Why Controlling Your Attack Surface Is Now Mission-Critical for Mid-Market Companies

A Forrester Consulting study commissioned by WithSecure reveals that European mid-sized firms are losing visibility and control over their digital environments – just as regulators tighten expectations. Here's how IT and risk leaders can regain the upper hand.

In a world of expanding digital ecosystems, your company’s greatest vulnerability may be the assets you can’t see. 

That’s the stark reality facing many mid-sized businesses across Europe, where hybrid cloud, SaaS proliferation, remote work, and complex partner networks have pushed security teams to their limits. In fact, 53% of mid-market organizations (defined as organizations with 5,000 or fewer employees) say their attack surface is too large to manage, according to a 2024 Forrester Consulting study commissioned by WithSecure*. 

And the risks go far beyond technical debt. As the EU tightens enforcement of GDPR and rolls out the NIS2 Directive, attack surface management is no longer just a best practice – it’s a compliance and business imperative. 

The Forrester study paints a clear picture of a widening gap between perception and reality in mid-market cyber security: 

• 63% of companies experienced a data breach in the past 12 months 
• Despite high awareness, just 72% manage vulnerabilities effectively 

These are not isolated issues – they’re systemic symptoms of overwhelmed security programs that lack full visibility into their digital footprint. And with NIS2 imposing stricter obligations and personal accountability on executives, the pressure on IT and risk leaders has never been higher.

Think of your attack surface as every potential entry point a threat actor could exploit – from endpoints and cloud resources to forgotten APIs and third-party integrations. The more complex your digital environment, the more difficult it becomes to monitor, secure, and govern.

Left unmanaged, your attack surface becomes a breeding ground for:

• Blind spots that attackers can exploit undetected

• Compliance failures, especially around vulnerability management and incident readiness 

• Resource drain, as IT teams spend their time reacting to threats instead of preventing them

The solution isn’t just visibility – it’s control. And control begins with a proactive, exposure-led approach to cyber security.

The European Union’s NIS2 Directive significantly raises the bar for cyber risk management, especially for mid-sized firms in critical sectors like manufacturing, retail, finance, and technology. Unlike previous directives, NIS2 demands active, demonstrable control over your security posture.

Key implications for IT and risk managers include:

• Broader Scope: More organizations are now in-scope – including many that previously weren’t covered

• Executive Accountability: Senior leadership is personally liable for non-compliance 

• Operational Requirements: Security testing, vulnerability handling, and incident response must be embedded and verifiable

In this new regulatory environment, attack surface management is compliance management. And those who can’t prove resilience risk not only breaches, but also serious regulatory consequences.

The good news? Regaining control over your digital exposure doesn’t require enterprise-scale tools – or budgets. Based on insights from the Forrester study and mid-market best practices, here’s how to get started:

1. Map Your Attack Surface

Start with a complete inventory of your digital assets: cloud infrastructure, endpoints, applications, and third-party services. Don’t overlook shadow IT and forgotten systems – they’re among the most common sources of breach.

2. Prioritize by Business Impact 

Not all vulnerabilities are equal. Focus first on those that threaten critical data, revenue-generating services, or regulatory obligations. Leverage exposure management tools that provide business-context insights, not just raw alerts.

3. Test Continuously

Security is not static. Run red -team exercises, simulate breaches, and conduct real-world testing to ensure your defenses are actually effective. NIS2 emphasizes this point: you must be able to prove resilience – not just plan for it.

4. Automate Where Possible 

Many mid-sized IT teams are stretched thin. Automating elements of vulnerability detection, patching, and incident response frees up valuable time and reduces human error.

5. Partner Intelligently

According to the Forrester survey, 56% of mid-market companies rely on managed security services. But outsourcing alone isn’t enough. Choose partners who operate under co-security models – working alongside your team, not replacing them, and aligning with EU regulations and privacy norms.

The right approach to attack surface management delivers more than just regulatory peace of mind. It enhances trust, reduces response time, and positions your business as a secure partner in an increasingly interconnected economy. 

Companies that take control of their exposure now will be better positioned to: 

• Respond swiftly to incidents 
• Prove compliance in audits 
• Earn customer confidence in privacy-centric markets 

And with growingthe growing customer preference for European security vendors, aligning your security strategy with EU standards also strengthens your market credibility. 

Ask yourself:

• Do we have a clear, up-to-date view of all assets and exposures?

• Can we demonstrate to auditors that vulnerabilities are identified, prioritized, and remediated?

• Are we still responding reactively – or are we building resilient, proactive defenses? 

If your answer is anything short of confident, it’s time to act because in today’s digital economy, attack surface management isn’t just a technical necessity. It’s the foundation of resilience. With rising threats and tighter regulation, mid-sized companies must shift from overwhelmed to in control.

The path forward is clear: know your exposure, prioritize risks, automate smartly, and partner wisely. In doing so, IT and risk leaders won’t just meet compliance – they’ll lead their organizations toward a more secure, scalable, and trusted future.

*Source: Cybersecurity Market Survey, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of WithSecure, August 2024