{"id":6418,"date":"2023-09-09T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/tech\/?p=6418"},"modified":"2023-09-08T21:33:48","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T21:33:48","slug":"threat-detection-what-it-is-tools-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/tech\/technology\/threat-detection-what-it-is-tools-best-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Threat Detection: What It Is, Tools & Best Practices","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Threat detection and response is the practice of identifying any malicious activity that could compromise the network. It also involves composing a proper response to mitigate or neutralize the threat before it can exploit any present vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the context of an organization’s security program, the concept of “threat detection” is multifaceted. Even the best security programs must plan for worst-case scenarios: when someone or something has slipped past their defensive and preventative technologies and becomes a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detection and response is where people join forces with technology to address a breach. A strong threat detection and response program combines people, processes, and technology to recognize signs of a breach as early as possible and take appropriate actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detecting Threats<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to detecting and mitigating threats, speed is crucial. Security programs must be able to detect threats quickly and efficiently so attackers don\u2019t have enough time to root around in sensitive data. A business\u2019s defensive programs can ideally stop a majority of previously seen threats, meaning they should know how to fight them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These threats are considered “known” threats. However, there are additional \u201cunknown\u201d threats that an organization aims to detect. This means the organization hasn’t encountered them before, perhaps because the attacker is using new methods or technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known threats can sometimes slip past even the best defensive measures, which is why most security organizations actively look for both known and unknown threats in their environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat Detection and Response<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Threat detection and response is a cybersecurity tool designed to identify and prevent cyber threats. It can generally stop known threats, unknown threats and highly evasive malware that standard malware protection can miss. Understanding how each piece of threat detection and response works is the first step to finding the right tool for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Threat Detection?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Threat detection is the process of analyzing a security ecosystem at the holistic level to find malicious users, abnormal activity, and anything that could compromise a network. Threat detection is built on threat intelligence, which involves tools that are strategic, tactical and operational. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highly evasive cyber threats are the main focus of threat detection and response tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Threat Response?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Threat response consists of the mitigation efforts used to neutralize and prevent cyber threats before they create vulnerabilities. These efforts monitor systems in real-time and create alerts when detecting cyber threats and malicious behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat response is also built on threat intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Threat Detection Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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With active monitoring from managed detection and response, threat detection can spot known and unknown threats using threat intelligence. Once it identifies a threat, the threat response creates alerts or takes other action to prevent an attacker from accessing systems or sensitive data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good threat detection and response tool can stop a variety of cyber threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cyber Threats<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cyber threats can be separated into common cyber threats and advanced persistent threats. While a good threat detection and response tool should be effective against multiple types of cyber threats, most are built with highly evasive threats as a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Cyber Threats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Common cyber threats include ransomware, malware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and phishing. These kinds of attacks often come from outside a business, but they can also be used by an insider threat. An insider in this context is commonly a current or former employee with intimate knowledge of the business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ransomware \u2014 software designed to encrypt files and block access until a business pays money \u2014 is the most prevalent of the common cyber threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced Persistent Threats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Advanced persistent threats are attack campaigns where attackers establish a presence on a network to gain access over the long term. The goals of these attackers range from hacktivism to cyber espionage and financial gain. These cyber threats are designed to infiltrate, insert malware and gather credentials, then exfiltrate without detection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One example was the 2015 data breach of more than four million U.S. government personnel records by the suspected hacker group DEEP PANDA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced Types of Threats <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a wide variety of threats that organizations must face in today\u2019s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. Some of the most common types of threats include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Advanced Persistent Threats or APTs are a type of cyber threat where an unauthorized user gains access to a network and stays undetected for a long time. This type of threat is often used to steal data over a prolonged period or to cause continuous damage to the targeted organization. APTs are typically orchestrated by groups that have significant resources and are highly skilled in exploiting vulnerabilities in systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APTs are particularly dangerous because they employ a wide range of tactics to gain entry, remain hidden, and extract valuable information. They often involve complex malware and sophisticated evasion techniques that can bypass traditional security measures and remain undetected for extended periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zero-Day Exploits<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zero-day exploits refer to a cyber threat where a hacker exploits a software vulnerability before the vulnerability becomes generally known. There are no specific defenses in place because the software\u2019s creators are unaware of the vulnerability until the attack occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These attacks are particularly dangerous because they take advantage of the time gap between the discovery of a vulnerability and the release of a patch to fix it. This gives hackers an opportunity to exploit the vulnerability and potentially gain access to sensitive data or critical systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IoT Vulnerabilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Internet of Things (IoT) \u2013 a network of interconnected devices \u2013 presents a new frontier for cyber threats. These devices, ranging from smart home appliances to industrial control systems, are often not designed with security in mind, making them easy targets for cybercriminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IoT vulnerabilities can result in the compromise of personal data, disruption of services, and even physical harm. The increasing reliance on IoT devices in both personal and business contexts makes addressing these vulnerabilities a critical issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fileless Malware<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fileless malware is a type of cyber threat that operates in the computer\u2019s memory rather than on the hard drive. This makes it extremely difficult to detect and remove, as traditional antivirus software typically scans the hard drive for malicious files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This type of malware is particularly dangerous because it can easily bypass traditional security measures. It can also persist on a system even after a reboot, making it a significant threat to organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phishing and Social Engineering 2.0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Phishing and social engineering attacks have evolved significantly in recent years. Cybercriminals are now using more sophisticated tactics, such as spear phishing and whaling, to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These attacks often involve carefully crafted emails or messages that appear to come from trusted sources. They can lead to significant financial loss, data breaches, and damage to an organization\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deepfakes and Information Manipulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Deepfakes, or artificially created, realistic images or videos, represent a new form of cyber threat. They can be used to manipulate information, spread disinformation, and cause harm to individuals or organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deepfakes have the potential to undermine trust in digital content, manipulate public opinion, and even influence political outcomes. They pose a serious challenge to organizations and individuals alike, as they can be difficult to detect and counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI-Powered Attacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only being used to boost security but also to enhance cyber threats. AI-powered attacks can analyze vast amounts of data, learn from previous attacks, and automate tasks, making them more efficient and harder to detect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI-powered attacks can adapt to changes in security measures, identify vulnerabilities faster, and execute attacks at a scale and speed that humans cannot match. This makes them a grave threat to organizations and underscores the need for proactive security measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat Detection And Mitigation Methods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Threat<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Early detection and intervention is the goal of all threat detection methods. When network breaches happen, uncovering them quickly can help security teams minimize data loss and reduce damage. Here are four popular threat detection methods and how they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat intelligence<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cyber threat intelligence is the process of identifying, analyzing, and understanding threats that have targeted the organization in the past, are currently attempting to gain unauthorized access, and are likely to do so in the future. Analysts can use any threat intelligence from within their own organization, or from security groups that post online to apply to their own data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if a breach happened to another organization, they can post those indicators of compromise (IOCs) online for anybody to use and potentially uncover similar patterns in their own security data. Similar to the way governments gather data on a foreign adversary\u2019s attempts to breach their defenses, threat detection can help bolster defenses and neutralize ongoing security threats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threat intelligence seeks to understand the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n