FourCore ATTACK: FourCore ATTACK vs penetration testing
A penetration test shows what skilled testers could exploit during one engagement. FourCore ATTACK safely runs real attacker techniques against your controls whenever you choose, and shows what each one blocked, detected or missed.
The question each one answers
- Penetration testing
- What could a skilled attacker exploit in this scope, right now?
- FourCore ATTACK
- Do our controls block or detect each technique, every time we test?
When each one fits.
They answer different questions, and most security programs need both.
Choose a penetration test when
- You want people to chain weaknesses creatively and test business logic.
- An auditor, customer or regulation asks for an independent test.
- A new application or major system needs an expert's deep look before launch.
- Social engineering or physical access is in scope.
Choose FourCore ATTACK when
- You need to know whether EDR, SIEM, email, web, network and DLP controls block or detect real techniques.
- Controls change often and every change needs a retest.
- You track coverage by MITRE ATT&CK technique and by control.
- You want a fix and a detection rule for each gap, and a retest that confirms it is closed.
How they work together
Run penetration tests for depth on the systems that matter most. Between engagements, FourCore ATTACK keeps testing the controls and retests every fix, so drift after a change shows up in your results before the next pentest.
Side by side.
What each approach covers, how often it runs and what you get at the end.
Question answered
- Penetration testing
- What testers could exploit during the engagement
- FourCore ATTACK
- Whether each control blocked, detected or missed each technique
How often
- Penetration testing
- Periodic engagements, often yearly or quarterly
- FourCore ATTACK
- Continuously, on demand or on a schedule
Who runs it
- Penetration testing
- Human testers, often from an outside firm
- FourCore ATTACK
- FourCore Analyst builds and runs safe tests, and your team approves each run
Method
- Penetration testing
- Manual exploitation within an agreed scope
- FourCore ATTACK
- Controlled, non-destructive simulation of real techniques, with automatic cleanup
What is tested
- Penetration testing
- The systems and applications in scope
- FourCore ATTACK
- EDR, antivirus and Active Directory, SIEM detections, email gateway, web proxy, IDPS, WAF and DLP
Results
- Penetration testing
- A report at the end of the engagement
- FourCore ATTACK
- Blocked, detected or missed for every step, with evidence mapped to MITRE ATT&CK
After a fix
- Penetration testing
- A retest is usually a new engagement
- FourCore ATTACK
- The same test runs again to confirm the gap is closed
Where it is strongest
- Penetration testing
- Human creativity, business logic and chained exploits
- FourCore ATTACK
- Repeatable results across many machines and controls
Questions
Does FourCore ATTACK replace penetration testing?
No. Penetration tests bring human judgment, creative chaining and business logic testing, and many audits require them. FourCore ATTACK validates your controls between engagements and after every change.
Is it safe to run in production?
Yes. Simulations are controlled and non-destructive, run within rules of engagement you agree, and clean up after themselves. No live malware spreads.
What does a FourCore ATTACK result show?
For each step: the technique attempted, the control tested, whether the behavior was blocked, detected or missed, the evidence behind the result, and the fix or detection rule needed. A retest shows whether the gap was closed.
How do the two work together?
Use penetration tests for depth on your most important systems, and FourCore ATTACK for repeatable checks of your endpoint, detection, network, email, web and data protection controls. When a fix goes in, a safe test of the same technique shows whether the control now blocks or detects it.
Keep testing between pentests.
Bring a threat or a technique. We run it safely against your controls and review what was blocked, detected or missed with you.