ADAPT Framework for Modelling Adversary Behaviour

This article critiques the overuse of the “Advanced Persistent Threat” label and introduces the ADAPT framework—Advanced, Adaptive, Persistent, Targeted—to more precisely characterize adversaries and guide defense planning, explaining each dimension, integrating it with adversary persona cards for prioritization, and illustrating the approach with example scores for HAFNIUM and “Leery Turtle” to inform strategies against high-end capabilities, adaptiveness, persistence, and targeted operations.