Threat actors use the most efficient attack vector, which requires the least amount of work. Therefore, they constantly adjust how they operate. For example, social engineering and phishing were the most common attack vectors for several years. Now, exploiting vulnerabilities in infrastructure components or applications is more common. Scanning the internet for known vulnerabilities is more effortless than crafting phishing emails. Not to mention more efficient; in minutes, threat actors can find thousands of exposed IT systems ready to be exploited.
As we discover where the most significant threats originate and take actions to defend against them, the threat actors will change their modus operandi and go for the next best thing. In this cat-and-mouse game, we are always playing catch-up.
Know the Critical Layers of Cybersecurity Defense
As an organization, you need to work continuously with different layers of cyber defense to ensure you are proactive rather than reactive. By separating the threat actors’ other attack vectors into different layers, we understand what we need to do for each layer.
- In the infrastructure layer, the threat actors exploit vulnerabilities in networking, hardware, and operating systems. These weaknesses are caused by poor management of high-privileged accounts, poor password quality, unpatched security gaps, and misconfiguration.
- In the application layer, you must address secure coding and vetting implementations of bought solutions and software architecture issues.
- The user layer encompasses both the human aspect and the physical world. In this layer, you encounter the user and employee that a threat actor can dupe, threaten, or bribe to gain access to your environment or steal your information.
Achieving a Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity
Within each layer, you must consider and work with different aspects of cybersecurity to achieve a resilient defense, namely the following:
- Predict is about investing wisely and being prepared and proactive. Understanding what’s happening in your surroundings and how this affects your organization is crucial when making decisions about your cybersecurity efforts.
- Protect is how you implement and enforce safeguards. These safeguards can be technical and administrative security functions, from traditional firewalls, antivirus, and backup solutions, to information security policies, procedures, guidelines, etc.
- Detect is crucial when your protective measures fail and your infrastructure is breached. Given all statistics and data gathered from the Truesec Incident Response Team, a threat actor that is motivated enough will eventually find a way through or around your protection.
- Respond is the ability to kick out cybercriminals from your IT infrastructure through proper procedures and tools.
- Recover is your ability to return to normal operations. It revolves around business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, and crisis communications.
Given that the threat landscape is constantly changing, you need to continuously update your approach and security measures. Cybersecurity is not a box you can tick but an ongoing endeavor without a finish line.
How We Help
At Truesec, we strive to build long-term partnerships with our customers and continuously improve and strengthen all aspects of their cybersecurity to minimize impact and prevent cyber breach.
We constantly develop our capabilities within Predict, Prevent, Detect, Respond, and Recover. In addition, we have expert teams for secure development, secure infrastructure, threat intelligence, human threat intelligence, Security Operations Center, strategic advice, penetration testing, health checks, organizational assessments, and incident response.
Learn more about common cybersecurity challenges and how we can help!