Understanding the Threat
In today’s threat landscape, monitoring account activity is essential to prevent catastrophic cyber incidents. Identity-related cyber threats, such as Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Account Takeover (ATO), are on the rise, exposing sensitive information and disrupting operations. These attacks often leverage network access points like VPNs, further expanding an adversary’s reach and the potential impact on your business.
To illustrate the stakes, consider a recent ransomware attack we managed. Attackers exploited a known vulnerability in the victim’s externally facing VPN, gaining administrative access and compromising domain admin credentials. Within a short span, RansomHub ransomware spread across the network, encrypting all servers and even onsite backups. This breach underscores the critical need for a proactive security posture.
The cyber attack in this case was carefully planned out and orchestrated. The adversaries took their time after compromising the victim’s VPN, gaining control of a domain admin account, and laying the groundwork for a sudden deployment of ransomware across the entire environment in just a matter of minutes.
Maintaining continuous monitoring through Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) could have identified suspicious behavior early on, potentially preventing the compromise of critical credentials. Additionally, implementing an Attack Surface Management program that regularly assesses vulnerabilities can help mitigate risks before they are exploited.
Essential Strategies to Safeguard Your Organization from Emerging Threats
Broad Visibility Through Combined Solutions
Combining SIEM, EDR, XDR, ITDR, and MDR offers comprehensive visibility into your environment. These solutions work together to detect indicators of attack (IOA) and indicators of compromise (IOC), giving you the intelligence you need to stop threats before they escalate.
Continuous Penetration Testing
Our NodeZero platform provides automated, continuous penetration testing to help identify and resolve exploitable weaknesses before attackers can take advantage of them, ensuring your defenses are always up to date.
Regular Vulnerability Scanning
Keeping up with routine vulnerability scans ensures that you remain aware of a wide range of potential issues, reducing the risk of a security breach.
Off-Site, Immutable Backups
Maintain off-site, immutable copies of critical data to ensure rapid restoration and recovery in the event of an attack. We recommend having both an onsite copy for fast access and an off-site copy for maximum redundancy.
Adopt a Security Framework
If you haven’t already, consider adopting a security controls framework like the CIS Controls or NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). Perform a self-assessment to identify and prioritize risks, starting with those that pose the greatest threat to your business.
Final Takeaways
Ensuring continuous monitoring, strict account controls, and secure off-site backups are vital steps every organization must take to safeguard their infrastructure. Prevention is always preferable to recovery, and these proactive measures can mean the difference between a successful defense and a devastating attack.