The fundamental aspects of effective cybersecurity operations revolve around a meticulous understanding of the threat landscape and the development of strategies designed to minimize risks associated with potential threats. One such strategy is Attack Surface Reduction (ASR). In its simplest definition, one may raise the question, 'what is attack surface reduction'? This epitomizes the foundation of this post, where we will delve into the intricacies of ASR in the realm of cybersecurity.

Attack surface reduction refers to the act of minimizing the pathways or gateways utilized by an adversary to gain access to a network or system. The smaller the attack surface - that is, the fewer of these pathways that exist - the fewer opportunities there are for an adversary to exploit a system. In essence, 'what is attack surface reduction' can be succinctly defined as the process of securing an infrastructure by decreasing its vulnerability.

The Concept of Attack Surface

Before diving deeper into the manner of reducing the attack surface, let's first understand 'what is an attack surface'. An attack surface is an aggregate of the different points (attack vectors) where an unauthorized user (the attacker) can try to inject data to or extract data from, an environment (system or application). They tend to reside in areas where an attacker can directly interact with the system.

Mechanisms of Attack Surface Reduction

A well-rounded understanding of 'what is attack surface reduction' involves a comprehension of how it is achieved and the various mechanisms that aid in the process. The mechanisms of ASR can be broadly classified into three categories:

1. System Diversification

Diversification entails eliminating the dependence on a single type of system by ensuring that you use a variety of systems. This decreases the possibility of a systemic failure and ensures that a vulnerability in one system does not expose your entire network.

2. Principle of Least Privilege (POLP)

POLP involves providing only the minimum privileges necessary to a user, limiting their system influence. This ensures that even if an account is compromised, the negative impact is greatly reduced.

3. Network Segmentation

Network segmentation involves the subdivision of your network infrastructure, ensuring that systems used for different purposes are segregated. This way, compromising one system doesn't give an attacker access to all systems.

Benefits of Attack Surface Reduction

Beyond understanding 'what is attack surface reduction', grasping its implications and advantages for an organization’s cybersecurity stance is equally vital. These merits are:

1. Enhanced Security

ASR's primary benefit is the enhancement of an organization's cybersecurity posture. With a reduced attack surface, the chances of an attacker exploiting system vulnerabilities significantly decrease.

2. Cost Reduction

ASR can lead to a decrease in an organization's IT security costs. This is primarily because mitigating threats post-attack often requires extensive time and financial resources compared to preventive measures.

3. Business Continuity

With reduced possibilities of successful attacks, business operations are less likely to be interrupted, promoting business continuity.

Implementing Attack Surface Reduction

So, how do we implement what we’ve learnt about 'what is attack surface reduction'? Following these general guidelines could form a good starting point:

1. Centralized Patch Management: Keep all systems, software, and applications updated with the latest patches.
2. Remove Unnecessary Software: Eliminate all unnecessary software applications from your system.
3. Least Privilege Policies: Assign minimum necessary access rights to each user.
4. Network Segmentation: Subdivide your network infrastructure to limit an attacker's reach within your network.
5. Adopt Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This adds an additional layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification.

In conclusion, attack surface reduction is a foundational aspect of strengthening an organization's cybersecurity posture. The key is to understand that 'what is attack surface reduction' is not merely a concept—it is a proactive measure integral to modern cybersecurity protocols. A strategic reduction in an organization's attack surface can save resources and significantly decrease the chances of damaging breaches, elevating the organization's security standing.