanning assesses exposures and validates mitigation measures put into place. Continuous testing accelerates security prioritization, reduces operational risk, and eliminates the need for costly expertise, processes, and tools.

Attack Surface Management (ASM): BreachLock ASM continuously identifies and prioritizes assets at their most critical entry points in both internal and external environments. Going beyond the attacker’s view, BreachLock ASM provides deep contextual insights and evidence of actual risk creating a roadmap and starting point for risk-based prioritization and remediation.

Red Teaming as a Service (RTaaS): BreachLock red teaming exercises test organizational responses and identify gaps by simulating sophisticated attacks. BreachLock’s RTaaS allows companies to assess response effectiveness against high-impact threats to measure the resilience of security defenses, enhancing situational readiness.

 

Using BreachLock CTEM Technologies Effectively

Continuous Penetration Testing

Effective Use

• Automated, Scheduled Testing: Use of automated tools to run regular, scheduled or on-demand tests that uncover vulnerabilities as changes occur across the attack surface.
• On-demand Testing and Retesting: Enable quick, targeted testing on demand, especially after significant updates or remediation activities, ensuring the mitigation efforts are effective.
• Hybrid Approach (Automated + Human-led): Using a combination of automated testing with certified human-led expertise for critical assets, capturing nuanced vulnerabilities that require expert intervention.

Alignment with CTEM

• Proactive Exposure Validation: Aligns with CTEM by testing how adversaries might exploit vulnerabilities validating that security measures function effectively in a live environment.
• Real-time Threat Exposure Management (TEM): Continuous pentesting feeds into TEM by offering real-time insights into an enterprise’s security posture, enabling faster response to newly discovered risks and accelerating remediation efforts.

 

Attack Surface Management

Effective Use

• Automated Asset Discovery: Continuously scan for new and exposed assets across an enterprise’s internal and external environments, identifying potential vulnerabilities, including Shadow IT, exposed data via the Dark Web, and open ports.
• Risk Prioritization and Contextual Analysis: Use ASM to prioritize assets based on business value, exploitability, and exposure, enabling efficient allocation of security resources.
• Automated Response and Remediation: Set up workflows to trigger alerts and initiate automated responses for Critical to High-risk exposures, reducing manual resources to secure assets promptly.

Alignment with CTEM

• Holistic Threat Exposure Visibility: Supports CTEM by offering a real-time, comprehensive view of the enterprise’s attack surface, monitoring changes as they happen.
• Integration with Threat Exposure Management: ASM feeds into TEM by maintaining a constantly updated inventory of assets and associated weaknesses, allowing security practitioners to proactively address vulnerabilities.

Red Teaming as a Service (RTaaS)

Effective Use

• Full Scope Adversarial Simulation: Employ red teaming to simulate real-world attacks targeting a range of internal and/or external assets using discovered findings through ASM for penetration testing.
• Objective-based Testing: Focus on specific high-value targets or scenarios (e.g., ransomware simulation) that represent the enterprise’s most critical threats.
• Combined with Continuous Pentesting: Use insights from penetration testing to inform red team exercises, ensuring persistent vulnerabilities are examined under adversarial conditions.

Alignment with CTEM

• Adversarial Exposure Validation (AEV): Central to AEV, offers a comprehensive adversarial perspective revealing potential attack paths by exploiting assets under aggressive threat-based conditions.
• Continuous Threat Exposure Management: Red teaming results enhance threat exposure management by identifying patterns in security gaps, contributing data that improves threat identification and visibility across the attack surface.

 

The BreachLock Unified Platform

Effective Use

• Integrated Asset Discovery: The BreachLock Unified Platform provides end-to-end visibility of an enterprise’s assets and attack surface, continuously identifying and mapping exposures in real-time to understand the full extent of potential risks.
• Vulnerability Prioritization & Contextual Insights: Through automated vulnerability assessments and contextualized risk analysis, the unified platform helps prioritize exposures based on severity, exploitability, and business impact.
• Continuous Testing & Monitoring: Automates remediation tasks and offers continuous on-demand retesting to ensure vulnerabilities are properly addressed and mitigated, reducing response times.
• Consolidation of Tools & Workflows: Consolidates tools and workflows, reducing manual efforts and increasing operational efficiency.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Provides detailed insights for informed risk management and compliance alignment.
• Scalability: Handles large volumes of data, supporting security management across complex, distributed environments.

Alignment with CTEM

• Structured Approach to Threat Management: CTEM provides a phased approach to exposure management, helping enterprises evolve from basic vulnerability management to advanced threat exposure insights and action.
• End-to-end Risk Visibility: By leveraging the power of integration and consolidation of multiple tools and capabilities in one data model, this centralized approach provides endless vulnerability clarity and reporting.
• Continuous Maturity Building: The BreachLock Unified Platform supports ongoing security maturation, enabling organizations to continually advance their CTEM program through a common data model to share data-driven insights and drive continuous improvement.

BreachLock Unified Platform

The BreachLock Unified Platform clearly stands out amongst security providers. A consolidated solution with a common data model providing improved operational efficiency, greater transparency, and the flexibility to optimize security testing effectiveness. Aligned with the CTEM framework, BreachLock offers:

I. Platform Integration and Consolidation

Harness a common data model that brings security solutions together under a unified platform to identify and validate threats, map attack paths, and achieve seamless visibility across your entire attack surface — all in one place.

II. CTEM Technology & Tool Alignment

Combines CTEM-relevant technologies, including PTaaS, ASM, continuous penetration testing, and red teaming, all within a unified, CREST-certified platform. The platform leverages AI-driven insights and automation, providing in-depth and continuous exposure management.

III. Continuous Threat Exposure Management

Enhances CTEM through continuous monitoring, automated scanning and retesting, vulnerability prioritization, and rapid reporting. The BreachLock Unified Platform is designed to support high-frequency assessments and on-demand security scanning for ongoing attack surface discovery, web apps, external networks, and APIs.

IV. Centralized Approach

Offers a complete CTEM-aligned solution that leverages the power of integration resulting in a centralized approach to security testing effectiveness and end-to-end visibility of an enterprise’s security landscape for comprehensive asset visibility.

BreachLock’s Value for Enterprises

For enterprises looking to build a strong CTEM program, the BreachLock Unified Platform integrates offensive security solutions and capabilities. By consolidating assets, vulnerabilities, and test findings in one common data model, enterprises eliminate the inefficiencies of switching between multiple tools and systems centralizing automated workflows and accelerating the remediation and reporting processes.

With findings all in one place, the BreachLock Unified Platform consolidates analytics and shares insights across DevSecOps teams enabling faster decision-making based on real threats and their potential impact. With high-fidelity data, users can better understand their vulnerable assets and why they may be business critical.

 

Conclusion

A unified platform integrating proactive security solutions is critical to unlocking the full potential of CTEM. Offensive security solutions ensure that defenses are tested rigorously, emulating real-world attacker tactics to validate security effectiveness, while a fully unified platform provides end-to-end visibility across tools. A common data model is essential to the platform to provide a comprehensive view of inherent risk across assets, correlating real-time assessments and actionable insights. Together, these capabilities support a robust, evidence-based CTEM program that empowers security teams to respond to threats quickly and effectively, minimizing business risk.

By aligning security programs with CTEM, enterprises gain a structured, strategic approach to managing vulnerabilities across every layer of their infrastructure – identifying exposures early and addressing them before an attack occurs.

This shift not only fortifies defenses but also optimizes resource allocation, ensuring that security efforts are focused on what matters most.

 

The importance of aligning an enterprise’s security strategy with the CTEM framework represents an essential, forward-looking approach for comprehensive threat exposure management.

CTEM enables enterprises to shift from a reactive to a proactive security stance, focusing on continuous security testing, prioritization, and mitigation of threats to maintain resilience against adversaries.

 

About BreachLock

 

BreachLock is a global leader in Continuous Attack Surface Discovery and Penetration Testing. Continuously discover, prioritize, and mitigate exposures with evidence-backed Attack Surface Management, Penetration Testing, and Red Teaming.

Elevate your defense strategy with an attacker’s view that goes beyond common vulnerabilities and exposures. Each risk we uncover is backed by validated evidence. We test your entire attack surface and help you mitigate your next cyber breach before it occurs.

Know Your Risk. Contact BreachLock today!