Security in depth is as much about having different layers and types of security tools, as it is about separating the implementation and configuration, away from the monitoring and assessment of those security tools.

As such organizations need to incorporate an additional layer of security tools that attempt to validate the effectiveness of existing defense, to ensure the integrity of their security posture.

One approach to this security testing is Breach Attack Simulation (BAS) which complements more traditional security tools by simulating cyberattacks to test security controls and provide actionable insights.

Although growing in popularity, traditional BAS tools struggle with limited scope and lack automation, making them inefficient for today’s threats.

XM Cyber’s Continuous Exposure Management platform tackles this with holistic discovery, correlated through the XM Attack Graph Analysis(™).

XM Cyber provides the next generation of Breach Attack Simulation, that combines exposure management, with automated security control validation and results in a more robust security posture, that proactively reduces risk and increases the effectiveness of security defenses.

The BAS Landscape: An Overview

The Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) landscape is experiencing a period of significant transformation, driven by a number of factors. What are the key trends shaping the current BAS environment?

• Increased Sophistication of Threats: Threat Actors are constantly innovating their attack vectors. BAS platforms are keeping pace by incorporating more intricate scenarios that mimic real-world attacker behavior. These simulations encompass techniques like social engineering, privilege escalation, and lateral movement, providing a more realistic testing ground for defense teams.
• Adoption of Cloud Infrastructure and Services: The mass migration to cloud environments necessitates BAS solutions that can effectively assess cloud security posture. Modern platforms integrate with cloud providers’ APIs, enabling them to simulate attacks within cloud infrastructure and identify potential vulnerabilities specific to cloud deployments.
• Dynamic Attack Surfaces: The diversity of the expanding attack surface along with the volume and complexity of cyberattacks require BAS solutions to be far more agile and dynamic in their assessment of environments and controls, resulting in the need for a far more automated approach to testing. Today’s platforms offer features like automated attack scenario generation, orchestration of multi-stage attacks, and automated reporting, allowing security teams to conduct more frequent and comprehensive testing with less manual effort.
• Expanding Array of Security Tools: Now more than ever BAS platforms need to integrate seamlessly with existing security tools and solutions, to ensure results are both accurate, but that they can also be reported and tracked via Management tools such as a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tool. This integration facilitates a more holistic view of security posture by providing a central platform to launch simulations, analyze results, and trigger automated responses based on simulated attack outcomes.

The Limitations of Traditional BAS Tools

As cyber threats continue to evolve, BAS solutions play a critical role in empowering security teams to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities. At the same time, traditional BAS tools have limitations that can hinder their effectiveness in a dynamic threat landscape, notably:

• Limited Scenario Scope: Traditional BAS tools often focus on testing individual vulnerabilities, offering a fragmented view of security posture. They can struggle to simulate complex attack chains that combine multiple vulnerabilities for a comprehensive breach scenario. This can leave gaps in security testing, potentially overlooking critical weaknesses in a system’s overall defense.
• Lack of Automation: Many legacy BAS tools require manual configuration and execution of attack simulations, making them time-consuming and resource-intensive. This inefficiency limits the frequency and scope of testing, potentially leaving security teams vulnerable to constantly evolving threats.
• Limited Cloud Integration: Traditional BAS tools might not be optimized for cloud environments. They may lack the capability to integrate with cloud provider APIs, hindering their ability to accurately assess and simulate attacks within cloud infrastructure. This poses a significant challenge considering the widespread adoption of cloud computing.
• Inaccurate Threat Modeling: Traditional BAS tools often rely on predefined attack scenarios that may not fully reflect the latest threat landscape. This can lead to unrealistic simulations that fail to challenge security teams with the most relevant and up-to-date attack techniques employed by cyber adversaries.
• Static Analysis: Many traditional BAS tools offer a static view of security posture. They may not provide continuous monitoring or adaptation based on the results of past simulations. This limits their ability to keep pace with the ever-changing threat landscape and evolving attacker tactics.

Comprehensive Exposure Management with XM Cyber

XM Cyber goes beyond traditional security solutions by offering comprehensive and continuous exposure management. It overcomes limitations like focusing solely on individual vulnerabilities. Instead, XM Cyber utilizes Attack Graph Analysis (TM), simulating how attackers might chain these vulnerabilities together to target critical assets. This shift allows security teams to prioritize exposures based on actual risk, not just a single CVE identifier. 

Additionally, XM Cyber automates many exposure management tasks, including generating attack scenarios, prioritizing vulnerabilities, and reporting. This frees up security teams for remediation efforts. Furthermore, XM Cyber integrates with cloud provider APIs, enabling assessments and attack simulations within cloud environments – crucial as businesses move to the cloud. XM Cyber utilizes machine learning to continuously update its threat modeling based on real-world data and the latest attacker tactics. This ensures security teams are constantly challenged with relevant attack simulations. 

XM Cyber achieves continuous exposure management leveraging:

• Attack Path Analysis: XM Cyber creates a visual map (attack graph) of how vulnerabilities can be chained together. This allows security teams to see which exposures are most critical and need to be addressed first.
• Dead End & Choke Point Identification: XM Cyber differentiates between vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit and those that lead nowhere (dead ends).  It focuses on “choke points” – the critical junctions in the attack path – for remediation, maximizing efficiency.
• Context-based Remediation Guidance: XM Cyber provides guidance on the most effective remediation strategies for each identified exposure, saving time and effort.
• Security Posture Scoring & Trends: XM Cyber offers continuous monitoring of your security posture. You can see the impact of remediation efforts over time with measurable metrics.
• Focus on Fixing the Right Things: XM Cyber helps prioritize exposures based on real risk, so you don’t waste time fixing vulnerabilities that attackers are unlikely to exploit.

XM Cyber offers a comprehensive and dynamic approach to exposure management, allowing security teams to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers.

XM Cyber: Partnering with BAS for Stronger Security

Traditional Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) tools are valuable, but they offer a snapshot in time. XM Cyber’s continuous exposure management complements BAS by providing ongoing threat modeling. Here’s how continuous exposure management and BAS work together:

• BAS as a Starting Point: XM Cyber uses past BAS data to identify vulnerabilities and attack paths that challenged your defenses. This informs the initial setup of XM Cyber, focusing its attention on areas of past exploitation.
• Continuous Threat Hunting: In addition to BAS’s periodic simulations, XM Cyber constantly analyzes your environment. It identifies new vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and risky user behaviors that BAS might miss.
• Attack Path Prioritization:  XM Cyber maps how exposures identified by BAS tools could be chained together, highlighting the most critical attack paths for immediate attention. This prioritization helps you fix the vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited.
• Focus on Remediation:  For exposures discovered either by BAS or continuous exposure management, XM Cyber provides clear guidance on how to remediate each exposure, saving security teams valuable time and effort.

Together, BAS and XM Cyber provide a comprehensive view of your security landscape. BAS offers targeted attack simulations, while XM Cyber delivers continuous monitoring and prioritization. This combined approach empowers you to proactively address vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them, strengthening your overall security posture.

Transition Seamlessly: Enhancing Your Current BAS tool and Adopting CTEM

While Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) tools offer valuable insights, they can be limited in a dynamic threat landscape. Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) offers a more comprehensive approach. Here’s how to seamlessly transition from BAS to CTEM, enhancing your current security posture:

1. Leverage Existing BAS Knowledge: Analyze historical BAS data to identify frequently exploited vulnerabilities and successful attack paths. Use this intel to inform the initial configuration of your CTEM-based platform. This ensures the solution you choose focuses on areas where your defenses were previously challenged.
2. Prioritize Integration: Choose a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing BAS tool. This allows for data exchange and reduces redundancy in effort. Look for solutions with pre-built connectors for your specific BAS tool.
3. Phased Implementation: Implement CTEM in phases. Start by focusing on critical assets and high-risk scenarios identified through BAS testing. This allows your security team to gain familiarity with your new platform and its capabilities in a controlled environment.
4. Focus on Continuous Improvement:  Use attack path analysis to identify new vulnerabilities and attack vectors that BAS simulations might have missed. Feed this newfound knowledge back into your BAS tool to refine future simulations and keep both platforms 
5. Upskilling and Collaboration: Bridge the knowledge gap between BAS and CTEM by providing training for your security team. Encourage collaboration between specialists to ensure a holistic understanding of your security posture.

By leveraging existing BAS knowledge to inform the configuration of your CTEM-based solution, you can minimize blind spots and ensure your new platform is optimized for your specific environment. By transitioning seamlessly from BAS to a CTEM-based solution, you can bridge the gap between point-in-time testing and continuous threat exposure management. This creates a more robust security posture, allowing you to proactively address vulnerabilities and stay ahead of attackers.