In today’s cybersecurity landscape, testing and validating security controls are essential tasks. Last week, we discussed the challenges organizations face in this regard, from the complexities of testing, price, and resource constraints. Now, let’s delve into a more complex scenario: Security control validation during Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and the rapid assessment of remote networks.
Navigating M&A and Remote Network Challenges
Imagine the scenario where an organization undergoes M&A activities, merging with or acquiring another company. This process often entails integrating new segments of networks with unclear security postures into the corporate environment. Questions arise: Are these networks secure? Are systems up-to-date and patched? Do they have effective security controls in place?
Complicating matters, different organizations often have distinct security frameworks. These frameworks reflect varying approaches to security, with local policies and practices that can differ significantly.
Third-party risks enter the equation. The acquired company may have partnerships with various security control or network infrastructure vendors, each introducing its unique complexities.
Then there’s the issue of security tools. Firewalls, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems, and similar security measures may exist but could be poorly configured or lack necessary features.
Regulatory compliance gaps are another concern. The acquired organization may exhibit inconsistent legal and regulatory compliance reporting, potentially leading to fines and legal consequences. Data privacy laws can vary widely, and their handling depends on organizational culture.
Geographic distances further complicate matters. Arranging competent security testers to visit remote sites can be logistically challenging. Scheduling conflicts, equipment requirements, legal considerations, clearances, and travel logistics can make rapid testing of remote networks impractical.
The Critical Role of Control Validation
In cybersecurity, time is of the essence. Waiting for extended periods to identify security gaps is not feasible. Waiting weeks or months for an ethical hacking assessment is too long, and vulnerability scanning and network penetration testing take painstaking effort to configure and deploy. The stakes are high, as validation is crucial for ensuring compliance, reducing regulatory and legal risks, and avoiding hefty fines.
The Solution: AttackIQ Flex
This is our philosophy around AttackIQ Flex. Empowering even the most novice of security teams to conduct fast and effective assessments to validate their security posture, even when resources and time are limited. It alleviates the burden on organizations lacking the expertise and technology for immediate security validation. It proactively assesses your risk exposure by testing against real-world controls in production environments.
Moreover, AttackIQ Flex provides valuable insights for adhering to stringent compliance requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.
The Advantages of AttackIQ Flex
The beauty of breach and attack simulation is that it makes it insanely easy to do what used to takes weeks or months with a red team or pentest. Self contained adversarial simulations make it easy for even a novice team to run security testing, anywhere, anytime.
AttackIQ Flex flips this on its head by making security control validation even easier to do. With complete alignment to MITRE ATT&CK, it enables organizations to instantly assess security controls uniformly against the same security standards. With a single click, you can run full campaign emulations. Forget hiring and sending teams out to do control tests, you can get realtime insights and be assured that the same, consistent testing methodology is used on every portion of the network.
And because they’re run in production, not against gold images, Flex tests are accurate because they test your actual controls.
Think you’re up to the challenge?
Curious how your defenses stack up? AttackIQ Flex now includes a fully-contained adversary emulation of Nobelium or APT29, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). Check it out here.
APT29 is known for its advanced techniques targeting both public and private sectors. They employ stealthy tactics and customized malware for long-term persistence on networks.
In a world where time is a precious resource, AttackIQ Flex ensures your security controls are prepared for the challenges posed by M&A and remote network integrations.
Are you ready to elevate your security posture? AttackIQ Flex is the key to staying ahead of adversaries.
