Imagine a cybersecurity landscape where defenses are impenetrable and threats are little more than distractions deflected by a powerful shield. Sadly, this image of resilience, despite its comforting nature, remains a pipe dream. In the world of security, being prepared is not just a luxury but a necessity. In this context, Mike Tyson’s famous adage “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face” applies to our arena – cyber defense must be battle-tested To have a chance.
Tyson’s words capture the paradox of cybersecurity readiness: Untested cyber defenses can often create a false sense of security, leading to dire consequences when real threats are struck. This is where Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) comes into play, a proactive tool in any organization’s cybersecurity arsenal.
When Cybersecurity Takes a Big Hit – What-If Questions
Assumptions are the hidden iceberg in the vast ocean of cybersecurity. While we may believe that our security controls are foolproof, statistics paint a different picture. According to Picus’ 2023 Blue Report, only 59% of attacks were blocked, only 37% of attacks were detected, and less than 16% triggered alerts. These data reveal a shocking fact: network security measures often fall short in real-world scenarios. Often, this flaw is caused by complex configurations and a lack of skilled professionals, which can lead to poor defense performance and configuration errors. At the same time, traditional testing methods such as penetration testing and red team exercises cannot fully measure the effectiveness of an organization’s security. This can lead to the often dangerous assumption that security controls will be effective without continuous stress testing of them in real-life scenarios.
This gap between perceived and actual security validates the growing need for security validation through Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS), a method to combat these fallacies by rigorously validating defenses before attacks catch organizations off guard. . Ultimately, BAS tightens the cybersecurity veil around every potential vulnerability.
Shift your mindset from planning to doing
Developing a proactive cybersecurity culture is like Tai Chi, putting theory into practice. Cyber threats change as rapidly as clouds in a stormy sky, and simulations must be as dynamic as the threats they simulate. This culture change starts at the top, with leadership championing continuous security verification through BAS. Only then can cybersecurity teams embrace this practice-focused philosophy and conduct simulations frequently and with purpose.
Mechanism of BAS
BAS is a reality check on your cybersecurity posture. At its core, BAS is the systematic, controlled simulation of cyberattacks across the entire production network. Each simulation is designed to mimic the behavior of an actual attacker and develop adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) preparedness. According to the 2023 Red Report, threat actors use an average of 11 different TTPs during attacks.
For example, APT attack scenarios start with an initial method of compromise, such as exploiting software vulnerabilities or phishing emails with malicious attachments. It then goes deeper, attempting to move laterally within the network, escalating privileges where possible, and attempting to exfiltrate simulated sensitive data. In this case, the goal is to replicate the entire attack lifecycle with fidelity while analyzing how security controls respond at each step.
What’s more, BAS isn’t just a one-time exercise. This is an ongoing process that will adapt as the threat landscape changes. As new malware variants, TTPs, exploit techniques, APT campaigns, and other emerging threats emerge, they will be incorporated into the BAS tool’s threat intelligence library. This ensures your organization is protected against potential threats today and tomorrow.
After every simulation, BAS tools provide comprehensive analysis and insightful reporting. It contains important details about how an intrusion was detected or blocked (or not detected), how long security controls took to respond, and how effective the response was.
Armed with this data, cybersecurity professionals can better prioritize their response strategies, focusing first on the most pressing gaps in an organization’s defenses. They can also fine-tune existing security controls with easy-to-apply prevention signatures and detection rules to improve their ability to detect, prevent, or respond to cyber threats.
Integrate BAS fist into your network strategy
Imagine that BAS is a continuous pulse, reinforcing your security measures. To effectively incorporate BAS into your organization’s defense, start with a critical analysis to determine how it complements your cybersecurity architecture.
Step 1: Customize the BAS to your needs
Customizing a BAS for your organization starts with understanding the threats you are most likely to face – because the main cybersecurity concerns for banks are different from those for hospitals. Choose simulations that reflect the threats most relevant to your industry and technology infrastructure. Modern BAS tools can produce customized simulation playbooks containing the cyber threats most likely to impact your organization.
Step 2: Create a simulation schedule
Consistency is key. Running BAS simulations regularly is not just a one-time event, but an integral part of your network security strategy. Establish a cadence—whether daily, weekly, monthly, or immediately after significant IT or threat landscape changes—to stay ahead of adversaries who are constantly refining their strategies.
Step 3: Apply insights
The real value of BAS lies in deriving actionable insights from simulation results. The advanced BAS platform provides practical recommendations such as preventive signatures and detection rules that can be incorporated directly into security controls (including IPS, NGFW, WAF, EDR, SIEM, SOAR and other security solutions) to immediately strengthen your security posture.
Step 4: Measure and refine
Define quantitative success metrics to evaluate the impact of BAS on organizational cybersecurity. This can include the ratio of attacks blocked/logged/alerted to all attacks, the number of defense vulnerabilities resolved, or improvements in detection and response times. Continuously refine your BAS process based on these performance metrics to ensure your defenses become clearer with each iteration.
Are you ready to strengthen your network defenses with BAS technology pioneers?
When we analyze the similarities between a boxer’s defense and an organization’s safety posture, one adage rings true: surviving the first punch is about resilience gained through relentless practice. Here, we demonstrate the critical role BAS plays in taking a proactive approach to unpredictable cyber threats.
Picus Security pioneered Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) technology in 2013 and has been helping organizations improve their cyber resiliency ever since. With the Picus Security Validation Platform, your organization gains unparalleled visibility into your security posture so you can hone your defenses against the most sophisticated cyberattacks.
With Picus, you don’t just react; you react. You can proactively respond to cyber threats before they impact your operations. When the real battle begins, organizations must throw the first punch, challenge and strengthen their defenses. So, get ready; it’s time to put your cyber defenses to the test. Visit picussecurity.com to schedule a demonstration or explore our resources.
PS: This article was written by Dr. Suleyman Ozarslan, Co-Founder and Vice President of Picus Labs at Picus Security, where we are passionate about simulating cyber threats and enhancing defenses.
