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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued the Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Framework (CSCRF). The purpose of the CSCRF is to protect operations in the securities market from evolving cyberattacks and to do this the framework sets out standards and guidelines to be implemented by SEBI Regulated Entities (REs).
Red Teaming Requirements in the CSCRF
The CSCRF requires MIIs and Qualified REs to conduct red teaming exercises on a half-yearly basis. The purpose of red teaming is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the security capabilities of the RE and its systems by conducting a simulated adversarial attack.
What is Red Teaming?
A red teaming exercise simulates real world conditions in which an adversary attempts to compromise the organisation’s missions or business processes. The objective of red teaming is to identify potential weaknesses within the organisation’s cyber defence. The CSCRF suggests a number of possible scenarios for cyber resilience testing, including DDoS, malware/malicious code attack and application level attacks.
How to achieve red teaming compliance
The CSCRF recommends that REs conduct red teaming exercises through the use of red and blue teams and REs should also consider deploying Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART) solutions to provide ongoing testing and better awareness of attack surfaces.
The CSCRF also contains more general guidelines that may be helpful in achieving red teaming compliance. The framework contains guidelines for scenario-based cyber resilience testing and lists a number of standards that can be adapted for this testing. The CSCRF also provides guidelines for conducting audits and submitting audit reports
How CyberNX Can Help
CyberNX can play a vital role in assisting REs to meet their red teaming requirements and other CSCRF compliance obligations.
- Red Teaming Expertise: Provide experienced professionals to conduct comprehensive red teaming exercises tailored to the RE’s specific needs and risk profile.
- Threat Intelligence Integration: Develop realistic attack scenarios that reflect current cyber threats and attack techniques using access to up-to-date threat intelligence.
- Vulnerability Assessment: Conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify potential weaknesses that could be exploited during a red teaming exercise.
- Training and Awareness: Provide training and awareness programs to educate the RE’s staff on red teaming methodologies, incident response procedures, and the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures.
CyberNX, can help REs can effectively navigate the complexities of CSCRF compliance and safeguard their operations in the digital age. Contact us for comprehensive CSCRF compliance requirements.
Red Teaming: Frequently Asked Questions
What is red teaming?
Red teaming is a cybersecurity assessment that simulates real-world attacks to evaluate an organisation’s security posture. During a red teaming exercise, a team of security professionals, known as the “red team,” acts as an adversary and attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in the organisation’s systems, applications, and defences. The goal is to identify weaknesses in the organisation’s cybersecurity controls and incident response processes, helping the organisation improve its overall security posture.
What is the difference between red teaming and penetration testing?
While both red teaming and penetration testing aim to identify vulnerabilities, their scope and objectives differ. Penetration testing typically focuses on specific systems or applications, aiming to discover and exploit as many vulnerabilities as possible within a defined scope. Red teaming, on the other hand, takes a broader approach, simulating real-world attack scenarios to assess the organisation’s overall resilience against cyber threats1. Red teaming considers the organisation’s people, processes, and technology, mimicking the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of real-world attackers.
What are the benefits of conducting red teaming exercises?
Conducting red teaming exercises offers several benefits, including:
- Identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses: Red teaming exercises can uncover vulnerabilities that may be missed by traditional security assessments like vulnerability scans or penetration tests.
- Improving incident response capabilities: By simulating real-world attacks, red teaming exercises allow organisations to test their incident response plans and procedures in a controlled environment, identifying areas for improvement.
- Enhancing security awareness: Red teaming exercises can help raise security awareness among staff, demonstrating the importance of security practices and highlighting potential attack vectors.
- Strengthening the organisation’s overall security posture: By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, improving incident response capabilities, and enhancing security awareness, red teaming exercises contribute to a stronger overall security posture for the organisation.
Who should conduct red teaming exercises?
Organisations can choose to conduct red teaming exercises using internal security teams or engage external cybersecurity consulting firms. Internal teams may have a better understanding of the organisation’s systems and processes but may lack the experience or objectivity of external experts. External consulting firms can provide specialized expertise, fresh perspectives, and access to advanced tools and techniques.
How often should red teaming exercises be conducted?
The frequency of red teaming exercises depends on the organisation’s size, industry, risk profile, and regulatory requirements. The CSCRF mandates MIIs and Qualified REs to conduct red teaming exercises on a half-yearly basis. However, organisations may choose to conduct red teaming exercises more frequently based on their specific security needs and risk tolerance.