For decades, organizations have relied on formal vulnerability management programs, but evolving threats demand a broader approach. Gartner introduced Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) in 2022—a structured program that helps security teams systematically identify and prioritize the risks most likely to impact business. CTEM goes beyond traditional vulnerabilities to assess threats like misconfigured cloud settings, compromised credentials, unsafe email practices, and risky user behavior.
By providing a holistic view of threat exposure, CTEM empowers organizations to focus resources where they matter most. However, turning CTEM’s concepts into an actionable, tailored strategy can be daunting.
This guide offers practical recommendations to help risk and security teams build effective, scalable, and measurable CTEM programs.