Best Platforms for External Threat Surface Monitoring

When it comes to cybersecurity, one of the toughest challenges is keeping track of assets and exposures that live outside of your direct control. External threat surface monitoring platforms help organizations continuously discover, track, and secure internet-facing assets while flagging risks before they can be exploited. Based on the Attack Surface Management category on G2, here are some of the standout tools worth considering:

• Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management – Best for Enterprise Cloud Ecosystems

This solution automatically maps an organization’s external presence, uncovering unknown and unmanaged assets. It’s tightly integrated with Microsoft’s broader security stack, making it a strong fit for enterprises already using Defender or Azure services.

• Recorded Future – Best for Threat Intelligence–Driven Monitoring

Recorded Future combines ASM with rich threat intelligence to give context around exposures. By tying findings to attacker activity and dark web chatter, it helps teams prioritize external risks that are actively being targeted.

• CTM360 – Best for Global Digital Risk Protection

CTM360 specializes in monitoring the wider digital footprint—detecting phishing sites, impersonation attempts, credential leaks, and rogue assets. It’s built for organizations that need to manage threats across geographies and industries.

• SOCRadar – Best for Extended Threat Intelligence

SOCRadar provides a blend of external attack surface monitoring and contextual intelligence. It not only identifies exposed assets but also tracks how cybercriminals are discussing and potentially exploiting them.

• CloudSEK – Best for Risk Prioritization with Threat Actor Insights

CloudSEK brings together ASM and threat intel, highlighting exposed infrastructure while correlating findings with current malicious campaigns. This intelligence-driven approach helps teams cut through noise and focus on the most urgent risks.

If your security team has tested any of these platforms, how effective have they been at reducing blind spots across your external environment? Did threat intel make a noticeable difference in how you prioritized fixes?