Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a network attack in which an attacker chooses a particular target, and uses social engineering and advanced technologies to break into a network. Until the attack is successfully executed, they focus on that particular target for weeks, months, and years. Once inside a network, the attacker’s objective is to lay low, meanwhile using different malware to gain access to confidential information. Once they steal the information, it is sent to various locations and sold on the underground economy. Therefore, good vulnerability management can prevent these attacks.
APTs (Advanced persistent threats) have fiscal and technological assets and are highly organized. APTs are known to use sophisticated and personalized software that mostly goes unnoticed by a security protection system. Phishing, zero-day attacks, advanced malware, and a diversity of web compromises are the various delivery mechanisms or types of APIs. Vulnerability Management System can resolve these issues.
APTs (Advanced persistent threats) pose a risk to every organization. APTs can evade traditional signature-based anti-virus products leaving organizations exposed to threats. Instead of reacting to attacks after their occurrence, organizations must proactively control the endpoints by strengthening their security posture and empowering them with an automated solution that provides visibility, prevention, detection, and response. An endpoint threat detection and remediation (EDR) tool seals the void by providing insights into an APT attack and the internal lateral movement of attackers.
Saner endpoint security solution combines endpoint vulnerability, patch, and compliance management with endpoint threat detection and response into one easy-to-manage solution. Saner provides continuous visibility and control for all endpoints. It proactively remediates risks and detects and responds to threats.
How to protect an organization’s resources from APTs:
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Enforce defense in depth
Defense in depth is one of the most effective methods to prevent an APT from it infiltrating a network, and hence security specialists, as part of a regular network security strategy, give importance to the need for defense in depth. This includes:
- Steering areas of entry and exit in the network
- Using next-generation firewalls
- Deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems and security information and event management (SIEM) systems
- Employing a vulnerability management system and ensuring security patches are up to date
- Using strong authentication and identity management
- Enforcing endpoint protection through Anti-malware and EDR solutions
The first layer of the network must be hard to penetrate but if that layer is compromised, every additional layer of security must pose a further obstacle, either preventing the attack from spreading or slowing down so that it can be detected and handled by the security solution.
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Implement detection and monitoring modus operandi
Warning signs of APTs can be detected early with continuous monitoring. It is important to monitor all incoming and outgoing network traffic, internal traffic, and every device that accesses your network. In order to foil the attacker’s plan and for well-timed detection of potential invasions, the endpoints and network must be proactively and continuously monitored for any changes in the security posture. Continuous monitoring ensures that there are no deviations from established configuration settings and also makes sure that systems remain compliant all the time.
With Saner, it’s easy to know the security posture of all endpoints within seconds from one convenient dashboard. Saner provides real-time visibility into endpoint systems, including vulnerabilities, missing patches, processes, services, file information, security events, network connections, installed software, devices, privileged user accesses, and rights. It is important to know policy deviations, behavioral changes, etc., instantly to take responsive action upon detecting such changes as malicious.
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Develop a strategy for incident response.
In spite of implementing high-end technologies, breaches happen. Implementing a solid incident response plan can stop an attack, reduce damage and prevent data leakage, which will diminish the reputation or brand damage that can follow.
The incident response plan should also comprise steps for conserving forensic evidence of the breach to act against an attacker. With the help of forensics, the security team can detect security gaps to harden controls and prevent relapses.
Saner Business reduces the likelihood of an incident by preventing attacks from succeeding. Saner Business detects IoCs and provides many response options to contain the potential damage in case an incident occurs. If attacks recur using the same vulnerability, Saner Business helps identify the vulnerabilities and recommend ways to remediate such vulnerabilities.
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Bring a threat intelligence service into play.
Many security vendors offer Threat intelligence services in which raw data about evolving threats are present from numerous sources, investigated, and filtered to generate useful and actionable information. The information is in the data feeds for security control systems and management reports. For IT managers and C-level executives to assist them to comprehend the threat landscape for their industry.
It’s necessary to recognize signs of an APT at the earliest. They use different approaches to spread and may emphasize vulnerabilities unknown to security organizations. Threat intelligence is the missing link that brings together irregularities in network log data with a zero-day vulnerability.
Saner detects threats and includes remediation measures to contain or block an attack instantly. Threat Intelligence in the form of STIX/TAXII and OpenIOC can be fed to detect Indicators of Compromise and APT attacks in seconds in real-time.
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Educate employees on security awareness.
Every organization understands that security begins from within the organization, i.e. the employees. Ensuring employees truly understand the risks involved in unreliable links in emails and understanding various social engineering techniques are steps towards protecting endpoints and networks.
The organization’s security policy and potential consequences to each employee which arise from their actions communicated to them. Employees always strive to excel in what they do. And do not want to be the reason for company losses curtailing from an attack. The best tactic for this will be drawing attention to the positive during awareness training. And proposing incentives for the security-minded.
– Rini Thomas