What are the most common mistakes when implementing a threat hunting program?

Starting with clear objectives is critical when threat hunting and particularly using a hypothesis based approach. While hypotheses can provide a good anchoring point, they need to be continually evaluated for cognitive biases as well as technical rigor. If your focus is on a particular APT group, you should be mindful of what your coverage of known capabilities about that group are in addition to the risk opinions of how likely something is or isn't.

A common pitfall in threat hunting programs is not establishing clear objectives. This is akin to navigating without a compass – effort is expended, but direction is unclear. Setting SMART goals is pivotal. For example, rather than a vague intent like "improve security", a specific goal could be "identify and mitigate potential lateral movement within 30 days". This specificity guides hunters, ensuring their efforts are aligned with the organization's broader security strategy and delivering measurable, impactful results.

"Hunt" is Just a Fancy Word for "Search," Right? Wrong! Hunting is an art, a dance, a skill honed through practice and a dash of intuition. Some mistake threat hunting for a glorified search operation, like looking for your keys in the morning rush. It's more like playing chess – anticipate your opponent's moves, strategise, and execute with finesse. In conclusion, threat hunting is a thrilling adventure, but it's not without its pitfalls. Avoid the overconfident ostrich syndrome, don't drown in a sea of tools, spice up the monotony, build a team, pay attention to the unsexy logs, don't fall for the "set it and forget it" fallacy, aim for the bullseye, and remember, hunting is not just searching

The strengths and weaknesses of data sources need to be considered when threat hunting as well as the quality of the data. For network data sources, location matters. The visibility point, other routes through the network, and the detection capabilities of the platform matter. Host data should also be considered as it has a perspective that network data often can't see due to encryption or inability to fully dissect the protocol. The fidelity of data also matters. Questions like "is summarized data being used where the tactics being hunted for have already been filtered out" are critical.

Effective threat hunting hinges on high-quality data and comprehensive visibility. A major mistake is overlooking the depth and integrity of data sources. Imagine trying to complete a puzzle with missing pieces – without complete visibility, crucial clues remain undiscovered. Investing in robust SIEM, EDR, and NTA tools, and ensuring their proper configuration and integration, is crucial. This approach transforms data into a rich tapestry, offering a detailed view of the network landscape essential for effective threat detection.

Effective threat hunting is difficult due to its reliance on uniquely skilled personnel. Only organizations with a highly mature security program boast productive threat-hunting teams that deliver results.

We've seen shops where the threat hunters are entirely entry level employees. While this is a great learning opportunity, they often lack both the understanding of the data provided by the tool as well as lack the deep understanding of how to actually find a given MITRE ATT&CK technique. Training needs to cover both a deep understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a tool as well as a deep technical understanding of where to even find a given tactic or technique. As attackers evolve tactics, this requires skills and training to be a continual journey.

I can think of no better way for someone with basic skills to hone, refine, identify, learn, and improve. Especially if they have a mentor along the way. They will miss things. However they will learn what normal looks like. As they search for unknown unknowns, they will reach a point where they make their first discovery. That will be a defining moment for them. As they learn what normal looks like, they will be also increasing their skills in troubleshooting deep complex problems.

Effective threat hunting demands a diverse skill set encompassing technical expertise, data analysis, and an acute understanding of the threat landscape. Insufficiently trained personnel may struggle to discern and interpret anomalies within network traffic or to correlate diverse data points indicative of potential threats. To mitigate this risk, organizations must invest in specialized cybersecurity training programs, such as threat hunting methodologies, digital forensics, and network analysis courses. Continuous education and skill development ensure that threat hunters stay updated on emerging attack vectors, tools, and techniques.

Underestimating the skill level required for effective threat hunting can cripple a program. It requires a blend of technical expertise, analytical thinking, and up-to-date knowledge of evolving threats. Without a team possessing these diverse skills, threat hunting efforts can be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack without a magnet. Investing in continuous training and cultivating a learning culture ensures that the team remains agile and capable of identifying and interpreting subtle signs of threats.

Isolated efforts in threat hunting can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. Collaboration and communication are key; they transform individual efforts into a symphony of synchronized actions. When threat hunters, IT teams, and management communicate effectively, using tools like collaborative platforms and regular briefings, the result is a more resilient and proactive cybersecurity posture.

Threat hunting should be an iterative process. Feedback should be involved both during a given threat hunt between the planning and execution stage as well as between threat hunt engagements. Measuring metrics that matter, identifying points of improvement, putting action into place, and repeating ensures that an organization or individual gets better from threat hunt to threat hunt. People, process, and technology should all be subject to feedback and measurement.

Some organizations are too small to start focusing on Threat Hunting when they need a clear picture of their asset inventory, vulnerability management, configuration management, and basic security governance and processes. They need to know what they have in their environment, how they are configured, and understand the potentially weak security areas.

Beyond these aspects, consider integrating threat intelligence into the threat hunting program. This provides contextual information that can transform data points into actionable intelligence. Moreover, fostering a culture of innovation within the team encourages the exploration of new methodologies and technologies, keeping the program ahead of sophisticated threat actors. Remember, a successful threat hunting program is not just about tools and tactics; it's equally about mindset and adaptability.