Threat detection and response are two of the most important aspects of any cybersecurity plan. In fact, some would say that they are the most important aspects. You cannot respond to a threat if you have not detected its presence, and a quick response is always essential. In the end, it’s all about staying ahead of the most advanced threats so that you can prevent problems before they begin. Let’s learn a little more about threat detection and response.
Understanding The Threats
Let’s go over a shortlist of the most common network threats. There are many of them, but these four are definitely the most frequent attack types:
- Phishing Scams: These are normally done for the purpose of stealing important credentials. They rely on “tricking” the user into thinking that they are entering credentials on a legitimate page.
- Ransomware: This type of malware uses encryption to remotely lock the entire device. A ransom payment will then be demanded in exchange for the password.
- Botnets: This is a way in which people can hijack your computing resources and use them for crypto mining, DDOS attacks, and all sorts of other things.
- Viruses and Worms: These terms are often used to describe malware in general, but there is a difference. A worm, unlike a virus, is self-replicating. Thus, it can spread to other parts of the system (and other machines) far more quickly than a simple virus.
Network Monitoring Must Be Automated
There are all kinds of network monitoring tools that can be used to keep an eye on your network traffic. Unfortunately, a lot of them require near-constant surveillance in order to do any good. This is a problem, as you probably can’t afford to pay someone 24 hours a day to sit there and watch the packets roll past. That’s why a lot of automated or AI-driven network security monitoring software has hit the market in recent years. Most of these are classified as “intrusion detection systems.” Constant network monitoring remains the best way to detect a threat in minimal time.
Antivirus Alone Isn’t Good Enough
If you are already paying for an antivirus service, you might think that you’ve done all that is necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth, as most antivirus programs are simply unable to cope with the most dangerous threats. In essence, these kinds of programs just look for known threats by scanning the contents of your device and comparing the results to a list. A quick virus scan is a helpful preliminary detection tool, but nothing more.
Firewalls Can Help Quite A Bit
Once a threat has been detected, the first thing to do is stop that threat from causing further damage. This will mean cutting off the attack at the source by disconnecting the attacker from your network. Thankfully, that kind of thing is really easy if you know what to block. Any router can be configured to automatically reject certain IP addresses or ranges. Once you have identified the source of the attack, it can quickly be blocked. Although firewalls are not impenetrable, multiple firewalls can get pretty close to that point.
Consider a SIEM program
SIEM stands for “Security Information Event Management.” These are specific software programs that are intended to provide a total security picture. By aggregating all relevant logs and data, they give you a way to check your entire system at one time. It should also capture a lot of other security-relevant data, like user behavior.
By utilizing simple pattern recognition, a good SIEM program can analyze large amounts of activity and determine what (if anything) looks suspicious. While you could check all of these things manually, a SIEM solution is far more convenient. Skout cybersecurity is one of the better examples of an effective SIEM platform.
Consider Using The “Honeypot” Tactic
Some people find that it’s useful to set a little trap for their potential attackers. These kinds of traps, known as “honeypots,” allow you to turn the tables on a cyber attacker. To do this, a compartmentalized section of the system must be made. It will then be “baited” with something that an attacker would want. Once they are in, every action will be logged. If you’re lucky, you might even get their IP address or other identifying info, which can then be passed on to the proper authorities.
Don’t Wait Until You Are Attacked
If you want to stay ahead of the various threats that exist, diligence and preparation are the keys. Would you wait to install locks on your front door, merely because no one has burglarized you yet? This is where the concept of “threat hunting” comes into play. Whatever software you choose, threat hunting is your best way to identify and close a security loophole. Any serious organization should do this kind of thing regularly. Penetration testing (test hacking, basically) might also be a good option to consider.
The Importance Of Staying Up To Date
In many ways, cybersecurity is like an arms race. Hackers are constantly looking for new exploits, and cybersecurity companies/professionals are constantly looking for ways to nullify those exploits. Because of this, it is essential to avoid old technology. Sure, it might be cheaper, but it probably won’t do any good whatsoever. The cybersecurity landscape changes so often that you really need to stick with the latest solutions.
Conclusion
There is no such thing as a system that is immune to all threats. The very nature of the internet makes such a thing impossible, but we can all strive to get as close to that goal as possible. Unless you happen to be a seasoned cybersecurity professional, you will definitely need the services of a credible company like PCH Technologies. We offer local managed IT services and so much more. To find out more, you can call (856) 754-7500.