How do most major security breaches begin?

Most major security breaches typically begin with an attacker finding your attack surface. This concept refers to all the potential points of entry that an attacker could exploit to gain unauthorized access to your systems or data. Understanding the attack surface is crucial for organizations because it encompasses both known and potential vulnerabilities that could be targeted.

By identifying and analyzing the attack surface, organizations can strengthen their defenses, implement better security practices, and reduce the likelihood of a successful breach. The attack surface includes not just the weaknesses in software but also the configuration settings, network exposure, and even the human factors that contribute to security flaws.

While weak passwords, unprotected holes, and external software vulnerabilities are indeed factors that can lead to breaches, they are often aspects of the broader attack surface. Focusing on the attack surface provides a more comprehensive framework for understanding how and where security breaches typically initiate, highlighting the importance of a holistic security strategy.