Structure

he ARMOR Model is sequential by design. Organizations cannot skip levels, nor should they attempt to. Each stage establishes a foundation that supports the next. For example, without consistent inventories and remediation cycles at Level 2, it is impossible to strategically align offensive security activities in Level 3. Similarly, advanced adversary simulations at Level 4 will fail to deliver value without a well-documented strategy and integrated processes from earlier levels.

This progression reflects the reality of how organizations mature: not through sudden transformation, but through incremental improvements in visibility, governance, process, and culture. Each level builds directly on the practices and sustainment criteria of the previous one, ensuring that progress is durable and not superficial.

• From Ad Hoc to Repeatable: Testing evolves from one-time events to predictable, recurring cycles.
• From Repeatable to Managed: Activities align with strategy and business risk, expanding to cloud and supply chain coverage.
• From Managed to Optimized: Red and purple teaming introduce resilience metrics and simulation-based validation.
• From Optimized to Resilient: Continuous, adaptive testing becomes integrated into enterprise risk governance.

The ARMOR Model is intentionally challenging but achievable. Smaller organizations can make meaningful progress in the early levels, while enterprises with greater resources can pursue advanced resilience. By adopting the model incrementally, organizations demonstrate measurable improvements at every stage, without the risk of overreach or wasted investment.