Security teams need a practical way to test defenses against the tactics used by today’s most advanced threat actors. This playbook includes 1 real-world threat scenarios based on nation-state actors, ransomware groups, and cybercriminal organizations.
Using Cobalt Strike, Outflank Security Tooling, and Core Impact, security teams can emulate the techniques adversaries use throughout the attack lifecycle and validate how well their security controls detect, prevent, and respond to attacks.
What Attack Scenarios Are Included in the Playbook?
The scenarios span the full attack lifecycle and simulate the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by real-world threat actors:

Initial Access
In Phase – 4 Scenarios
How attackers gain access to systems through phishing, compromised credentials, exploitation, and other entry techniques.

Post-Compromise
Through Phase – 1 Scenario
How adversaries establish persistence, move laterally, escalate privileges, evade defenses, and expand access.

Mission Objectives
Out Phase – 3 Scenarios
How attackers achieve their goals, including data theft, ransomware deployment, credential harvesting, and data exfiltration.
Adversary Geography and Industries
Threat actors from across the globe target every industry, including Defense, Financial Services, Energy and Critical Infrastructure, Healthcare, Technology, Telecom, Government, and the Public Sector. Our playbook maps these attack groups and provides a how-to approach to simulate their attack techniques with Fortra’s Offensive Security suite so you can battle test your defenses.


How Can Security Teams Use These Threat Scenarios?
Organizations can use these scenarios to:
- Validate security controls against known adversary behavior
- Test detection and response processes
- Measure security readiness across on-premises and cloud environments
- Identify gaps in defensive coverage
- Support continuous penetration testing and adversary emulation programs
- Demonstrate compliance and security program maturity
How Does Fortra Help Security Teams Emulate Real Threat Actors?
Fortra’s Offensive Security solutions help organizations safely simulate attacker behavior, uncover potential attack paths, and validate defensive controls before adversaries can exploit them. Our security researchers continuously develop tooling and techniques designed to emulate advanced threats and real-world adversary operations.
Key Outcomes:
- Emulate advanced adversaries and their TTPs
- Real testing of layered defense mechanisms
- Meet compliance standards and improve over time
Key Solutions:
- Red Team Tools: Cobalt Strike and Outflank Security Tooling
- Pen Testing Software: Core Impact
Browse Our Demo Collection
Discover how organizations use Cobalt Strike to scale security testing, validate risks, and strengthen their security posture.