Today, the availability and security of critical infrastructure are of utmost importance. Sectors such as utilities, energy, and oil and gas, represent the lifeblood of society, delivering essential services that sustain our communities. However, this heightened connectivity brings about increased threats, underscoring the need for adherence to robust cybersecurity frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), NERC CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection), FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) Standards, ISA/IEC 62443, ISO/IEC 27001, and other industry-specific guidelines. While compliance marks the starting line, it certainly isn't the ultimate destination to cyber resilience.
The Essence & Gap of Cybersecurity Compliance Standards
These standards were drafted to confront the ever-evolving threat landscape, recognizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures within critical infrastructure. They serve as the foundation, offering:
- A structured and comprehensive approach to enhancing cybersecurity
- Ensuring the reliability and security of critical systems
- Effectively managing information security risks.
However, these standards aren't a one-stop or one-size-fits-all solution guaranteeing security. Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and malicious actors, including nation-state entities, are becoming more sophisticated. In critical infrastructure, you cannot afford to risk downtime.
It's no longer just about meeting compliance checkboxes; it's about surpassing them and adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Regular purple team exercises and strategic breach and attack emulations are indispensable components of a comprehensive offensive cybersecurity strategy. These practices allow organizations to identify weaknesses in their security controls, fine-tune their incident response capabilities, and stay ahead of emerging threat tactics and techniques. By actively testing and optimizing their defenses, teams can ensure they are well-prepared to counter the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape effectively.
The Dynamic Duo: Purple Teaming and BAS+
Purple Teaming
Purple teaming serves as an invaluable ally to organizations grappling with both cybersecurity concerns and the complex landscape of compliance regulations. By engaging in regular purple team exercises, organizations can go beyond just adhering to regulatory checkboxes.
Purple teaming allows them to immerse themselves in a proactive cybersecurity posture, embedding testing into their people, processes, and technology. It provides a dynamic environment to assess their compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as their internally defined processes and controls.
This approach offers several advantages. First, it helps organizations identify any gaps in their compliance efforts. Regulatory frameworks are typically static and may not always reflect the latest threat landscape. Purple teaming enables organizations to test whether their existing controls can effectively counter current cyber threats, thus aligning regulatory compliance with real-world cybersecurity readiness.
Second, purple teaming encourages collaboration between the red and blue teams, breaking down silos and fostering a culture of security and continuous improvement. This collaboration not only helps organizations meet compliance mandates but also strengthens their overall security posture.
Purple teaming is the ideal partner to regulations, allowing organizations to validate their compliance efforts in a dynamic, real-world context. But, PTEs need a technology platform to support and help orchestrate the exercises.
Breach & Attack Emulation (BAS+)
SCYTHE Elevate, SCYTHE’s BAS+ platform for Purple Teaming, can be pivotal in orchestrating a Purple Team Exercise (PTE). With its comprehensive platform capabilities, built-in threat campaigns, and security control tests, Elevate empowers organizations to seamlessly plan, execute, and analyze PTEs.
SCYTHE Elevate delivers a unique value proposition by allowing organizations to emulate the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of threat actors in a controlled and realistic environment. This enables security teams to validate their defenses, optimize controls, and improve overall cybersecurity posture. SCYTHE Elevate not only facilitates the orchestration of PTEs but also enhances their efficacy by providing actionable insights captured in the PTE recommended actions.
The Finish Line
Remember, it's not about waiting for the storm to hit but mastering the art of offense to enhance defense. In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity and compliance, incremental advancement is critical. By consistently integrating offensive strategies like Purple Teaming and Breach and Attack Emulation into your security operations, you embark on a journey towards predictive cybersecurity maturity.
As organizations harness the power of automation and cutting-edge technologies like SCYTHE's BAS+, they don't just defend against threats; they predict and prevent them. This proactive stance is what sets apart organizations that merely comply with regulations from those that truly secure their critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
So, embrace the power of offense as your ally on the path to enhanced defense, and steer your organization towards a future where cybersecurity isn't just a compliance checkbox – it's a robust shield against tomorrow's threats.
For inquiries, please contact our team at support@scythe.io.
