SANS Security Awareness vs. Flexible IR

Training pathways that are tailored to specific roles and designed to be progressive aim to assist all individuals involved in the development lifecycle. Creating a secure environment and culture is crucial to mitigate the risks tied to essential web applications. SANS developer training tackles the obstacles encountered during continuous deployment within the framework of the Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). By teaching learners what to monitor throughout each phase of agile development, we ensure that every team member—from developers and architects to managers and testers—is prepared to create web applications in a secure environment while also recognizing the best security practices for their projects. Providing educational resources to all participants in the software development process—including developers, architects, managers, testers, business owners, and partners—can significantly decrease the chances of encountering common data security threats and attacks. This holistic strategy not only cultivates a security-oriented culture but also equips your team to build strong and defensible applications from the beginning. Additionally, fostering an understanding of security principles among all stakeholders leads to a more resilient development framework, ultimately enhancing the integrity of the software produced. By emphasizing ongoing education, organizations can stay ahead in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

We have established a systematic methodology aimed at improving incident response (IR) abilities through focused training specifically designed for responders in niche sectors like healthcare. Scenarios are crafted from data sourced from both VerisDB and a specially selected set of Flexible IR incidents, enabling managers to evaluate their team's existing skills while formulating actionable strategies for advancement. By leveraging the Mitre Att&ck Matrix, we can identify precise areas that necessitate additional practice. Our runbooks undergo ongoing refinement through the application of Symbolic AI, ensuring their continued relevance and efficacy. Built to be user-friendly, our foundational runbooks streamline incident management and can be customized to meet the unique requirements of different environments and security analysts. Furthermore, we perform expert evaluations of these runbooks to boost their quality. This approach not only serves to enhance the skills of novice team members in areas like threat hunting and incident response but also fosters a collaborative learning environment. We also conduct simulations of adversarial situations to provide hands-on experience while underscoring the significance of continuous skill enhancement for analysts. Our framework adheres to the essential 1-10-60 rule for incident response, incorporating a skill matrix and point system to encourage sustained motivation and structured learning pathways. In addition, the system incorporates fundamental gamification features, including card-based games, to make the educational experience more captivating and enjoyable. This holistic strategy not only fortifies individual competencies but also significantly boosts the overall performance and cohesion of the incident response team, leading to more effective outcomes in real-world scenarios.