Redefining Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) with BAS as a Service

Businesses are under a lot of pressure to ensure that their endpoint protection solutions effectively secure the network. However, NetSPI’s research reveals a startling gap in security detection controls — nearly 60% of common attack tactics are missed by endpoint protection tools using out-of-the-box settings.  

To address this growing challenge, NetSPI is proud to announce the evolution of our Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) into BAS as a Service. This unique solution blends expert-led testing and research with The NetSPI Platform, delivering unprecedented insights into security control validation. This helps security leaders, IT professionals, and cybersecurity teams worldwide strengthen their detective controls while advancing their internal team’s approach to proactive security. 

The Challenge with Security Control Gaps

Security solutions such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), security information and event management (SIEM), and managed security service providers (MSSPs) are essential for cyber defense. However, deploying these tools is not enough.  

Many organizations rely on default configurations, which fail to account for the complexity of their unique environments and rapidly evolving threat landscape. Combine this with a global cybersecurity skills shortage, where 39% of IT professionals cite challenges in configuring security technologies effectively, and businesses find significant gaps and vulnerabilities to cyberattacks.  

Without proper testing and tuning of security detective controls, organizations risk relying on tools that underperform, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks. This is where Breach and Attack Simulation as a Service can help.

Enter Breach and Attack Simulation as a Service

NetSPI’s BAS as a Service transforms the traditional breach and attack simulation model by enriching it with expert-led, collaborative testing that focuses on problem solving. It’s a guided approach that empowers teams to understand, assess, and improve their cyber resiliency over time.

7 Benefits of Breach and Attack Simulation as a Service

1. Validate Effectiveness Across Security Controls – Test and validate that endpoint solutions, network defenses, SIEMs, and MSSPs are effectively implemented and operating as intended. 
2. Benchmark Detection Coverage – Measure your organization’s ability to detect threats based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework and industry best practices. 
3. Detailed Remediation Guidance – Gain in-depth insights into identified gaps, along with prioritized remediation recommendations to fine-tune configurations and optimize detection capabilities. 
4. Ongoing Testing and Validation – BAS as a Service includes a one-year subscription to The NetSPI Platform, so you can continuously retest and verify improvements, independently conduct attack simulations, review results, and monitor performance. 
5. Improved Detection Earlier in the Cyber Kill Chain – Identify and mitigate threats in their earliest stages, stopping attacks before they escalate. 
6. Continuous Security Validation – Track progress with detailed visuals and mapping coverage gaps within the MITRE ATT&CK matrix to create a strategic roadmap, identify improvement areas, and review step-by-step mitigation instructions. 
7. Demonstrate ROI – Showcase measurable improvements and justify investment in security tools with dashboards and reports. 

Real-World Impact of NetSPI BAS

How NetSPI Breach and Attack Simulation as a Service Works

1. Select Your Simulation Packs for Focused Testing

To ensure accuracy and relevance, NetSPI offers simulation packs tailored to address specific environments and threat vectors. Simulation packs include the following options: 

MITRE ATT&CK
Simulates tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) across the entire cyber kill chain based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework. It offers a comprehensive view of detection capabilities.  

Azure Cloud
Guides testing Azure cloud resources, examining threats like credential leaks, sensitive data gathering, and configuration exploits.  

Ransomware
Simulates ransomware attacks modeled after ransomware groups like CL0P and Fin7. Fine-tune security configurations to detect ransomware early in the kill chain, preventing lateral movement, privilege escalation, and encryption of data.  

Linux
Validates security within Linux environments by simulating risks tied to misconfigurations, remote code execution, and open-source vulnerabilities.  

ESXi
Tests hypervisor-specific defenses to protect interconnected virtual machines against privilege escalations and ransomware attacks.  

NetSPI’s focused simulation packs were designed with our innovative research, observations of threat actors, and our powerful platform. We wanted to offer flexibility and meaning solutions that can test specific environments, simulate relevant threat actor TTPs, and/or provide a holistic view of detection control coverage.

2. Benchmarking and Validation

BAS as a Service simulation packs are delivered as comprehensive manual testing led by our security experts, who will engage with your security operations team to guide you through the process. The controlled attack simulations will be conducted within your environment to generate and analyze security events with you. They will evaluate the efficacy of security controls and compare your coverage with industry peers and best practices. 

3. Ongoing Testing

BAS as a Service includes a one-year subscription to The NetSPI Platform to independently conduct attack simulations, review results, and monitor performance. You can access, search, and filter through all TTPs that you want to test. All procedures include deep context, such as step-by-step instructions, potential business impacts, prevention guidance, and more. You have the flexibility to run these tests on demand or automate (schedule) them to occur at your preferred frequency. These tests verify that your security control configurations function as intended, both before and after adjusting the detection settings. 

What to Expect from Breach and Attack as a Service

Strategic Decision-Making

Security leaders can use comprehensive dashboards to illustrate security improvements over time, inform executive discussions, and align testing outcomes with business objectives.

Team Empowerment

This isn’t just about technology – it’s also about education. With BAS as a Service, security teams benefit from the hands-on expertise of NetSPI’s security experts. The BAS module on The NetSPI Platform also provides deep insights and data context of findings, such as misconfigurations and cyber kill chain weaknesses. You’ll gain valuable educational content, detailed analysis of attack behavior, and step-by-step guidance to reproduce the attacks manually on the BAS module of The NetSPI Platform. 

Strengthen Ransomware Defenses

NetSPI’s research team analyzes the TTPs of real-world ransomware attacks. Using this intelligence, they design targeted testing that mimics the actions of ransomware operators so you can assess if your security controls can detect activity. Use this to fine-tune detective controls and detect ransomware earlier in the cyber kill chain.

Vendor and Peer Benchmarking

Evaluate the performance of your current security tools and/or MSSP by analyzing and comparing their detection capabilities. Our report of findings also includes your detection coverage benchmarked with industry peers.  

Continuous Improvement

Security is an ongoing journey that never ends. BAS as a Service provides continuous validation, empowering enterprises to fine-tune security controls to manage threat exposures.   

Empower Your Security Team Today

Cyber threats are inevitable, but security gaps don’t have to be. With NetSPI’s Breach and Attack Simulation as a Service, your organization gains the expertise, tools, and data necessary to improve cyber resiliency.