Jan 9, 2023

What is Threat Intelligence ?

Cybersecurity is a complex and constantly evolving field. As threats change, so must the way we approach them. One of the most essential tools in any cybersecurity practitioner’s toolkit is threat intelligence.What is Threat Intelligence?Threat intelligence is a critical component of effective cyber defense. It’s an ongoing process that requires the collaboration of many different teams and organizations, including security operations centers (SOCs), threat research teams, network engineering, and forensics experts.TI can be used in three primary ways: Identify cyber threats and vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Detect suspicious behavior within your network and respond quickly if an attack occurs. Improve the overall security posture of your organization by helping you prioritize your efforts based on accurate threat information and analysis.Why is Threat Intelligence Important?Threat intelligence sheds light on the unknown by helping security professionals understand how an adversary operates, their intentions, and how they intend to carry out their objectives.Threat intelligence helps you better understand the adversary’s decision-making process so that you can prevent attacks from happening in the future.Threat intelligence empowers business stakeholders – including executive boards, CISOs, CIOs, and CTOs – with the information they need to make informed decisions based on data rather than speculation or assumptions about an attack’s likelihood or impact.Who Benefits from Threat Intelligence?A good threat intelligence program provides value to a wide range of stakeholders. Here’s a list of some of the key groups that can benefit from threat intelligence:IT security professionalsIT security managers and directorsChief information security officers (CISOs)Chief information officers (CIOs)Chief executive officers (CEOs)The Lifecycle of Threat IntelligenceIn the past, cyberattacks were limited to a small number of computers located in one country. Nowadays, however, attacks are much more widespread and can be launched from anywhere in the world. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for security teams to keep track of all the latest threats and stay on top of them quickly enough before they cause any damage.This is where the threat intelligence lifecycle comes in handy: it’s a comprehensive framework that organizes all different aspects of threat intelligence processes into six stages (direction, collection, processing, analysis & dissemination) so you can focus on what matters most for your organization’s needs.DirectionThe threat intelligence lifecycle begins with establishing which assets and business processes need protection the most.Determine the threat intelligence objectives.Set the threat intelligence strategy.Set the threat intelligence mission, vision, and goals.CollectionThreat intelligence data helps you understand and proactively protect your organization from cyber threats. It includes data, such as known malicious IP addresses, domain names, email addresses, and other indicators of compromise (IOCs) that can be used to block or detect malicious activity. You can collect threat intelligence by using various methods, including:Feeds – These are automated notifications sent by feed providers when new IOCs are identified or existing IOCs change in status (e.g., become active again).Databases – These contain manually curated datasets of IOCs maintained by researchers or organizations like ours at Cyber Sainik.Dashboards – These pull together multiple types of threat data into one interface so you can quickly identify potential threats to your organization’s infrastructure and act on them accordingly.AnalysisNext, you will analyze your data. This step is where you find patterns and make sense of what’s going on in your environment. Look for modules that allow you to perform analysis tasks—such as pattern recognition (using machine learning), malicious behavior detection (using threat intelligence), or event correlation (connecting related ev

Dec 11, 2022

What Is Managed Detection and Response (MDR)?

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) denotes outsourced cybersecurity services designed to protect your data and assets even if a threat eludes common organizational security controls.An MDR security platform is considered an advanced 24/7 security control that often includes a range of fundamental security activities including cloud-managed security for organizations that cannot maintain their own security operations center. MDR services combine advanced analytics, threat intelligence, and human expertise in incident investigation and response deployed at the host and network levels.What challenges can Managed Detection and Response (MDR) address?As the volume, variety, and sophistication of cybersecurity threats increase exponentially, organizations struggle to maintain security operations centers staffed with highly skilled personnel and resources. As a result, Managed Detection and Response vendors provide a cost-effective menu of services designed to improve an enterprise’s cybersecurity defenses and minimize risk without an upfront cybersecurity investment.MDR services provide higher skill-level analysts utilizing cutting-edge security tools and up-to-the-minute global databases beyond the reach and cost-effectiveness of most enterprise budgets, skill levels, and resources. Thus, helping keep pace with continually evolving adversarial tactics and techniques.MDR services provide an alternative to enterprises chasing the latest in advanced security products by integrating Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools that become a challenge for security operations teams to learn and maintain. As a result, an enterprise’s level of threat monitoring, detection, and analysis is improved without the challenge and expense required to keep an internal security team fully staffed and up to date with the latest threat data.MDR services are not limited to greater detection and response capabilities. They also provide proactive defense intelligence and insight into advanced threats to potentially overwhelmed security teams. Detection levels are improved while the dwell time of breaches is reduced. Compliance challenges also can be met using MDR services providing full stakeholder reporting and log retention on a wide range of regulations and standards.Why choose Managed Detection and Response (MDR) over Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs)?Managed Detection and Response services are often compared to Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) services. While they share similarities, they also differ in technology, expertise, and relationship. MDR services are typically proactive and focus on threats. MSSPs are designed to be reactive and focus on vulnerabilities. Unlike MSSPs, MDR services focus on detection, response, and threat hunting rather than security alert monitoring. MSSPs manage firewalls, but do not necessarily provide the same level of threat research, analytics, and forensics as MDRs. MSSPs recognize security issues but are incapable of revealing details of the threat that MDR services provide. MSSPs use log management and monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and often Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) platforms to notify organizations of threats. Automated MDR analytics and responses to advanced threats, file-less malware, and breaches can augment MSSP services. MDR services rely on more-direct communications such as voice or emails to analysts, rather than portals. MSSP's primary interfaces are portals and emails with secondary chat and phone access to analysts.Here are typical MDR and MSSP service comparisons. Not all MDR providers include the same levels of capabilities and tools in the following services: one.MDR ServicesMSSPs24x7 threat detection and responseSome, but not allManage firewalls and security infrastructureYesProactively managed threat hunting for unknowns on network and endpointsNoIntelligence-based threat detection, triage, and extensive forensicsNoTeam of experienced threat detection experts available via phone, email, textNoAccess to global threat intelligence and analysisNoIntegrated endpoint and network security technologyNoIn the face of seemingly overwhelming security threats and campaigns, organizations are also coping with increasing security budgets and a challenging security job market leans on skilled security analysts. Gaining more protection, insight, and compliance without adding more tools and people is a goal that enterprises of all sizes seek. MDR can provide beneficial security services capable of meeting and sustaining an organization’s goals:24/7 monitoring and improved communications mechanisms with experienced SOC analystsExperienced security analysts oversee your organization’s defenses without adding full-time staff and resourcesComplete managed endpoint threat detection and response serviceImproved threat detection and extended detection coverageExpert investigation of alerts and incidents, and subsequent actionsProactive threat huntingImproved threat intelligence based on indicators and behaviors captured from global insightsImproved threat responseDecreased breach responseImproved forensics and higher-level investigationsVulnerability managementMajor incident response and log managementRemove the burden of day-to-day security management from your staff and budgetMaintain access and customization to your organization’s security defensesImproved compliance and reportingReduced security investment, increased ROI