Rising threats in the cyber security landscape
The cyber security landscape is more challenging than ever. Over the past year, we have seen a significant rise in data breaches, global IT outages, and new vulnerabilities impacting organizations worldwide. As businesses become more reliant on digital infrastructure, the risks from these evolving threats are growing exponentially.
Simply securing individual applications or systems is no longer enough. Attackers are using increasingly sophisticated methods, and new vulnerabilities emerge daily. According to NCC Group’s Global Threat Intelligence Report 2024, global ransomware attacks increased by 15% in 2024. These attacks are no longer just about disruption; they now focus on stealing and extorting data. Additionally, state-sponsored actors are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure driven by geopolitical motives.
As digital, physical, and human assets converge as prime targets, the threat landscape becomes even more volatile. Organizations must adopt a proactive strategy to stay ahead of these risks—this is where attack simulation becomes critical.
The limitations of traditional security measures
Traditional security measures are often insufficient against today’s sophisticated threats. Organizations typically assess individual systems, leaving gaps that can be exploited. This is where attack simulation such as Red Team testing comes into play.
Unlike standard penetration testing, Red Teaming is a dynamic process that simulates real-world attacks, identifying vulnerabilities that traditional assessments may not discover.
What is attack simulation?
In an attack or breach simulation, offensive security specialists use advanced tactics and threat intelligence, acting like real threat actors to probe your defenses. They exploit people, processes, and technology to emulate threat actors trying to achieve their objectives.
These trained professionals replicate strategies actual threat actors use, rigorously testing your organization’s ability to detect, respond to, and recover from attacks. Unlike conventional testing, attack simulation adapts and mirrors the evolving tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) today’s adversaries use.
Types of attack simulation
Cyber Attack Simulation:
Often referred to as a Red Team or a Threat Led Penetration Test (TLPT), this comprehensive, end-to-end simulation mimics a real-world threat actor targeting an organization. It attempts to exploit an organization’s technology, processes, and people to provide insight into their susceptibility to attack and ability to defend against it.
Red Teaming is a key phase for several regulatory frameworks, such as CBEST, TIBER, iCAST, and DORA TLPT, where a dedicated phase of threat intelligence work is completed to inform the approach for red team elements.
Collaborative Attack Simulation:
Also known as Purple Teaming, this collaborative effort has offensive security specialists work with your defensive teams to improve detection, response, and recovery capabilities. It is typically facilitated through the delivery of an organic attack simulation to identify opportunities for learning or improvement.
Physical Attack Simulation:
Commonly referred to as Black Teaming, it is an attack simulation that emulates attempts to infiltrate an organization using physical access techniques to achieve either a cyber or physical goal. Similar to other forms of attack simulation, a Black Team exploits an organization’s technology, processes, and people by searching for physical access vulnerabilities.
7 reasons attack simulation is crucial for your organization:
1. Evaluate an organization’s resiliency
Attack simulations can help provide a clear view of an organization’s ability to withstand or recover quickly from a real-world attack. They evaluate an organization’s susceptibility, detection, and response capability and demonstrate the impact any gaps in the organization’s security posture may have.
2. Enhance incident response
Attack simulations allow organizations to test their incident response in real-time. This helps refine response plans, ensuring teams are prepared to act swiftly and effectively when a real attack occurs.
3. Identify vulnerabilities before attackers do
Attack simulation helps uncover weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. By simulating real-world attack techniques and targeting an organization as a whole rather than testing specific technologies or controls, attack simulations can find vulnerabilities traditional methods might miss.
4. Tailored security improvements
Offensive security specialists understand that every organization has unique risks. They provide actionable recommendations tailored to your business needs and threat landscape.
5. Guide security investments
Investing in cyber security improvements is essential, but you need to ensure they work as intended. Attack simulations validate that your security controls can withstand real-world attacks, ensuring your investments are effective and highlight weaknesses at an organizational level.
6. Comprehensive risk assessment
Attack simulation goes beyond identifying technical vulnerabilities. It evaluates your overall security posture, assessing the interplay between people, processes, and technology and gives you a holistic view of your risks.
7. Prepare your teams and board
Exercising your teams and board through attack simulations ensures they are prepared for an incident before it happens. This proactive approach helps build confidence and readiness, enabling swift and effective decision-making during an actual attack.
With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, proactive attack simulations are essential. Attack simulation equips organizations with the knowledge to bolster their defenses, enhance incident response, and validate security controls in the face of real-world threats.
Investing in attack simulation is not just about identifying vulnerabilities—it’s about preparing your organization to respond to challenges, adapt to new threats, and continuously improve its security posture. Incorporating attack simulations into your security strategy strengthens defenses, improves preparedness, and enhances overall resilience.
Now is the time to think like an attacker and act with foresight.
“Attack simulation must be embedded into your cyber security strategy and operations to prepare for threats and enhance overall resilience effectively.”
Why choose NCC Group?
NCC Group offers a unique approach to Red Team engagements, combining deep expertise with real-time threat intelligence. Here is why we stand out:
• Expert security testing: Our team consists of seasoned professionals experienced in simulating attacks across various industries.
• Tailored solutions: Each engagement is customized based on organizational needs, team structure, and security maturity.
• Intelligence-led testing: We base our simulations on the latest threat intelligence, ensuring they reflect the most relevant and realistic scenarios.
• Proactive and modern: We help organizations move beyond traditional perimeter defenses, focusing on identity-based controls in cloud environments.
• Safe and controlled: All testing is conducted under pre-agreed rules of engagement, minimizing disruption to your operations.
• Comprehensive reporting: After each engagement, we provide an executive summary of business risks and actionable recommendations for mitigation.