Validate Security Measures
Description
Validate security measures after each penetration test. If deemed necessary, modify rulesets and capabilities to detect the techniques used during testing.
Implementation Checklist
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Threats & Vulnerabilities (CIS RAM)
Threat Scenarios
Detection Controls Fail to Identify Known Attack Techniques
ConfidentialityAn attacker uses the same techniques that were successful during a penetration test, and the organization's security controls still fail to detect them because rulesets were never updated based on test results.
Security Investment Wasted on Ineffective Controls
IntegrityThe organization continues investing in security controls that a penetration test proved ineffective, because no post-test validation process assesses whether existing controls actually detect the tested attack techniques.
Attacker Reuses Penetration Test Methodology Successfully
ConfidentialityA real attacker follows a similar attack path to the penetration testers and succeeds because the organization never validated or improved its defensive capabilities based on the test findings.
Vulnerabilities (When Safeguard Absent)
No Post-Pentest Validation of Security Controls
Without validating security measures after penetration tests, the organization does not know whether its detection and prevention controls can actually identify and block the techniques used during testing.
Security Rulesets Not Updated Based on Test Results
Absence of post-test validation means SIEM rules, IDS signatures, and firewall policies are not tuned to detect the specific attack techniques that penetration testers successfully employed.
Evidence Requirements
| Type | Evidence Item | Collection Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Configuration screenshots or exports showing protection controls enabled | Captured quarterly |
| Document | Procedure documentation for protection measures | Reviewed annually |
| Record | Penetration test report and executive summary | Per engagement |
| Record | Remediation tracking and retest validation results | Post-engagement |
| Document | Governing policy document (current, approved, communicated) | Reviewed annually |