In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations are swiftly reevaluating their operational models and eyeing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a means to rapidly expand. While M&A can drive progress, the haste to finalize deals often leads to overlooking critical cybersecurity measures.
The current M&A process lacks robust cybersecurity considerations, leaving organizations unaware of the IT risks inherited from acquired companies. To ensure the security of M&A activities, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and security teams must play an active role in implementing comprehensive IT visibility measures.
One crucial aspect is giving priority to asset inventory to grasp the full extent of digital assets involved in the M&A process. Attack Surface Management (ASM) plays a pivotal role in providing a comprehensive inventory of digital assets and their associated risks before, during, and after M&A activities.
Traditional compliance checks fall short of assessing actual digital asset risks. Many acquired companies are unaware of their complete asset inventory, leading to incomplete compliance reports. This oversight can result in significant security risks post-acquisition, as seen in past breaches like the one experienced by PayPal’s acquisition of TIO.
Post-acquisition, continuous tracking and monitoring are essential to ensure the secure integration of assets. ASM solutions offer visibility into entry points, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors, empowering security teams to prioritize and remediate risks effectively.
taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity, particularly through ASM strategies, is crucial for successful and secure M&A activities. Organizations that prioritize security collaboration and visibility throughout the M&A lifecycle will navigate these complex processes with minimized risks and enhanced resilience.
CCG employs a robust and comprehensive approach utilizing CheckMate, Phen.AI for Attack Surface Management (ASM) strategies, which are instrumental in facilitating successful and secure M&A activities. This strategy encompasses proactive cybersecurity measures and provides in-depth visibility into digital assets and associated risks, ensuring thorough assessment and mitigation of potential vulnerabilities throughout the M&A process.
