Cybercriminals can penetrate an estimated 93 percent of corporate networks. Former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III said, "I am convinced that there are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that will be hacked. And the two are starting to converge into one category: companies that have been hacked, and will be hacked again.". And looking at the trends in the world of Cybersecurity, it's not hard to see why. But how can we counter these threats?
It is important to understand that security is not static-there is no silver bullet that protects all your networks, devices and sensitive data from all threats. And when you play an endless cat-and-mouse game with hackers, environments that were safe yesterday may be vulnerable to attack tomorrow. But what if we approached Cybersecurity with a more proactive approach? Why settle for reacting when we can also anticipate?
On the Attack Against Attackers
The solution to the Cybersecurity challenges of today and tomorrow lies in innovation, but not only when it comes to technologies-it also involves a innovation in mentality. To address the threats in a constantly changing digital landscape, it is no longer enough to simply think like a defender. Instead, we need to turn the tables, and start thinking like hackers.
This means constantly and securely attacking your IT landscape with the tactics and techniques that your digital enemies will use against you. Of course, we all know that there can be security holes in our networks and devices. Therefore, we need to focus on finding and plugging these holes before someone else manages to exploit them.
The Arsenal of an "Ethical Hacker"
The most common method of assessing Cybersecurity is penetration testing (pentesting), where you hire a specialized party to simulate an attack on your network. Pentesting is all about mimicking techniques that a hacker might try to abuse the systems and applications in your organizational environment.
Pentesting is the execution of an authorized attack conducted to evaluate a system or application for vulnerabilities. In this way, Cybersecurity risks can be proactively remedied before incidents can occur. It is important to understand that pentesting should be performed continuously, not just once. This is because networks are constantly changing, and an attacker's approach can change dramatically based on small changes and updates in your environment.
Another commonly used concept is Red Teaming. This involves a team more familiar with the target environment applying the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of a hacker. A Red Teaming test typically includes fewer "out of the box" techniques than a pen test, and is generally more comprehensive.
A Red Team assessment is an assessment of your Cybersecurity where your organization as a whole is viewed through the eyes of a malicious hacker. This involves testing not only for vulnerabilities in your technologies, but also how your staff handles a Cyber attack. This means that Social Engineering techniques such as Phishing and Mystery Guests are also covered. So a Red Teaming assessment not only tests your systems, but also the awareness of Cybersecurity within your organization.
Pentesting Vs. Red Teaming - Which is the Best Choice?
Neither method is necessarily better than the other - they are both useful in different ways, under different circumstances. The choice between pentesting and Red Teaming depends on exactly what you want to accomplish, and how much time you are willing to spend. A Cybersecurity assessment is a significant investment for most companies, so it is wise to research in advance which method best suits your organization and its goals.
Not sure yet which of the two options best suits your organization/issue? Please do not hesitate to request a conversation schedule with one of our Cybersecurity experts, we will be happy to tell you more about the options at your disposal!