2023 was riddled with breaches. Organizations looked for ways to cut costs and reduce their budgets and resources. Unfortunately, these “cost-saving” measures could increase their susceptibility to being hacked, and (ironically) cause them to pay far more in post-breach recovery costs. Criminal hackers thrive during economic downturns when organizations are making themselves the most vulnerable. Here we’ll delve into the ever-changing digital battlefield.
There are three key strategy shifts to consider going into 2024 to ensure your cybersecurity program is ready.
1. A defensive strategy alone is not enough and should be balanced with an offense.
2. Penetration testing doesn’t cut it anymore – adversary emulation is critical.
3. Periodic testing is obsolete and provides a false sense of security – continuous and cyclical testing is paramount.
Defense Without an Offense
Organizations need to know the importance of a balanced strategy. An overly fortified defense without understanding the nuances of potential attacks may lead to a false sense of security, in the digital battlefield. Today, most companies focus their efforts on defensive strategies, investing hundreds of thousands on appliances, software, or managed services. While these practices are important, ignoring the proactive side of security can leave organizations vulnerable and can breed complacency. The only way to understand the true value of your defense is to have it “breached” by someone you trust and see how your investments respond.
Penetration Testing Versus Adversary Emulation
It’s important to understand the differences between the two. Both are important but serve different purposes.
Imagine a locksmith inspecting a building for potential vulnerabilities, meticulously checking doors and windows to find weaknesses. Penetration testing is akin to this process, identifying specific entry points and weaknesses in a system’s defenses.
Now, picture a full-scale security drill where actors simulate a real heist, employing sophisticated tactics against the entire security ecosystem. Adversary emulation is like staging a mock heist, and evaluating how well an organization can detect, respond, and recover from a comprehensive and realistic threat scenario.
In essence, penetration testing is like finding the weak links in a chain, while adversary emulation is like stress-testing the entire chain under real-world conditions to ensure it can withstand sophisticated attacks.
Periodic Versus Continuous
The traditional approach of periodic penetration testing is obsolete. As cyber threats evolve at an unprecedented pace, it’s important to realize the imperative of transitioning to continuous testing methodologies. This shift is not merely a trend; it is a strategic necessity for staying one step ahead of the adversaries.
The pitfalls of periodic testing:
- Snapshots in time: Periodic testing provides a static view of an organization’s security posture at a specific moment. In a dynamic threat landscape, this approach fails to capture the constant evolution of potential vulnerabilities.
- Limited visibility: Adversaries don’t adhere to schedules. Relying solely on periodic assessments means that organizations might miss critical threats that emerge between testing intervals.
- Delayed remediation: The lag between testing cycles and remediation efforts allows adversaries more time to exploit vulnerabilities. This delay can have severe consequences in an era where cyber threats are swift and stealthy.
Continuous testing: A dynamic offense strategy:
- Real-time threat detection: Continuous testing operates in real-time, providing organizations with the ability to detect and respond to emerging threats promptly. This proactive approach is essential in an era where cyberattacks are increasingly sophisticated.
- Adaptability to change: The continuous testing model adapts to the ever-changing threat landscape. It ensures that security measures remain effective by addressing vulnerabilities as they emerge, not just during scheduled assessments.
- Enhanced incident response: By integrating testing into daily operations, organizations bolster their incident response capabilities. Continuous testing helps create a resilient cybersecurity posture that can swiftly identify, contain, and mitigate threats.
- Collaborative security culture: Shifting from periodic testing to continuous testing fosters a culture of ongoing vigilance and collaboration. It encourages all stakeholders to actively participate in maintaining a robust security posture.
The New Way to Combat Modern Hackers
Enter Continuous Adversary Emulation (CAE), a dynamic approach that emphasizes the importance of offensive strategies. CAE introduces a strategic shift by bringing the best offensive strategies together to emulate real cyber threats in a controlled environment on a continuous basis.
CAE combines numerous security tools, such as:
Attack Surface Management: Know every digital entry point to your organization and identify any assets that have slipped through the cracks.
Threat Intelligence: Intel begins with gathering data from open forums, dark web channels, and insider reports.
Advanced Social Engineering: Cutting-edge phishing and vishing techniques to target stakeholders in your organization.
External Threat Campaigns: Controlled, real-world attacks identify the susceptibility of breaches in your organization’s systems.
Assumed Breach Campaigns: Post-breach and/or insider access to evaluate the readiness of internal security controls and processes. If someone gained access, how far can they go?
Penetration Testing: Examines your entire threat profile to identify vulnerabilities across software and web applications while including critical compliance measures.
CAE is a comprehensive solution that will help unveil blind spots in defensive strategies and identify weaknesses before malicious actors do, providing a critical advantage. It’s a proactive measure that surpasses traditional security assessments, offering real-world insights into an organization’s susceptibility to sophisticated attacks in this digital battlefield.
Conclusion
As 2023 comes to a close, it’s clear that the digital battlefield for organizations is more challenging than ever. This year’s numerous breaches have revealed the pitfalls of cost-cutting in cybersecurity. By incorporating a Continuous Adversary Emulation (CAE) model by cybersecurity companies such as BuddoBot, organizations can shift to a more dynamic offensive strategy. Blending offensive techniques and real-world attack simulations to effectively counter evolving cybersecurity threats. With adopting practices such as Attack Surface Management and Advanced Social Engineering, CAE equips organizations with the necessary tools to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, ensuring a robust defense in the digital age. This strategic shift underscores the need for continuous vigilance and adaptation in the face of sophisticated cyber challenges in 2024 and the years to come.
