A Head of Cyber Threat Exposure and Attack Surface Management is a senior cybersecurity leader responsible for transforming how an organization understands and defends its digital footprint against modern adversaries. This executive role moves beyond traditional, siloed security functions to establish a proactive, continuous, and intelligence-driven program focused on the attacker's perspective. Professionals in these jobs are tasked with seeing the enterprise as an adversary would—identifying and closing the most critical pathways to compromise before they can be exploited. The core mission of this profession is to own and operationalize a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) lifecycle. This involves leading a strategic function that integrates technologies like Attack Surface Management (ASM), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), and Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) to gain a unified, real-time view of all internal and external assets. A primary responsibility is correlating data from assets, identities, vulnerabilities, and configurations to pinpoint exploitable attack chains, not just isolated weaknesses. This leader must then prioritize these risks based on real-world threat intelligence and adversary behavior, ensuring remediation efforts are focused where they matter most. Typical day-to-day responsibilities include developing and governing the global CTEM strategy, often aligning it with frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK and NIST. They lead a specialized team, fostering collaboration across Application Security, Vulnerability Management, Red Team, and Security Operations to synchronize discovery, validation, and remediation. A significant part of the role is translating highly technical findings into clear business risk language for senior leadership and board committees, enabling data-driven investment decisions in cybersecurity. They are also charged with defining key risk indicators and maturity metrics to demonstrate tangible reductions in the organization's attack surface over time. The skills and requirements for these high-level jobs are extensive. Candidates typically possess deep experience in cybersecurity, with a strong background in vulnerability management, threat intelligence, or offensive security principles. A proven track record in building and leading technical teams is essential, as is expertise in integrating and managing exposure management platforms. Strategic vision, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to drive automation and AI-enabled analytics are critical. Ultimately, a successful Head of Cyber Threat Exposure and Attack Surface Management embeds proactive security into the fabric of the organization, shifting the paradigm from reactive patching to continuous, threat-informed defense.
