Managing and evaluating cybersecurity risk is of prime importance to modern organizations. To evaluate and mitigate risk, it is a common practice to execute penetration tests or red team exercises, install security controls, and establish vulnerability management procedures.
Problems with these methods persist, though, and they typically include things like failing to properly prioritize remedial projects, failing to comprehend the context of internal network vulnerabilities, misconfiguring controls, and using testing that is too static to account for the constant evolution of networks.
How does breach and attack simulation work?
Finding possible targets and attack vectors inside the network is the first of many steps inbreach and attack simulation (BAS). The breach and attack simulation tool then mimics the strategies and methods of actual attackers by simulating different attack scenarios, such as phishing and advanced persistent threats (APTs), and analyzing the network's response after the simulation phase to find defense gaps and improvement opportunities.
The success of BAS tools depends on how well they can simulate complex cyberattacks. You can accomplish this using advanced algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. By incorporating these technologies, BAS tools can mimic and adjust to new attack methods, keeping organizations ready for new dangers.
Vital applications of breach and attack simulation
- Viewing the Risk of Critical Assets
The people who work there are essential to the smooth running of any company. To prioritize the security team's efforts, it is critical to understand the risk to those assets. Regardless of the red team experience, any team can use automated red teaming to see an attacker's path to reach a crown jewel. You can have the attacks computed automatically after you select an asset. Testing needs to be adaptable, just like networks. As your network develops, specialists make it possible to validate the risk to your assets continuously.
- Cleaning Up First
Do more than merely identify weak spots. Obtain a complete picture of your network and a strategy to fix security holes based on context. When assessing potential compromise points, the specialists consider user behaviors, vulnerabilities, and IT hygiene. Identifying which fixes yield the best results will save your team time and energy.
- Separating Networks
You must be able to detect if a segment is missing data or if a modification has jeopardized assets to invest in zero-trust network architecture or network segmentation. Has your segmentation remained unchanged since its implementation? In what ways can user behaviors and vulnerabilities increase risk? Locate potential entry points into OT environments, such as user actions or incorrect network settings.
Ongoing determine potential entry points into PCI networks and ways to compromise data. Limit vulnerability to mission-critical systems by determining how an attacker can get into the network and damage its devices. Respond to events that put your network and assets in danger.
- The Exposure of AWS Cloud
Many companies are concerned about their security after adopting AWS and the cloud. Cloud security and risk assessment are two areas where the experts can assist. As a result of misconfigurations, escalations may be possible according to cloud policies about users, roles, and groups. The professionals can detect attacks that affect multiple accounts or problems with a single account.
Keep testing until you find out how an attacker can get into S3, Lambda, or any of your other resources. Figure out how an attacker can access devices on-premise and then move on to cloud assets.
- Infrastructure for Active Directory
Many organizations rely on Active Directory, and malicious actors can compromise critical infrastructure components of Active Directory and cause extensive damage. Determine potential entry points for attackers to compromise domain controllers and devise countermeasures to common threats like credential harvesting, golden ticket, and group policy attacks.
Find simple and complex ways for attackers to take over resolution services like DNS, DHCP, and Proxy. You can strengthen your AD environment and lower the network's overall risk by implementing targeted fixes for issues like misconfigured services and excessive permissions.
Conclusion
Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) is an essential part of contemporary cybersecurity plans. Organizations looking to future-proof their cybersecurity defense cannot do without it because of its ability to mimic real-world attacks, offer continuous security assessments, and adjust to the changing digital threat landscape. The complexity and frequency of cyber threats will only increase, making breach and attack simulation an absolute need for effective cyber defense.