CISA has released a Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) detailing the findings from its 2023 red team operations against a Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) organization. The assessment highlights vulnerabilities within the organization’s security systems and provides recommendations on how to improve defenses against cyber threats. Key takeaways from the red team’s work include identifying tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers, as well as network defense activities that can mitigate risks.
The advisory focuses on the importance of defense-in-depth strategies, which include using robust network segmentation and establishing baselines for network traffic, application execution, and account authentication. Executives, network defenders, and organizational leaders are encouraged to adopt these measures to improve their cybersecurity posture. The findings show the critical need for organizations to be proactive in refining their detection, response, and hunt capabilities.
CISA’s recommendations urge all organizations to review the advisory and implement the suggested mitigations to fortify their networks. Applying defense-in-depth principles is emphasized as a key strategy for preventing successful cyberattacks. In addition, organizations are advised to adopt robust segmentation techniques to reduce the risk of lateral movement within their systems by attackers.
The advisory also directs organizations to CISA’s Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals, which outline common and impactful threats, as well as best practices for network security. By adopting these principles and integrating secure-by-design practices, organizations can significantly enhance their defenses against evolving cyber threats.
