Automated Security Validation: A New Approach to Cybersecurity

In the dynamic world of cybersecurity, threats are constantly evolving. Traditional methods of defence, such as firewalls and antivirus software, are no longer sufficient to protect against sophisticated attacks. The growing complexity of cybersecurity has led to a pressing need for innovative solutions that can keep pace with the evolving threat landscape. One such solution is Automated Security Validation.

Automated Security Validation is an entirely new approach to security predicated on automating the attacker’s perspective to proactively identify and prioritize exploitable security gaps. Unlike traditional manual processes, Automated Security Validation continuously tests and validates an organization’s security controls, ensuring they are effective against the latest threats. There’s no need to wait for a manual test every 6 months. CISOs can validate their deployments on-demand.

The power of Automated Security Validation lies in the ability to safely emulate real-world attacks against production environments, moving security from theoretical to practical. Automated Security Validation identifies security gaps that could be exploited by actual attackers, and provides a clear and prioritised remediation plan. By identifying proven security gaps that pose real risk for the business within the context of the organization’s environment, Automated Security Validation enables organizations to take targeted remedial action to exploitable gaps before an attack occurs.

But the benefits of Automated Security Validation extend beyond just identifying and prioritizing security gaps. The practice also enables organizations to test the effectiveness of their existing security controls and validate that they are working as expected and their coverage extends to cover their complete asset inventory. This visibility is crucial for making informed decisions about where the existing security is already effective and where to invest in security improvements.

The Power of Automated Security Validation Across Industries

Automation is a game-changer in the field of cybersecurity. With the sheer volume of threats that organizations face, manual testing is no longer sufficient. Manual testing is infrequent, traditionally once or twice a year, and can realistically only cover a small percentage of the IT environment; Automated Security Validation addresses these issues by automating the process to enable on-demand testing across the complete attack surface from traditional on-prem environments to cloud.

During his presentation at Cyber Meet-Up on the 19th of September, Nadav Elkiess will share ten practical use cases for Automated Security Validation. These real-world examples will demonstrate Pentera’s Automated Security Validation across a wide range of industries, verticals, and segments.

For instance:

Financial institutions can use Automated Security Validation to simulate a sophisticated black box attack, assessing the organization's ability to withstand a state-of-the-art cyberattack. This would help identify vulnerabilities in the institution's security posture.
Healthcare organizations, which are often targets of ransomware attacks due to the sensitive patient data they hold, might use Automated Security Validation to test their network's resilience against specific ransomware attacks
Government agencies can use it to test the security of their critical infrastructure.
Educational institutions can ensure the effectiveness of the security of their networks and databases, which often contain personal information of students and staff.

In essence, any organization that wants to proactively test their cybersecurity controls against the latest cyber attacks can benefit from Pentera’s Automated Security Validation platform. It’s a versatile set of capabilities that can be adapted to the specific needs of different industries and use cases.

Pentera and Thales Cyber Solutions Belgium have formed a partnership to provide advanced cybersecurity solutions. Pentera provides the Automated Security Validation platform while Thales Cyber Solutions Belgium's bring in their security expert to help joint customers with advanced cyber services. By combining Pentera's innovative approach with Thales Cyber Solutions Belgium's services, this partnership offers comprehensive protection against evolving cyber threats.

Thales Cyber Solutions Belgium's strong expertise in network security further strengthens this partnership. Their deep knowledge enables them to assist joint customers in developing effective remediation strategies for vulnerabilities identified by the Pentera platform, particularly those arising from network infrastructure weaknesses. By offering tailored security solutions to mitigate critical vulnerabilities, Thales Cyber Solutions Belgium contributes to bolstering overall cybersecurity posture and resilience.

Discover the Future of Cybersecurity at Cyber Meet-Up 2024 in Brussels

Cyber Meet-Up 2024 is an expedition into the future of cybersecurity. One of several hot topics of the event will be the Automated Security Validation, an innovative solution that leverages automation to detect and prioritize security vulnerabilities. This proactive and efficient method is set to transform the way we protect our organizations from the latest cybersecurity threats.

Pentera’s Automated Security Validation offers a new paradigm for security testing. By automating the adversarial perspective, Automated Security Validation enables organizations to proactively validate their existing security deployments against real attacks, identify exploitable security gaps and stay ahead of potential threats. With its agentless solution, Pentera is able to seamlessly test the complete attack surface from on-prem environments to growing cloud estates.

Cyber Meet-Up 2024 is also a great opportunity to network with peers from the cybersecurity world. You’ll be able to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build connections with professionals who are equally passionate about cybersecurity.

Come to Cyber Meet-Up in Brussels and learn more about Automated Security Validation.

More info: Cyber Meet-Up 2024