K-12 District Uses Continuous Attack Simulations to Find and Fix Security Gaps
Summary
A Picus case study describes a U.S. school district using breach-and-attack simulations to identify EDR and firewall gaps, apply vendor-specific mitigations, and retest controls across endpoints and servers.
Key points
- The district used two EDR platforms and a next-generation firewall but lacked a consistent way to see which threats each control missed.
- Picus BAS simulations tested endpoint and network defenses across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server systems.
- The case study says simulations showed where prevention varied across endpoints and whether attacks were blocked, detected, or missed.
- The team applied vendor-specific mitigation rules and reran simulations to check whether the gaps were closed.
- For a Notepad++ CVE, the team says it deployed a matching rule and updated the software.
Article Details
- Defense Focus
- Continuously validate EDR and firewall prevention and detection coverage against current endpoint and network threats, then close gaps and verify fixes through re-testing.
- Detection Methods
- Run continuous breach-and-attack simulations across endpoints and the network.
- Correlate EDR and firewall alerts with each simulation to identify attacks that were blocked, detected or logged, or missed.
- Compare simulation results over time to identify changes in control effectiveness.
- Re-run simulations after applying mitigations to verify the attacks are blocked.
- Data Sources
- EDR alerts
- Next-generation firewall alerts
- Simulation results from Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server agents
- Rule Types
- Vendor-specific mitigation rules for EDR controls
- Platforms
- Picus Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS)
- EDR platforms
- Next-generation firewall
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Windows Server
- Defensive Actions
- Use simulations to test existing EDR and firewall controls against current threats.
- Apply vendor-specific mitigations when simulations identify gaps.
- Patch affected software in addition to deploying preventive controls.
- Re-test after applying mitigations and track results over time.
- Share PDF summaries with leadership and CSV details with technical teams.
Vendors
Products
AI Threat Builderre-runs the test to confirm it is now blocked, and compares results over time to catch any drift. AI Threat Builder extends this coverage by turning the latest threat intelligence into custom simulations, so testingNotepad++For example, when a Notepad++ CVE was disclosed, the team ran the simulation, deployed the matching vendor-specific rule, and updated the software.Picus Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS)With Picus Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS), the team tests endpoints and the network continuously against current threats, including campaigns aimed at education, and deploys the vendor-specific fixes Picus provides.