Why Modern Security Starts with a Map: The Critical Role of Network Visibility
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, where IT environments span on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud architectures, security leaders face a pressing challenge: you can’t secure what you can’t see.
Despite significant investments in cybersecurity tools, many organizations still lack an accurate, up-to-date map of their network infrastructure. As new endpoints, applications, and access points proliferate, blind spots become inevitable and dangerous.
That’s why network mapping isn’t a legacy process; it’s a strategic imperative.
The Shift from Static Diagrams to Dynamic Visibility
Historically, network maps were created using tools like Visio or PowerPoint, often becoming outdated as soon as they were completed. These static diagrams provided limited visibility and were cumbersome to update.
Today, manual mapping simply doesn’t scale. Modern enterprises require continuous, automated network and cloud visibility to:
- Understand real-time connectivity between systems
- Identify potential attack paths before adversaries do
- Ensure compliance with evolving standards like NIST, ISO 27001, and GDPR
This need for dynamic visibility is underscored by the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), which analyzed over 30,000 security incidents and more than 10,000 confirmed breaches. The report highlights a 34% increase in breaches initiated through vulnerability exploitation, with edge devices and VPNs being prime targets. Alarmingly, only 54% of these vulnerabilities were fully remediated, leaving organizations exposed to potential attacks.
Why It Matters Now
The 2025 DBIR reveals that 44% of all breaches involved ransomware, marking a significant rise from the previous year. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) were particularly affected, with ransomware present in 88% of their breaches. This trend underscores the importance of proactive security measures and the need for comprehensive network visibility to detect and mitigate threats before they escalate.
Without comprehensive network visibility:
- Incident response is delayed, increasing potential damage
- Compliance audits become high-risk events, risking penalties
- Attackers find vulnerabilities before defenders do, leading to breaches
A comprehensive network map enables faster detection, stronger defenses, and a proactive approach to securing infrastructure.
RedSeal and the Value of Strategic Visualization
RedSeal’s platform is designed to help CISOs, SecOps, NetOps, and Governance Risk & Compliance professionals build dynamic, accurate models of their enterprise environments. It aggregates data from routers, firewalls, cloud configurations, and more to simulate attack paths, identify misconfigurations, and validate access controls.
In the upcoming report by Dr. Edward Amoroso, CEO of TAG and Research Professor at NYU, he outlines the evolution of network mapping and highlights RedSeal’s approach as a leading example of automation done right.
The report also explores:
- The inefficiencies and risks of manual network mapping
- How AI-driven tools are enabling proactive threat detection
- Best practices for mapping multi-cloud and hybrid environments
A Resource for Strategic Security Planning
If you’re responsible for your organization’s IT security posture, this report will provide you with timely insights and practical considerations to help guide informed decision-making. Whether you’re reassessing your cloud architecture or planning your next audit, understanding the current state of network visibility is essential. View the report.
