Bringing the Light into the Dark Places: Invisible Threats, Visible Solutions
What is the biggest cybersecurity challenge facing companies worldwide? The answer may vary depending on who you ask, but one indisputable fact remains clear: “What you can’t see, can and will hurt you.” Cyber threats lurk in the depths of the digital world, constantly evolving, poised to strike unsuspecting victims. They often strike by compromising unseen connected devices which, experience has proven, represent up to 50% of all devices on a network.*
To safeguard your business, it’s imperative to bring a light into the dark places by leveraging robust strategies and tools to protect your digital realm. This blog explores the significance of effective threat detection and response solutions and how they shield your organization from the invisible dangers lurking in the digital shadows.
The Evolving Threat Landscape
To shed light on the cyber threats that pose a danger to your organization, you must navigate the increasingly complex threat landscape. Merely focusing on perimeter defense is inadequate, as hackers have shifted their attack strategies to target the network’s interior, exploiting vulnerabilities that expose you to such things as insider threats and supply chain attacks. The spotlight has also turned to the high-risk realm of IoT, IoMT, OT, and IT devices interconnected with the internet, many of which are inherently insecure.
Recent findings from Forescout Research – Vedere Labs indicate that, in 2023, the healthcare sector emerged as the most vulnerable industry, with retail and manufacturing trailing closely behind in terms of risk. When it comes to manufacturing, the most critical risk to OT originates from its integration with IT devices. Prior to this integration, OT devices were segregated from the internet, which ensured a higher level of security, but this level of isolation is no longer possible and has now created a minefield of opportunities for cyber attackers. Adopting new tactics is crucial to prevent hackers from penetrating your defenses. Recognizing the diversity of these threats and devising a risk mitigation plan is the foundational step in threat detection and response.
Illuminating the Shadows with Threat Detection and Response
Possessing threat detection and response tools alone is insufficient. Hackers often exploit visibility gaps and the lack of integration between the multitude of cybersecurity tools. Cyber attackers bank on the enterprise’s inability to cast light into the network’s darkest recesses. The most sophisticated threat detection and response solutions are not only highly efficient but also immensely effective, offering the necessary visibility into network incidents by spotlighting legitimate threat activities. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that not all visibility is equal. True insight involves understanding the hacker’s entry point into the network, their trajectory, actions within the network, and strategies to halt their progress. Not every form of visibility offers the depth of insight needed to comprehend the full structure of an emerging threat.
Many solutions introduce alert overload, draining your investigation resources and causing you to miss the actual attacks taking place. Hackers anticipate companies wasting time to pursue phantoms in the network instead of discerning the real threats. Advanced threat detection solutions strategically illuminate the right areas at the right moments, preventing hackers from launching attacks undetected. These solutions relentlessly monitor and analyze network traffic, system logs, and unusual user behavior indicative of modern-day threats.
Ways You Can Bring the Light to Your Network
In selecting a threat detection solution, ensure it meets your specific needs and has the proven maturity required to illuminate the network. Key features to consider include:
- Advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms for detecting suspicious behavior and anomalies signaling potential network breaches.
- Built-in SOC efficiency through generative artificial intelligence (AI), centralizing all incident-related data and giving clarity into threat behavior.
- User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to identify user behavior patterns and deviations that suggest insider threats.
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) to compile, correlate, and clarify data from various cybersecurity tools, offering a comprehensive view of emerging threats.
- Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) to diminish the average time to detection and response (MTTD & MTTR).
- Subscription to threat intelligence feeds to stay abreast of new and evolving threats.
- Immediate isolation and containment of compromised systems.
- Streamlined incident triage prioritization, gauged by the potential impact on your organization.
- Vendor-agnostic solution that integrates well with your security ecosystem.
Conclusion
Casting light into the network’s darkest recesses is a vital strategy for organizations intent on thwarting cyber criminals. Investing in a proficient threat detection and response solution not only positions you ahead of cyber attacks but also protects your customers and other connected stakeholders. As hackers persist in their covert operations within the network’s dark crevices, the illumination provided by threat detection and response solutions will unveil and counteract the hidden tactics causing turmoil across your organization.
*Based on actual customer implementations, individual results may vary.