Preemptive Cybersecurity in Action: Cloud Range and the Future of Cyber Defense
Preemptive Cybersecurity in Action: Cloud Range and the Future of Cyber Defense
Cloud Range Recognized as a Sample Vendor in the 2024 Gartner® Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Preemptive Cybersecurity
Organizations can no longer rely on traditional detection and response strategies to protect against today’s fast-evolving threats. Threat actors are leveraging technologies like generative AI to exploit vulnerabilities with unprecedented speed. To stay ahead, organizations must adopt preemptive cybersecurity—an approach focused on preventing, disrupting, and deterring cyberattacks before they can cause harm. This proactive strategy includes predictive analysis, automated exposure management, and advanced mitigation techniques to minimize risk and strengthen defenses.
Cloud Range is proud to be recognized in the November 2024 Gartner® Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Preemptive Cybersecurity report within the Cyber Ranges category. In our view, cyber ranges play a crucial role in helping security teams prepare for real-world threats by simulating attack scenarios and enhancing response capabilities.
Cyber Ranges: Insights from the Emerging Tech Impact Radar Report
“Cyber ranges are simulated ecosystems that consist of systems and infrastructure designed to replicate a functional environment to simulate and analyze a wide range of cyberthreats and attack scenarios. They provide safe and controlled mock environments for organizations to test the effectiveness of their security defenses, measure their security response performance, and train their security personnel,” wrote Luis Castillo in the report.
“Cyber ranges can be considered evolutionary in the field of cybersecurity. They build upon existing training and simulation techniques that were historically limited to the U.S. Department of Defense and military operations, providing a more advanced and realistic environment for cybersecurity professionals to practice and improve their skills. Over time, the concept of ‘gun ranges’ used for testing weapons systems has evolved beyond military applications to include commercial organizations. This expansion is driven by a growing need to proactively prepare for emerging cyberthreats. By simulating real-world cyberthreats and attacks, cyber ranges support training and improve preparedness. They enable organizations to thoroughly assess security defenses and train personnel effectively. This aspect of cyber ranges contributes to a proactive and comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, strengthening defenses against emerging threats,” wrote Castillo.
Despite their growing importance, cyber range technology is not yet a priority for most organizations. They are primarily used by very large organizations, which typically face a higher risk of cyber threats and have the budget to invest in sophisticated cybersecurity training. That said, there are many signs that reflect strong confidence in its potential including increasing adoption, significant investments, and strategic partnerships.
Currently in the early stages of adoption, Gartner lists the Mass of the Cyber Ranges technology as ‘Low’ and notes that the majority of adoption will be in 6-8 years.
How Cloud Range Leads the Way
Preemptive cybersecurity requires proactive measures, and Cloud Range is at the forefront of equipping security teams with the tools they need to prevent, disrupt, and deter cyber threats before they escalate. Here’s why Cloud Range stands out as a leader in the cyber range industry:
Customizable Training Environments: Cloud Range offers highly configurable cyber ranges, allowing organizations to tailor environments based on their network architecture, security tools, attack types, and complexity levels. Our OT/ICS environments include virtualized PLCs, HMIs, monitoring tools, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) capabilities to provide realistic and immersive training.
Extensive Cyber Attack Content Library: Unlike many cyber ranges that require users to build their own attack scenarios, Cloud Range provides a continuously expanding library of live-fire attack simulations. These missions are based on real threat intelligence and mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, covering threats such as ransomware, DDoS, phishing, supply chain attacks, DNS tunneling, website defacement, and OT/ICS-specific incidents.
Multiple Training Formats: Our platform supports a wide variety of learning experiences, including red team, blue team, red vs. blue, and purple team exercises. We also offer capture the flag (CTF) challenges, skill development and challenge labs, and next-generation tabletop exercises, ensuring that security teams can engage in hands-on, scenario-based training that aligns with their skill levels and objectives.
No Infrastructure or Administrative Burden: Cloud-hosted and fully managed, Cloud Range eliminates the need for organizations to invest in and maintain complex infrastructure. Our replicated SOC environment includes actual licensed SIEMs, firewalls, and security tools, and our full-service model ensures seamless program management, facilitation, and reporting.
Expert-Led Live Training: Our instructor-led sessions feature guidance from expert Attackmasters™, who actively engage with teams during exercises, provide real-time insights, and evaluate individual and team performance to enhance learning outcomes.
Serving Key Industries with Tailored Solutions: Cloud Range works with enterprises, critical infrastructure providers, government and military organizations, higher education institutions, MSSPs, and more. Our tailored cyber range solutions ensure that security teams across various sectors receive industry-specific training that aligns with their unique operational challenges and regulatory requirements. From protecting national security assets to enhancing the security posture of corporate enterprises, our platform provides mission-critical training that improves cyber resilience.
Performance Metrics and Continuous Evaluation: Cloud Range tracks all training progress through its integrated Performance Portal™ learning management system (LMS), measuring key security competencies based on the NICE Framework, MITRE ATT&CK tactics, industry regulations, job requirements, and technical proficiencies. Our detailed reporting helps security leaders monitor performance improvements, identify skill gaps, and quantify cyber risk reduction over time.
By providing security teams with real-world cyber attack simulations in an immersive and measurable environment, Cloud Range helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience, optimize tool usage, and improve both IT and OT security operations. Our cyber range-as-a-service model ensures that organizations can continuously enhance their preparedness, reduce risk exposure, and stay ahead of emerging threats.
The Path Forward
The adoption of preemptive cybersecurity technologies will accelerate in the coming years. For organizations aiming to stay ahead of evolving threats, investing in solutions like cyber ranges is essential. Cloud Range is committed to empowering security leaders with the tools and training needed to reduce risk, enhance preparedness, and maintain resilience in an ever-changing threat landscape.
Explore how Cloud Range’s cyber range solutions can transform your organization’s approach to cybersecurity. Request a demo today to see live-fire simulations in action and discover how preemptive cybersecurity can make a measurable impact on your defenses.
Gartner, Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Preemptive Cybersecurity, by Luis Castillo, Lawrence Pingree, Carl Manion, Ruggero Contu, 25 November, 2024. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.