What is offensive security? A simple explanation

Offensive security is a method and approach for evaluating security from an attacker’s perspective and identifying vulnerabilities.

As cyber-attack methods have become more sophisticated and ingenious in recent years, traditional passive methods alone are no longer sufficient to provide security, and attention is now being focused on offensive security, which is an active defense.

This article provides a clear explanation of offensive security, including its overview, advantages, and disadvantages.

We will also introduce the security solutions of “LANSCOPE Professional Services,” which are effective for offensive security.

If you are a company or organization considering introducing offensive security to strengthen your security, please check it out.

What is offensive security?

Offensive security is a method of strengthening security by taking an attacker’s perspective, identifying vulnerabilities in a company’s systems and networks, and then correcting those vulnerabilities .

Penetration testing is a typical offensive security technique.

Penetration testing is a method of evaluating the security of IT infrastructure such as systems, networks, and applications from an attacker’s perspective.

By implementing offensive security, organizations can objectively understand their own security level.

By understanding the real risks through verification based on actual attack scenarios, rather than armchair theories, it will be possible to take effective measures.

The Importance of Offensive Security

Offensive security is attracting attention for two reasons:

Cyber-attack methods are becoming more sophisticated and ingenious every year.

Attackers will continue to use various methods to achieve their goals, such as using unknown malware to evade traditional security measures.

As a result, traditional security measures that focus on defense (defensive security) alone are no longer sufficient.

Additionally, defensive security is a reactive approach that responds after an attack has occurred, which tends to place a heavy burden on security departments.

Constantly monitoring and responding to attacks makes it difficult to find time to make fundamental improvements.

“Offensive security” addresses the issues that arise when only defensive security is implemented.

Offensive security aims to strengthen security systems by identifying vulnerable or severe vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers and taking measures to address them.

Implementing offensive security will reduce the frequency of attacks, which will ultimately reduce the burden on the security department.

Representative offensive security techniques

Some of the most common offensive security techniques include:

Let’s take a closer look at each method.

Penetration Testing

Penetration testing is a method of evaluating current security measures by launching attacks on systems and networks from an attacker’s perspective.

Security engineers mimic attackers and attempt to infiltrate systems by exploiting vulnerabilities.

Penetration testing can identify the severity of vulnerabilities and the risks that may arise if an attack is successful, leading to stronger countermeasures.

LANSCOPE Professional Services provides highly accurate penetration testing that creates realistic cyber-attack scenarios and identifies weaknesses and risks in an organization’s systems.

Details of the service will be described later.

Red Team Exercises

Red team exercises are a security technique in which participants are divided into a “red team” that launches simulated attacks on systems based on assumed attackers, and a “blue team” that defends against those attacks, to verify the effectiveness of current security measures and systems.

The penetration testing mentioned above only evaluates vulnerabilities on the system, so attacks are limited to those on the system.

On the other hand, red team exercises evaluate not only systems but also the security system of the entire organization, so they can approach not only networks but also offices and physical facilities.

Additionally, financial institutions and other organizations are now requiring advanced TLPT (Threat-Based Penetration Testing).

Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability assessment is the process of assessing the presence, type, and threat level of known vulnerabilities lurking in networks and web applications.

By doing this regularly, you can identify and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers.

There are two types of vulnerability assessment: manual assessment and tool assessment, so it is important to use them appropriately depending on your purpose and internal resources.

The Benefits of Offensive Security

Implementing offensive security can be expected to provide the following benefits:

The biggest advantage of offensive security is that it can detect vulnerabilities early.

By identifying vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers and taking measures to address them, it is possible to reduce the probability of attacks occurring and minimize the damage caused.

Furthermore, by conducting tests and exercises that simulate actual attacks, such as penetration tests and red team exercises, you can identify more effective defensive measures and strengthen your security system.

Additionally, as a side effect of the simulated attacks, we can expect to see an increase in employees’ security awareness.

Disadvantages of Offensive Security

When implementing offensive security, you need to be aware of the following challenges:

The costs and resources required to implement and operate offensive security can be a significant burden for many companies.

For example, continuous investment of resources is required, such as securing engineers with specialized knowledge, requesting assistance from external vendors, and making improvements based on the diagnostic results.

Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular will need to proceed with implementation carefully, assessing the cost-effectiveness.

Furthermore, even though it is a simulated attack, since the test is conducted under conditions similar to a production environment, there is a risk of unexpected system failures or service outages.

If any trouble does occur, it will inevitably have an impact on business operations, so it is important to make advance arrangements and have a backup system in place.

“Vulnerability Assessment” to respond to the latest threats

LANSCOPE Professional Services’ vulnerability assessment service regularly collects and analyzes incident and vulnerability information, and reflects this information in the assessment rules as appropriate, ensuring that services are always based on the latest security standards.

We are known for our high-quality diagnoses, boasting a repeat rate of 90% from clients including business companies, development companies, and government agencies.

In addition, our nationally certified and experienced specialists will comprehensively identify vulnerabilities and security risks hidden in your environment and support you in implementing efficient vulnerability countermeasures.

The report after the assessment will not only tell you the type and risk level of each threat, but also the appropriate countermeasures, so you can steadily fix vulnerabilities and improve your security level.

If you are a company or organization that is concerned about vulnerabilities in your environment or services, or would like a professional assessment rather than a diagnostic tool, please contact LANSCOPE Professional Services.

We will introduce the most suitable plan based on your convenience and budget.

We also offer a “Security Health Check Package” for customers who want to “first perform a simple vulnerability check.” This allows for a low-cost, short-term check.

Highly accurate penetration testing by experienced assessors

LANSCOPE Professional Services creates realistic cyber-attack scenarios and provides highly accurate penetration testing to identify weaknesses and risks in an organization’s systems.

▼Penetration test report image

The “Penetration Test” of “LANSCOPE Professional Services” simulates advanced cyber attacks such as “ransomware” and “APT attacks,” which have been much talked about in recent years, and tests whether the attack objectives can be achieved based on the attack scenario.

In addition, if a cyber attack actually occurs, it can clarify the extent of damage that will occur and whether appropriate measures can be taken after infection, and it can also suggest optimal security measures based on the results.

If you would like to know about your company’s vulnerabilities or unknown attack routes, please consider undergoing a penetration test from LANSCOPE Professional Services.

Our experienced assessors will create the optimal test scenario (attack sequence) to suit your environment and budget.

summary

In this article, we will discuss the topic of “offensive security,” explaining its overview, advantages, and disadvantages.

To combat increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks, it is important to use both defensive and offensive security strategies, rather than adopting just one.

We encourage you to take advantage of the vulnerability assessment and penetration testing services provided by LANSCOPE Professional Services, as introduced in this article, to build a robust security system.

For those who want to “first conduct a simple vulnerability assessment” or “don’t know where to start,” we also offer a “security health assessment package” that can be conducted at low cost and in a short period of time.

Please use this to implement effective offensive security.