Assumed Breach Exercise: Verify Your Security Program
In today's rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, even organizations with mature security programs can't afford to implicitly trust that their security controls are functioning as designed, or that they have all their blind spots covered.
Traditional security measures, while crucial, are no longer sufficient on their own. This is where assumed breach exercises come into play—an advanced approach to testing and enhancing your organization’s cybersecurity posture.
What Are Assumed Breach Exercises?
Assumed breach exercises are a form of cybersecurity testing where an organization operates under the assumption that its defenses have already been compromised. Unlike traditional penetration testing, which seeks to identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited, assumed breach exercises start with the premise that an attacker is already inside the network. This shifts the focus from "can we be breached?" to "what happens when we are breached?" and "how well can we detect, respond, and recover?"
The Importance of Assumed Breach Exercises
Realistic Testing of Incident Response Capabilities
In a real-world cyberattack, response time is critical. Assumed breach exercises provide a realistic scenario where your incident response (IR) team can practice their detection and mitigation strategies. This helps identify gaps in your IR plans, communication channels, and decision-making processes, ensuring that when a real breach occurs, your team is ready to act swiftly and effectively.
Validation of Security Controls
Even the most robust security controls can have blind spots. Assumed breach exercises help validate whether your existing security controls—such as endpoint protection, network segmentation, and data loss prevention—are functioning as intended under breach conditions. By simulating an attack, you can identify weaknesses that might not be apparent in regular testing.
Enhanced Threat Hunting
A mature security program likely already includes threat hunting activities. However, assumed breach exercises take this a step further by providing a "known" threat within the network for your threat hunters to find. This enhances their skills, sharpens their tools, and helps develop new hunting techniques that could be critical in identifying and neutralizing advanced threats.
Improved Security Awareness and Culture
The assumption that breaches are inevitable can foster a security-first mindset across the organization. Assumed breach exercises highlight the importance of vigilance, encouraging employees to be more proactive in recognizing and reporting suspicious activity. This cultural shift is essential for reducing human error, one of the most common causes of security incidents.
Benefits for Mature Security Programs
Stress-Testing Advanced Defenses
Organizations with mature security programs often deploy advanced technologies like AI-driven anomaly detection and zero-trust architectures. Assumed breach exercises stress-test these systems, revealing how well they perform under the pressure of a simulated attack. This not only validates your technology investments, but also provides insights into areas that may need further refinement.
Compliance and Audit Preparedness
Many industries require stringent compliance with cybersecurity standards. Assumed breach exercises demonstrate due diligence in securing sensitive data, which can be a significant advantage during audits. Regular exercises also help ensure that your security posture aligns with evolving regulatory requirements.
Demonstrating Executive Accountability
A mature security program involves more than just IT—it requires buy-in at the executive level. Assumed breach exercises provide a tangible way to involve C-level executives in cybersecurity, demonstrating the organization's commitment to protecting its assets. This can also lead to more informed decision-making and better resource allocation for future security investments.
Conclusion
Assumed breach exercises are not just a tool for identifying vulnerabilities; they are a critical component of a proactive cybersecurity strategy. For organizations with mature security programs, these exercises offer a unique opportunity to validate their defenses, improve incident response capabilities, and foster a culture of security awareness.
In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, assuming a breach is not a sign of weakness—it's a sign of preparedness, and it demonstrates prudence and wisdom. By integrating assumed breach exercises into your security program, you’re not just preparing for the worst; you’re ensuring your organization can thrive in the face of adversity.
Want to learn more, or explore how Legion Cyberworks can help you level up your cybersecurity readiness and resiliency? Contact us today and get the conversation started!