New survey provides insight into the source of breaches and how to react
As cyberthreats evolve, so must the strategies used to protect against them. For companies, staying ahead of these threats requires not only security technologies and processes but also proactive testing and continuous improvement of their security posture. In this rapidly shifting landscape, offensive security testing stands out as a critical tool for identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. RSM US LLP (RSM) recently released a report that outlines how bad actors are attempting to breach companies, and which specific risks are on the rise.
Offensive security testing, including penetration testing and red teaming, is essential for organizations aiming to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated attackers. By simulating real-world attacks, offensive security teams help organizations identify weak points within their infrastructure, applications and processes. This proactive approach, if done correctly, can also enable businesses to “shift security left,” integrating security measures earlier in the development life cycle and ensuring that vulnerabilities are addressed before they reach production environments.
The 2024 RSM Attack Vectors Report highlights the ongoing importance of these testing services. The report reveals that despite advancements in cybersecurity technologies, many organizations continue to face significant risks due to common vulnerabilities, such as easy to guess passwords, lack of multi-factor authentication, unpatched systems and misconfigurations. These issues underscore the need for a comprehensive offensive security strategy that not only identifies these vulnerabilities but also helps organizations prioritize remediation efforts based on risk.
New trends and emerging threats
In recent years, the threat landscape has expanded beyond traditional on-premises environments to include cloud and hybrid infrastructures. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud-based services, attackers are quick to follow, seeking to exploit any gaps in security controls. One of the key trends observed by RSM’s offensive security team is the rise in cloud-specific attack vectors, such as misconfigured cloud storage, insufficient identity and access management controls and insecure APIs. These vulnerabilities can lead to significant data breaches, emphasizing the need for robust cloud security testing as part of a broader offensive security strategy.
Another area of concern is application security, particularly in agile and DevOps environments where rapid development cycles can inadvertently introduce security flaws. RSM’s offensive security team has seen a rise in attacks targeting application vulnerabilities, including SQL injection, session management, cross-site scripting (XSS), insecure deserialization and supply chain attacks. These attacks can compromise sensitive data and disrupt business operations, making it crucial for organizations to incorporate regular application penetration testing into their development processes.
System security and resilience also remain critical in the face of evolving threats. As noted in the 2024 Attack Vectors Report, the persistence of attacks like password spraying and exploitation of missing patches indicates that many organizations struggle with basic security hygiene. In addition, the report highlights a growing threat from misconfigured Active Directory Certificate Services, which can allow attackers to impersonate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. RSM’s offensive security team focuses on determining organizations’ vulnerabilities and fortifying their systems against these threats by identifying and addressing issues at every level of their technology stack.
The role of offensive security in shifting security left
One of the key differentiators of RSM’s approach is its emphasis on shifting security left. This concept involves integrating security considerations into the earliest stages of the development life cycle, rather than treating them as an afterthought in production systems. By embedding security into the design and development processes, organizations can reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities making it into production, where they are more difficult and costly to remediate.
Offensive security teams should work closely with engineers to understand their unique environments and tailor testing to address specific risks. This includes conducting thorough technical assessments of agile and DevOps pipelines, identifying potential vulnerabilities in code, configurations, threat modelling and third-party components before they become part of the live environment. By doing so, companies can build secure applications and systems from the ground up while reducing the time developers need to wait to remediate a critical vulnerability.
Looking ahead: preparing for the future of cybersecurity
As the cyber arms race continues, organizations must remain vigilant in the face of new and emerging threats. The trends identified in the 2024 Attack Vectors Report—such as the increasing sophistication of cloud and application attacks—highlight the need for continuous improvement in security practices.
Moving forward, organizations should consider expanding their use of offensive security testing to include regular assessments of cloud environments, applications and system configurations. Making transition to a more proactive approach to security can enable businesses to not only protect their sensitive data and intellectual property but also ensure compliance with evolving regulatory demands.
By shifting security left and integrating offensive security into every stage of the development life cycle, businesses can better protect themselves against the threats of tomorrow.
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