Companies are worried about being cyber-attacked, so they are adopting various proactive security solutions to keep themselves protected. Part of those proactive security measures include breach and attack simulation. Breach and attack simulations are an automated security approach where organizations use software to simulate real-life cyber attacks on their systems in an attempt to breach them.
The purpose of this exercise is to find loopholes and vulnerabilities in their cybersecurity systems so they can patch them before real cybercriminals exploit them. A breach and attack simulation is similar to penetration testing and red teaming, however, there are key differences. The former is carried out by software while the latter two are perpetrated by cybersecurity professionals.
Since breach and attack simulations are software-based, they produce more results and use fewer resources than tests that rely on humans. These results help companies get a better understanding of the security gaps that exist in their systems. It also guides them to develop effective solutions that will protect them from attacks. These simulations also help cybersecurity professionals develop effective response plans to potential cyber attacks and reduce the chances of those attacks occurring.
Working Mechanism of Breach and Attack Simulation
Breach and attack simulation tools mimic the different methods cybercriminals use to attack organizations. They take into account the various attack surfaces of the system, as well as the viable scenarios through which an attack can be successfully carried out. The tools can simulate a wide range of attacks including but not limited to phishing, ransomware, endpoint attacks, network infiltration, lateral movements, and malware infections.
Cyber attackers often update their mode of attacking an organization as cybersecurity professionals improve their security measures. Breach and attack simulation tools use the most current attack methods to attempt to penetrate an organization’s system.
To begin a breach and attack simulation process, cybersecurity personnel will choose an attack scenario from the tool’s dashboard and launch it. Upon launch, the tool will unleash a host of virtual agents within the network of the organization being tested. Those agents will try to breach the system and move laterally within the said system to gain access to sensitive data and crucial assets.
Another major difference between this process and penetration testing (or red teaming) is that the simulation tools will have login credentials and knowledge of the system that cybercriminals may not have. This enables the tools to simulate both internal and external attacks. Once the simulation is complete, the tool will generate a report that details the effectiveness of all active security controls and the vulnerabilities within the system.
Endnote
Businesses should take cyber threats seriously especially if they use the internet and cloud computing for their operations. Cybercriminals often look for ways to break into their IT systems and cause problems. One of the ways to proactively protect themselves against these threats is by running breach and attack simulations. These simulations expose the weaknesses within companies’ IT infrastructure so they can implement adequate security controls, confirm the effectiveness of existing controls, and reduce the likelihood of cyber attacks succeeding.
