Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS): What is it?

Automated Breach and Attack Simulation

Software-based offensive security that is automated and ongoing is called Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS). By simulating cyberattacks to test security controls and provide actionable insights, BAS, like other forms of security validation like penetration testing and red teaming, complements more conventional security tools.

Breach and attack simulation tools

Similar to a red team exercise, breach and attack simulations make use of the actual attack tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by hackers to proactively find and fix security flaws before actual threat actors can take advantage of them. BAS tools, on the other hand, are completely automated and, in contrast to red teaming and pen testing, can produce more thorough results with fewer resources in between more intensive security tests. Cloud-based solutions from companies like SafeBreach, XM Cyber, and Cymulate make it simple to integrate BAS tools without having to install any additional hardware.

BAS solutions, as a security control validation tool, assist organizations in identifying security gaps and offer helpful recommendations for remediation that should be addressed in order of priority.

Simulation of breaches and attacks aids security teams in:

Reduce potential cyber risk: Gives security teams early notice of potential internal or external threats, enabling them to focus remediation efforts before any important data is compromised, access is lost, or other unfavorable outcomes occur.

Reduce the possibility that successful cyberattacks will occur: Automation boosts resilience solutions through continuous testing in a threat landscape that is continuously changing.

How do attack and breach simulations operate?

Numerous attack scenarios, attack vectors, and attack paths are replicated by BAS solutions. BAS solutions can replicate the following using the real-world TTPs that threat actors use, as described in the threat intelligence included in the MITRE ATT&CK and Cyber Killchain frameworks:

• Attacks via networks and infiltration
• Lateral motion
• Phishing
• Assaults on endpoints and gateways
• Attacks by malware
• Attacks using ransomware

BAS platforms simulate, evaluate, and validate the most recent attack techniques employed by malicious entities and advanced persistent threats (APTs) along the entire attack path, regardless of the type of attack. After an attack is over, a BAS platform will give you a thorough report with a prioritized list of steps to take in case any serious vulnerabilities are found.

The first step in the BAS process is choosing a particular attack scenario from a dashboard that can be customized. In addition to executing a wide range of established attack patterns that stem from new threats or specifically defined scenarios, they can also carry out attack simulations that mimic the tactics of well-known APT groups, the specifics of which can change based on the industry in which an organization operates.

Virtual agents are deployed within an organization’s network by BAS tools after an attack scenario is started. These agents try to get into protected systems and move laterally in order to get sensitive data or important assets. BAS programs have access to credentials and internal system knowledge that traditional penetration testing and red teaming do not. Using a technique akin to purple teaming, BAS software can mimic both insider and outsider attacks.

Following the conclusion of a simulation, the BAS platform produces an extensive vulnerability report that verifies the effectiveness of different security controls, ranging from firewalls to endpoint security, comprising:

• Controls for network security
• Endpoint response and detection (EDR)
• Email security measures
• Control measures for access
• Policies for managing vulnerabilities
• Controls for data security
• Controls for incident response

What are the advantages of simulating breaches and attacks?

BAS solutions can greatly strengthen an organization’s security posture, even though they aren’t meant to take the place of other cybersecurity protocols. In comparison to conventional vulnerability assessment tools, BAS can assist security teams in finding up to 30–50% more vulnerabilities, per a Gartner research report. Main advantages of simulating breaches and attacks are:

Automation: Security teams are always under pressure to perform at higher levels of efficiency as the annual threat of cyberattacks continues to grow. Continuous testing can be performed by BAS solutions 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and without the need for extra staff, either on-site or off. BAS can also be used to deliver real-time feedback and conduct tests on demand.

Precision: Accurate reporting is essential for effective resource allocation for any security team, but it is especially important for smaller teams. Time lost on investigating non-critical or mistakenly reported security incidents should never be spent. Organizations adopting BAS and other advanced threat detection tools saw a 37% decrease in false positive alerts, per a Ponemon Institute study.

Practical insights: BAS solutions, when used as a security control validation tool, can yield insightful reports that identify specific vulnerabilities and misconfigurations and provide contextual mitigation recommendations that are customized to the infrastructure already in place within an organization. Furthermore, SOC teams can address their most critical vulnerabilities first thanks to data-driven prioritization.

Enhanced awareness and reaction: BAS solutions, which are based on APT knowledge bases like MITRE ATT&CK and the Cyber Killchain and have good integration with other security technologies (like SIEM and SOAR), can greatly increase the rates at which cybersecurity incidents are detected and responded to. According to an Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) study, incident response times were reportedly faster in 68% of the organizations that combined BAS and SOAR. Organizations combining SOAR and BAS will, according to Gartner, see a 50% decrease in incident detection and response times by 2025.

Attack surface management and breach and attack simulation

Industry data suggests a growing trend toward the integration of attack surface management (ASM) and breach and attack simulation tools in the near future, despite their good integration with a wide range of security tool types. Attack surface management and breach and attack simulation, according to Michelle Abraham, Director of Security and Trust Research at the International Data Corporation, “allow security defenders to be more proactive in managing risk.”

Attack surface management is the ongoing identification, analysis, remediation, and monitoring of the cybersecurity vulnerabilities and potential attack vectors that make up an organization’s attack surface, as opposed to vulnerability management and vulnerability scanning tools, which evaluate an organization from the inside out. ASM evaluates an organization’s external presence while adopting the viewpoint of an outside attacker, much like other attack simulation tools.

An organization’s potential cyber exposure is increased by trends toward increased cloud computing, Internet of Things devices, and shadow IT, or the unauthorized use of unsecured devices. While BAS solutions use that data to better conduct attack simulations and security testing to ascertain the efficacy of implemented security controls, ASM solutions scan these attack vectors for potential vulnerabilities.

The end effect is a far better comprehension of an organization’s defenses, ranging from sophisticated cloud security concerns to internal employee awareness. This crucial realization that awareness is more than half the fight is priceless for businesses looking to bolster their security.

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