Page 70 - Security Today, March 2020

Validate Your Security Model Amid growing threats, organizations must evaluate the holes and weaknesses in their systems
BAy Marcus Carey
s security threats grow in complexity and scale, organizations are spending major resources to address the threats and minimize risk, including hiring top security talent and purchasing seven- figure security solutions. But how do teams know
their overall security model is working and that they are reducing the business risk?
Every organization’s security environment is dynamic and therefore, to keep up with the latest threats, must be continually evaluated. Doing so is complicated because of “vendor sprawl,” which refers to the growing number of often redundant and sometimes underused security solutions that end up in an orga- nization’s technology stack. Businesses may be eager to address threats, but do not have the expertise necessary to decide which products will accomplish their goals.
When these disparate tools and processes overlap or leave gaps in a security model, organizations are left vulnerable to the very threats the products are designed to protect against, particularly when it comes to the increasing complex cyber threat landscape facing small and large businesses alike.
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Fortunately, advances in attack simulation tools have made it possible for organizations to truly validate their security model across all solutions through continuous, automated testing.
By following a few best practices and knowing what to test for, organizations can ensure their holistic approach is truly keeping them secure.
Attack Simulation Basics
Attack simulation software mimics real-world threats to show organizations where they have gaps in their security systems and to enable them to improve their security controls and prepare in- cident response plans.
The simulations can include a variety of techniques and tac- tics that an adversary may use when compromising endpoints and applications. The testing operates under the assumption that most hackers and malicious actors are using a similar set of tools to try to penetrate networks and take advantage of either inexpe- rienced business owners or their over-taxed IT providers, whether those are in-house or outsourced.
Attack simulations can include functions like penetration tests
ATTACK SIMULATIONS
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