Why Cyber Security Teams Need MITRE ATT&CK Framework

In a digital world where cyber attacks are becoming more targeted and sophisticated, organisations need a proactive, intelligence-led approach to defending their systems. One such resource is the MITRE ATT&CK Framework – a globally recongised and extensively adopted knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques, which has become a foundational element of modern cyber security strategy (MITRE, 2024). But what exactly is it, and how can it help you?

What is the MITRE ATT&CK Framework?

The MITRE ATT&CK Framework – short for Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge – is a comprehensive, globally accessible knowledge base that catalogues the behaviours, techniques, and methodologies employed by cyber adversaries across the attack lifecycle. Developed and maintained my MITRE, a U.S. government-funded non-profit research organisation, the framework is based on empirical data gathered from real-world cyber incidents and threat intelligence (MITRE, 2024).

ATT&CK provides a broader perspective. It maps how adversaries operate post-compromise. This mapping offers a structured view of the steps attackers take to achieve their objectives. These steps range from gaining initial access to executing malicious code, escalating privileges, and exfiltrating data (SANS Institute, 2023).

The framework is organised as a matrix, where the columns represent tactics (the adversary’s – i.e. attackers – technical goals during different stages of an attack) and the rows represent techniques (the specific methods used to achieve those goals). Many techniques are further broken down into sub-techniques, which provide even more granular insight into adversary behaviours.

For example:

• A tactic like Persistence may include techniques such as ‘Account Manipulation’. This technique may have sub-techniques, like ‘Add Account’ under the main technique.

Each entry in the matrix is enriched with details on:

• Real-world use cases by threat actors
• Detection recommendations
• Mitigation strategies
• Data sources relevant to identifying the activity

ATT&CK is continually updated based on threat intelligence and incident reports from public and private sector partners. This ensures that it reflects current adversary tradecraft (MITRE, 2024). The framework is divided into several domains to reflect different environments:

• Enterprise (Windows, macOS, Linux, Cloud, Network)
• Mobile (iOS and Android)
• ICS (Industrial Control Systems)

By structuring adversary behaviour in this way, ATT&CK empowers defenders to think like attackers. This approach helps security teams identify weaknesses. It also allows them to anticipate likely attack paths. Additionally, they can implement more targeted detection and response mechanisms.

How is the MITRE ATT&CK Framework Structured?

The MITRE ATT&CK Framework is organised as a matrix that maps the behaviours of cyber adversaries across the attack lifecycle. It helps security teams understand what attackers are trying to do (tactics) and how they do it (techniques and sub-techniques) (MITRE, 2024).

Tactics – The ‘Why’

Tactics represent an adversary’s objectives at each stage of an intrusion, such as gaining initial access, executing malicious code, or maintaining persistence. These form the columns of the matrix and reflect the attacker’s intent (SANS, 2023).

Techniques – The ‘How’

Techniques explain how adversaries achieve their goals. For instance, under the tactic Persistence, a technique could be Scheduled Task/Job. These techniques are what defenders seek to detect or prevent (CrowdStrike, 2023).

Sub-techniques – The Detail

Many techniques are broken down into sub-techniques, offering a more granular view. For example, Phishing may include sub-techniques like Spearphishing Attachment or Spearphishing via Service.

Mitigations & Detections

Each technique includes:

• Mitigation guidance – practical steps to prevent or reduce risk.
• Detection advice – indicators, log sources, and behavioural patterns to monitor (MITRE, 2024).

Why Should You Use MITRE ATT&CK?

For Cyber Security professionals:

• Improves understanding of how adversaries operate.
• Supports threat hunting and detection engineering efforts.
• Enables better planning for read and blue team exercises.
• Enhances capability development for SOC teams and incident responders (FireEye, 2022).

For Businesses:

• Helps identify gaps in security controls by mapping current defenses to known adversary behaviour.
• Supports risk prioritisation and investment in relevant detections.
• Facilitates more accurate incident response by identifying likely next steps of an attacker (Crowdstrike, 2023).

Real-World Use Cases

Organisations and analysts use MITRE ATT&CK in various scenarios:

• SOC teams use it to align detection rules and triage alerts.
• Threat hunters create hypotheses based on ATT&CK techniques.
• Read teams simulate real attacker behaviour.
• Security vendors map their tool coverage against the framework to showcase effectiveness (Gartner, 2023).

Final Thoughts

The MITRE ATT&CK Framework isn’t just for security specialists – it’s a strategic tool for anyone who wants to understand how attackers think and how to defend against them. Whether you’re a cyber security leader, a student, or a business owner, adopting ATT&CK offers numerous benefits. It helps shift your mindset from reactive to proactive defense (MITRE, 2024).

References

CrowdStrike. (2023) MITRE ATT&CK Framework Explained. Available at: https://www.crowdstrike.com [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].

FireEye. (2022) Using MITRE ATT&CK for Security Operations. Available at: https://www.fireeye.com [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].

Gartner. (2023) Mapping Security Controls to MITRE ATT&CK: A Practical Guide. Available at: https://www.gartner.com [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].

MITRE. (2024) MITRE ATT&CK® Framework. Available at: https://attack.mitre.org [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].

SANS Institute. (2023) Understanding the MITRE ATT&CK Framework. Available at: https://www.sans.org [Accessed 13 Apr. 2025].