ATT&CK® Purple Teaming

Methodology Certification

Learn Purple Teaming Methodology

Level: Intermediate

CPEs: 13 Hours  |  32 Lectures  |  Planning & Execution Walkthroughs 

Experts from MITRE produced this course to show you the actionable defensive rewards that only come when red and blue teams work together. This course requires an understanding of all other aspects of the MAD20™ online training series and will hone your ability to:

  • Emulate adversarial behavior for the purposes of purple team exercises
  • Deliver actionable, robust defensive recommendations such as new data collection requirements, mitigations, system reconfigurations, and analytics.
  • Seamlessly integrate knowledge from Adversary Emulation, Threat Hunting, CTI, and Purple Teaming fundamentals to develop a comprehensive strategy.
MAD20 Course Covers- Website

 

Course Prerequisites

  • MAD20 Adversary Emulation Fundamentals Course
  • MAD20 Threat Hunting Detection Engineering Fundamentals Course
  • MAD20 Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) Defense Recommendations Course

Target Audience

Top job roles related to this credential include:
  • Cybersecurity / Information Security Analyst
  • (Junior/Senior) Threat Hunter
  • Senior Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Network Architect
  • Computer and Information Systems Manager

Course Goals

  • Deliver actionable recommendations to your organization based on the observable and perceived threat landscape and organization characteristic
  • Effectively communicate defensive recommendations to your organization based on comprehensive Red Team and Blue Team techniques
  • Interact with Red Teams and Blue Teams within your organization to develop such strategies

3-2

 

ATT&CK Purple Teaming Methodology Certification is an intermediate level program that verifies that the holder knows the fundamentals of how to leverage purple teaming to emulate adversarial behavior, and deliver actionable, robust defensive recommendations, such as new data collection requirements, mitigations, system reconfigurations, and analytics.

You must earn four distinct badges to be eligible for the ATT&CK for Purple Teaming Methodology Certification.

MITRE ATT&CK Fundamentals
MITRE ATT&CK Fundamentals

ATT&CK Fundamentals

Start with the basics; unlearn bad behaviors and relearn ATT&CK the way MITRE intended. Learners will understand the structure and philosophy that continually shapes ATT&CK. This course helps Defenders identify the available ATT&CK resources and operational use cases while also recognizing how ATT&CK empowers defenders through understanding threats.
44
44

Adversary Emulation Fundamentals

Certifies an understanding of foundational adversary emulation concepts and the ability to execute an adversary emulation plan based on ATT&CK. This badge verifies an ability to leverage ATT&CK and adversary emulation as part of assessment and improvement practices, and understand foundational concepts about adversary emulation (its purpose, the adversary emulation framework, and how to execute an adversary emulation plan).
30MITRE ATT&CK Threat Hunting Fundamentals
30MITRE ATT&CK Threat Hunting Fundamentals

Threat Hunting Fundamentals

The Threat Hunting Fundamentals Badge verifies an understanding of how ATT&CK can be used as a malicious activity model to conduct the six steps of the TTP-based threat hunt methodology. This badge verifies an understanding of how to contrast key elements of TTP-based hunting with complimentary approaches and fundamental considerations for characterizing malicious activity or behavior and how to use that information to execute a TTP-based hunt. This process shapes information needs and data requirements to develop continual hunt efforts focused on advanced cyber adversary behaviors.
MITRE ATT&CK Cyber Threat Intelligence Defense Recommendations
MITRE ATT&CK Cyber Threat Intelligence Defense Recommendations

CTI Defense Recommendations

The CTI Defense Recommendations Badge validates a defender’s mastery of using ATT&CK mapped data to make defensive recommendations for an enterprise. Completion of the program certifies mastery of the defensive recommendation process, understanding techniques and sub-techniques that are used in ATT&CK CTI, and mastery of constraints and tradeoffs within organizations.
16
16

Purple Teaming Fundamentals

Verifies the holder knows how to effectively prepare for, execute, and leverage purple teaming, combining and utilizing skills learned across the MAD20 curriculum. This badge is focused on prioritized malicious behaviors. Experts from MITRE show you the actionable defensive rewards that come only when red and blue teams work together.

Understanding the Basics of Threat Hunting

What is Purple Teaming in Enterprise Cyber Security?

In today's rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, enterprise security teams must continually adapt to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Traditional defensive measures alone are no longer sufficient. To build a more resilient security posture, many organizations are turning to Purple Teaming—a collaborative approach that blends offensive and defensive strategies to strengthen overall cyber defense capabilities. This blog post explores what is purple teaming, its importance in enterprise cybersecurity, and how hands-on training provided by MAD20, particularly their threat-informed defense training on MITRE ATT&CK, equips security teams with the necessary skills to effectively combat modern cyber threats.

 

The Rise of Purple Teaming: A Collaborative Approach to Cyber Defense

What is Purple Teaming?

Purple Teaming is a cybersecurity practice that involves close collaboration between a Red Team (offensive security professionals who simulate attacks) and a Blue Team (defensive security professionals who respond to these attacks). Unlike the traditional approach, where Red and Blue Teams operate independently, Purple Teaming encourages continuous knowledge sharing and collaboration, resulting in a more robust and well-rounded security posture.

In essence, Purple Teaming breaks down the silos between offensive and defensive teams, fostering a culture of cooperation where the strengths of both teams are leveraged to identify, test, and mitigate potential vulnerabilities more effectively.

 

The Importance of Purple Teaming in Enterprise Cyber Security

In an enterprise environment, the stakes are high. A successful cyberattack can result in significant financial losses, reputational damage, and legal repercussions. Purple Teaming helps organizations stay ahead of threats by ensuring that defensive measures are continually tested and refined against the latest attack techniques.

Key benefits of Purple Teaming include:

  1. Enhanced Threat Detection and Response: By combining offensive and defensive expertise, Purple Teams can identify and address gaps in security more quickly and effectively.
  2. Improved Communication and Collaboration: Purple Teaming fosters a culture of continuous learning and cooperation, leading to better communication between Red and Blue Teams.
  3. Proactive Defense: Purple Teams don't just react to attacks—they anticipate them. This proactive approach allows organizations to strengthen their defenses before vulnerabilities can be exploited.
  4. Real-World Threat Simulation: Purple Team exercises simulate real-world cyberattacks, providing security teams with hands-on experience in detecting and responding to these threats.

 

Purple Team Strategies for Enterprise Security

Building an Effective Purple Team

To maximize the benefits of Purple Teaming, organizations must implement effective strategies that encourage collaboration and continuous improvement. Here are some actionable tips for building a successful Purple Team:

  1. Define Clear Objectives: Before embarking on Purple Team exercises, it's essential to establish clear goals. These might include improving incident detection times, reducing response times, or identifying specific vulnerabilities.
  2. Leverage MITRE ATT&CK Framework: The MITRE ATT&CK framework is a powerful tool for Purple Teams, providing a comprehensive matrix of tactics and techniques used by adversaries. By aligning Purple Team activities with this framework, organizations can ensure that their defenses are tested against the latest and most relevant attack vectors.
  3. Continuous Training and Development: Regular training is crucial to keep both Red and Blue Teams up-to-date with the latest attack techniques and defensive measures. Hands-on training, such as that offered by MAD20, is particularly valuable in this regard.
  4. Measure and Improve: After each Purple Team exercise, it's important to review the results, measure performance against established objectives, and identify areas for improvement. This iterative process ensures that the organization's security posture continues to evolve and strengthen over time.

 

The Role of Hands-On Cyber Security Training

One of the key components of successful Purple Teaming is ensuring that both Red and Blue Teams have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their roles effectively. This is where hands-on cybersecurity training, such as that provided by MAD20, plays a crucial role.

MAD20's threat-informed defense training on MITRE ATT&CK equips enterprise security teams with essential offensive and defensive skills. This training goes beyond theoretical knowledge, providing participants with practical experience in simulating and defending against real-world cyberattacks. By engaging in this hands-on training, security professionals can better understand the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by adversaries and how to counter them effectively.

 

Benefits of Purple Teaming: Real-World Results

The adoption of Purple Teaming strategies has led to significant improvements in the performance of enterprise cybersecurity teams. Recent statistics highlight the tangible benefits that organizations have experienced:

- Faster Incident Response Times: Organizations that have implemented Purple Teaming have reported a 40% reduction in incident response times. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced collaboration and communication between Red and Blue Teams.

- Increased Detection Rates: Purple Teaming has led to a 30% increase in the detection of advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other sophisticated attacks. By simulating real-world attacks, Purple Teams help organizations identify vulnerabilities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

- Improved Security Posture: Enterprises that regularly engage in Purple Team exercises have seen a 25% improvement in their overall security posture. This is due to the continuous testing and refinement of defensive measures, which helps organizations stay ahead of emerging threats.

- Enhanced Team Collaboration: Purple Teaming fosters a culture of cooperation between offensive and defensive teams. As a result, 80% of organizations report improved communication and collaboration between their security teams, leading to more effective threat mitigation.

These statistics underscore the importance of Purple Teaming in building a resilient cybersecurity strategy. By breaking down the barriers between Red and Blue Teams and encouraging continuous collaboration, organizations can significantly enhance their ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats.

 

Actionable Tips for Implementing Purple Teaming

For enterprise cybersecurity teams looking to implement Purple Teaming, the following tips can help ensure success:

  1. Start Small: Begin with smaller, focused exercises that target specific vulnerabilities or attack vectors. As your team becomes more comfortable with the process, gradually expand the scope of Purple Team activities.
  2. Encourage Cross-Training: Cross-training between Red and Blue Teams can help team members gain a better understanding of each other's roles and challenges. This can lead to more effective collaboration during Purple Team exercises.
  3. Invest in Tools and Training: Ensure that your teams have access to the latest tools and training resources. Platforms like MAD20 offer specialized training on MITRE ATT&CK and other frameworks, providing teams with the skills they need to succeed in Purple Teaming.
  4. Document and Review: After each exercise, document the results, lessons learned, and areas for improvement. Regularly reviewing and refining your Purple Team strategies will help you stay ahead of evolving threats.

 

Conclusion: Strengthening Your Cyber Defense with Purple Teaming

In today's dynamic threat landscape, Purple Teaming has emerged as a critical strategy for enterprise cybersecurity teams. By fostering collaboration between Red and Blue Teams, organizations can enhance their ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats, ultimately strengthening their overall security posture.

The benefits of Purple Teaming are clear: faster incident response times, increased detection rates, improved security posture, and enhanced team collaboration. To fully realize these benefits, it is essential to invest in hands-on cybersecurity training that equips teams with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

MAD20's threat-informed defense training on MITRE ATT&CK is an invaluable resource for enterprise security teams looking to implement effective Purple Team strategies. With a focus on real-world threat simulation and hands-on experience, MAD20 provides the training necessary to build a resilient and proactive cybersecurity defense.

MAD20 For Enterprise UPSKILL YOUR TEAM Continuous Skills Development on Threat-Informed Defense for Cybersecurity Teams  

Ready to take your cybersecurity defense to the next level? Explore MAD20's Purple Teaming course and other resources designed to empower your security teams with the skills they need to stay ahead of emerging threats.

By focusing on the importance of Purple Teaming and the benefits of hands-on training, enterprise cybersecurity teams can develop the skills and strategies necessary to combat modern cyber threats effectively. Whether you're just starting with Purple Teaming or looking to refine your existing strategies, MAD20 offers the resources and expertise to support your journey.