Breach and attack simulation (BAS) refers to technologies that allow organizations to test their security defenses against simulated

cyberattacks A cyberattack (or cyber attack) occurs when there is an unauthorized action against computer infrastructure that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of its content. The rising dependence on increasingly complex and inte ...

. BAS solutions provide automated assessments that help identify weaknesses or gaps in an organization's security posture.

Description

BAS tools work by executing simulated attacks against an organization's

IT infrastructure Information technology infrastructure is defined broadly as a set of information technology (IT) components that are the foundation of an IT service; typically physical components (Computer hardware, computer and networking hardware and facilitie ...

and assets. These simulated attacks are designed to mimic real-world threats and techniques used by cybercriminals. The simulations test the organization's ability to detect, analyze, and respond to attacks. After running the simulations, BAS platforms generate reports that highlight areas where security controls failed to stop the simulated attacks. Organizations use BAS to validate whether

security controls Security controls or security measures are safeguards or countermeasures to avoid, detect, counteract, or minimize security risks to physical property, information, computer systems, or other assets. In the field of information security, such co ...

are working as intended. Frequent BAS testing helps benchmark security posture over time and ensure proper incident response processes are in place.BAS testing complements other security assessments like

penetration testing A penetration test, colloquially known as a pentest, is an authorized simulated cyberattack on a computer system, performed to evaluate the security of the system; this is not to be confused with a vulnerability assessment. The test is performed ...

and vulnerability scanning. It focuses more on validating security controls versus just finding flaws. The automated nature of BAS allows wider and more regular testing than manual

red team A red team is a group that simulates an adversary, attempts a physical or digital intrusion against an organization at the direction of that organization, then reports back so that the organization can improve their defenses. Red teams work fo ...

exercises. BAS is often part of a continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) program.

Features

Key features of BAS technologies include: * Automated testing: simulations can be scheduled to run repeatedly without manual oversight. *

Threat modeling Threat modeling is a process by which potential threats, such as structural vulnerabilities or the absence of appropriate safeguards, can be identified and enumerated, and countermeasures prioritized. The purpose of threat modeling is to provide d ...

: simulations are designed based on real adversarial tactics, techniques and procedures. *

Attack surface The attack surface of a software environment is the sum of the different points (for " attack vectors") where an unauthorized user (the "attacker") can try to enter data to, extract data, control a device or critical software in an environment. Ke ...

coverage: can test internal and external-facing assets. * Security control validation: integrates with other security tools to test efficacy. * Reporting: identifies vulnerabilities and prioritizes remediation efforts.

Use cases

Major breach attack simulation use cases include:

Validating security controls

Frequent BAS testing helps ensure security controls like firewalls and endpoint detection stay properly configured to detect real threats. Continuous changes to networks and systems can introduce misconfigurations or gaps that BAS exercises uncover. Many solutions provide the ability to compare different software tools adopted or purchased and assess which is more effective. Regular simulations also improve incident response by training security personnel.

Efficiency improvements

Iterative BAS helps optimize detection and response times. It assists teams in tuning monitoring tools and refining processes. Vulnerability patching can also be better prioritized based on observed exploitability versus just

CVSS The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is a technical standard for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in computing systems. Scores are calculated based on a formula with several metrics that approximate ease and impact of an exploi ...

severity.

Assessing resilience

BAS emulates full attack techniques to prep defenses against real threats. Mapping simulations to frameworks like MITRE

ATT&CK The Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge or MITRE ATT&CK is a guideline for classifying and describing cyberattacks and intrusions. It was created by the Mitre Corporation and released in 2013. Rather than looking at the results o ...

validate readiness against known adversary behavior. While not as in-depth as red teaming, BAS quickly benchmarks resilience.

References

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