Adversary emulation is a cybersecurity practice where security experts simulate real-world cyberattacks on an organization’s systems. Unlike penetration testing, which focuses on finding as many vulnerabilities as possible, adversary emulation aims to replicate the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by specific threat actors or groups.
First, the emulation team researches the tactics of a specific threat actor. They may do this by analyzing threat intelligence reports, studying past incidents, or reviewing open-source information. Once the team has a clear understanding of the adversary’s tactics, they design and execute a series of simulated attacks that replicate the adversary’s behavior.