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There is trouble in paradise as bad actors develop deadly new attack methods with new tools that evade traditional cybersecurity detection and protection methods. Thus, outdated security strategies that wait until a threat triggers an alarm will no longer provide sufficient protection. But a trained cybersecurity provider can help you defend against these new dangers. Mazzanti
Traditional strategies tend to rely on established countermeasures like antivirus software, firewalls, intrusion detection, etc. While these tools are helpful, they only identify threats based on known patterns of harmful software; they do not detect new or unknown threats.
To keep critical digital assets safe, organizations must be proactive, not reactive. Just as a hunter stalks his prey, a strategy that leverages cyber threat detection looks for anomalous patterns that could be indicators of a compromise.
This approach has several key benefits. First, it helps security teams detect and stop threats early, reducing the chance of a data breach. A proactive strategy also allows security teams to understand hacker tactics and adjust defenses accordingly. Finally, a layered, interactive strategy improves the team’s ability to detect advanced attacks that may slip past primary defenses.
Modern cyberattacks use tools such as Advanced Persistent Threats and zero-day attacks to spread undetected through networks. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities not covered by traditional cybersecurity software.
In contrast, active threat hunting assumes that a breach has already occurred somewhere in the network. Threat hunters use both manual and automated methods to search through large amounts of data for indicators of compromise.
The process begins with hunters using their expert knowledge of threat actor tactics to make reasonable guesses about potential threats. Armed with this information, hunters carefully search endpoints (devices connecting to your network) and datasets for anomalous indicators that could be indicators of a compromise.
Further technical information
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The next step is to blend intuitive human experience with advanced analytics and machine learning, along with critical thinking, curiosity, and the ability to adjust tactics as threats evolve. Other tools include endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that monitor the physical devices that connect to your systems — mobile devices, desktop computers, virtual machines, embedded devices, and servers — and analyze network traffic, as well as threat intelligence feeds that provide context on known threats. Hunter-trained AI and automation will also be essential, but they cannot replace human expertise.
Trained threat hunters typically use advanced AI-powered tools such as security information and event management solutions that collect, analyze and correlate security data from various sources in real time, and data analytics platforms that help process large sets of information.
What’s next?
Implementing threat hunting can seem daunting for organizations with limited resources, but with the help of a trained, professional cybersecurity provider, even small and medium-sized businesses can effectively incorporate threat hunting into their digital defenses.
Security tools such as security operations centers and SIEMs can be used for automated threat detection and reporting. These tools can help monitor internal issues, antivirus logs, and network traffic monitoring to gain valuable insights.
A layered approach that combines tactical and defensive strategies can also help: First, invest in training and certification programs to improve the skills of your existing staff. Second, collaborate with other small businesses to exchange information and ideas and gain a better understanding of your industry.
Finally, threat hunting can also be outsourced to a specialized service provider who can quickly bolster your defenses and deliver services that fit your organization’s needs and budget.
Carl Mazzanti is president of eMazzanti Technologies in Hoboken, which provides IT consulting and cybersecurity services to a variety of businesses, from home offices to multinational corporations.