Page 135 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2025

The Red Team Mindset: CISO Readiness Checklist

- [ ] Does our SOC recognize low-and-slow TTPs?

- [ ] Do we monitor for identity-based anomalies (not just malware)?

- [ ] Can we detect lateral movement without relying solely on EDR?

- [ ] Are we logging identity provider events?

- [ ] Do we run regular threat emulation scenarios?

- [ ] Is threat intel actionable, not just reactive?

Final Thoughts

Defenders don’t need to become attackers. But they must understand their psychology. The battlefield
has shifted: it’s no longer about building higher walls, but understanding who’s trying to climb them—and
how.

CISOs who embrace this mindset won’t just be harder to breach. They’ll be impossible to predict.

About the Author

Ahmed Awad, known online as nullc0d3, is a Senior Cyber Threat Intelligence
Analyst with over 20 years of hands-on experience in offensive and defensive
cybersecurity. He’s the author of Inside the Hacker Hunter’s Mind and Inside
the Hacker Hunter’s Toolkit. Ahmed has trained red and blue teams globally,
and specializes in adversary emulation, malware analysis, and cyber warfare
strategy. He can be reached on LinkedIn, Twitter (@NullC0d3r), or at
https://ahmedawadnullc0d3.pro

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2025 Edition 135
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