When Security Audits Fail: A Wake-Up Call
A failed security audit or a material breach is more than just a compliance issue—it’s a sign that your cybersecurity defences may not be as strong as you think.
In a recent Thales Global Cloud Security Study, it reported that 45% of the businesses it surveyed had experienced a cloud-based data breach or failed audit in the past 12 months.
So, while improved auditing may help, the focus is still on companies to continuously monitor systems and implement security fundamentals such as patching.
In reality, many organisations only act after an attack has occurred, scrambling to patch vulnerabilities, recover lost data, and reassure stakeholders. But, waiting until after a breach is a reactive approach that can leave a business exposed.
Instead of treating a security failure as a setback, organisations should view it as an opportunity to strengthen their defences, improve security operations, and proactively reduce risk.
Usually, audits serve as a wake-up call; they identify issues or vulnerabilities before they lead to data breaches, with companies being given time to address failures.
But for those business that suffer a breach, there can be serious financial and reputational damage and fines. Plus, passing an audit doesn’t guarantee a business is immune from breaches.
By leveraging threat emulation and adversary simulation, security teams can identify weaknesses before attackers do. This is where Fortra’s Cobalt Strike becomes an invaluable tool.
Strengthening Security with Adversary Simulation
Cobalt Strike is a threat emulation platform designed for security professionals who want to test, measure, and improve their organisation’s resilience against cyber threats.
Rather than waiting for real attackers to expose vulnerabilities, Cobalt Strike allows security teams to simulate advanced attack techniques and understand how their defences would hold up in a real-world scenario.
With Cobalt Strike, organisations can:
Simulate real-world cyberattacks – Emulate advanced adversaries using tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that real attackers deploy. This helps security teams understand how an attacker might gain access, move laterally, and execute malicious payloads.
Strengthen incident response capabilities – Security teams can test their ability to detect, analyse, and respond to live attack simulations. By running controlled exercises, teams gain valuable experience in recognising and mitigating threats before they escalate into full-scale breaches.
Identify security gaps before attackers do – Cobalt Strike, when paired with Core Impact, enables red teams to conduct penetration tests and threat simulations that uncover misconfigurations, weak security controls, and unpatched vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps organisations fix security flaws before they can be exploited.
Enhance compliance and regulatory readiness – Many security frameworks and compliance standards, such as ISO 27001, NIST, and SOC 2, require organisations to demonstrate effective security testing and incident response preparedness. Cobalt Strike provides the tools needed to conduct thorough assessments, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Watch a Cobalt Strike demo video: Link.
Beyond Detection
Proactive Threat Hunting with Cobalt Strike
In today’s evolving threat landscape, it’s no longer enough to rely solely on traditional security solutions like firewalls, antivirus, and SIEM systems. Attackers are using sophisticated techniques to bypass these defences, gaining access through social engineering, credential theft, and lateral movement within networks.
Cobalt Strike’s post-exploitation capabilities allow teams to mimic real-world adversaries, testing how effectively their detection and response mechanisms perform against stealthy and persistent attacks.
By proactively identifying weaknesses in endpoint protection, network segmentation, and user awareness, security teams can fine-tune their defences and minimise risk exposure.
Building a Resilient Security Posture
Failing a security audit or experiencing a breach doesn’t mean the end of your security journey—it means it’s time to adapt, strengthen, and get ahead of potential threats.
By incorporating adversary simulation into your security strategy with Cobalt Strike, organisations can:
- Transition from a reactive to a proactive security model
- Improve response time and detection accuracy
- Reduce the likelihood of costly breaches and financial losses
- Demonstrate regulatory compliance and security best practices
Now is the time to take control of your cybersecurity strategy. Don’t wait for an attacker to test your defences—simulate, assess, and strengthen them with Fortra’s Cobalt Strike.
Let us know if you want to have a demo with Cobalt Strike. Contact Us.