What are the most important endpoint security incident response procedures for an analyst to know?

As per my experience, below are the 10 crucial endpoint security incident response procedures: 1. Quick Identification: Detect and scope the security incident. 2. Immediate Containment: Isolate the affected endpoint to prevent spread. 3. Threat Eradication: Remove malware and vulnerabilities. 4. In-depth Analysis: Investigate the cause and impact. 5. System Restoration: Rebuild or restore the compromised system. 6. Post-Incident Review: Learn and adapt from the incident. 7. Effective Communication: Keep relevant parties informed. 8. Enhanced Monitoring: Watch for recurrence or related issues. 9. Documentation: Record actions and findings for future reference. 10. Compliance and Updating: Ensure legal compliance and update defenses.

Identifying and verifying an incident in endpoint security involves several specific steps. Identifying includes these these processes: Monitoring and Alerting Anomaly Detection User and System Reports Indicators of Compromise Automated Analysis Verifying includes these processes: Initial Assessment Correlation and Contextualization Deep Dive Analysis Consultation with Experts and Stakeholders Confirmation of Incident Documentation

In brief, 1. Detection & Verification, this is an important step in recognizing and differentiating between event & incident 2. Isolation, this is a critical feature in an EDR solution to ensure fast response to an incident 3. Investigation, an EDR solution should have this feature to assist remote extraction of evidence

Identifying and verifying cybersecurity incidents on endpoints involves a combination of proactive monitoring, analysis of endpoint data, and response strategies. Here are steps to help identify and verify cybersecurity incidents on endpoints: 1. Implement Endpoint Protection. 2. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solutions 3. Monitor Anomalies in Behavior 4. Network Traffic Analysis 5. Log Analysis 6. User Account Monitoring 7. IR Automation 8. Threat Intelligence Integration 9. Behavioral Analysis 10. Digital Forensics 11. Endpoint Isolation 12. User Reporting and Awareness 13. Continuous Monitoring 14. Collaborate with Threat Intelligence Sources 15. Post-Incident Analysis

La mayor complejidad en verificar un incidente en un endpoint es identificar que es actividad normal de actividad anormal. Existen red-flags, técnicas que usualmente usan los atacantes y que un usuario habitualmente no usaría, pero lo más efectivo es la identificación de anomalías: monitorizar en el tiempo el uso habitual e investigar cualquier cosa que se salga de lo normal. Tener una política de software autorizado, un inventario actualizado, usuarios formados y concienciados (muy importante) y una monitorización adecuada es algo imprescindible. De todos modos, esto sirve sobre todo en las fases iniciales de un ataque. En las fases finales será el propio usuario el que avise que algo va mal.

I can't stress enough the importance of swift network isolation any time and from anywhere. Shutting down the system worked back in the day (if you could find it), but I am so glad we have endpoint tools that handle this with ease and dont blow away valuable volatile forensic evidence.

If you detect a security incident, your next move is to contain it swiftly. It's like isolating infected individuals to prevent a disease from spreading. In the digital realm, you might disconnect or quarantine affected endpoints, similar to isolating patients. Picture blocking malicious traffic as shutting down roads to halt the advance of a threat. Revoking access credentials becomes the equivalent of changing locks to secure a compromised building. Applying patches or updates is akin to fortifying vulnerabilities, just like reinforcing structures in the face of impending danger. It helps investigators understand the nature of the threat and strengthens defenses for the future.

Para CIOs, é imperativo agir rapidamente para prevenir a propaga??o do incidente e minimizar danos. Isso pode incluir a??es como desconectar pontos de extremidade afetados, bloquear tráfego suspeito, revogar credenciais e aplicar atualiza??es de seguran?a urgentes. Preservar evidências é também vital para análises futuras. Esta etapa n?o só limita o impacto do incidente, mas também prepara o terreno para uma recupera??o eficaz e uma análise pós-incidente detalhada.

Identification and isolation of the threat is the very first action to safeguard the rest of the infrastructure and data. Shutting down the endpoint is not considered an option in the present day. Mitigating the incident requires memory dumps and other alterations to the system to be analyzed. However, there are different approaches to different scenarios. The most important thing in endpoint incident is the ability to recover from the incident and business continuity. Well defined incident response policies and procedures are a crucial for the organization in this scenario.

Containment is the first step. Isolation on the network or complete removal from the network. If you have the ability to see real time Active Directory audit events; you should investigate the accounts used on that machine for modification. If you have the resources available, a backup of the system in its current state is desired for repeat analysis. This backup could be done with an isolated environment or potentially a disk image being captures. Having this backup will allow repeat security analysis which can be very helpful investigation worm or ransomware infections.

Consider this step as the deep dive into the heart of the incident, a digital detective unraveling the mystery. It's akin to a forensic expert meticulously examining evidence from a crime scene. Picture poring over data like an investigator scrutinizing clues, aiming to uncover the root cause, source, and timeline of the security breach. It's akin to reconstructing the sequence of events leading to a crime. Determining the compromise's extent and impact is like assessing the aftermath of an incident, understanding the full scale of the damage. The meticulous documentation and updates to stakeholders are essential, mirroring how investigators compile a detailed case file to share insights and strategies to prevent future threats.

Este es un punto complejo y siempre hay que contar con profesionales experimentados. Según como hayamos reaccionado ante el incidente, podremos contar con evidencias volátiles que analizar que indiquen el estado del endpoint en el momento del incidente. Hay muchos tipos de ataques, pero es importante saber: qué ha pasado, cuándo ha pasado, cómo ha sido posible, por dónde ha venido (vector). Nosotros solemos usar una técnica que llamamos "análisis en anillo" en el cuál, tirando de un equipo en cuestión, vamos retrocediendo en el tiempo, recuperando diferentes indicadores, hasta llegar al "paciente cero". Un forense es como un cuadro en blanco: lo vas rellenando de indicadores hasta que tienes el dibujo completo. O casi completo...

The analyst should have the skills to conduct a thorough forensic analysis of the affected endpoint to determine the extent of the compromise and gather evidence for further investigation.

Root cause analysis of sequence of events occurred. At this stage of the investigation most of the facts about what happened and how it happened should be known. This data gathering has taken considerable effort to accomplish but it represents only the first half of the objective. Now comes the key question - why did it happen?

In the A2P messaging realm, the analysis phase extends to understanding not just the technical details but also the business context. For instance, when investigating a potential breach, it's essential for analysts to collaborate with business stakeholders to assess the financial implications and reputation risks associated with compromised messaging channels. This holistic approach ensures a comprehensive investigation that addresses both technical and business aspects.

After a security incident, think of this step as the cleanup and rebuild phase. Eliminate malware like clearing storm debris, restoring endpoints is akin to rebuilding infrastructure. Recovering data is salvaging valuables, and verifying secure functionality is like post-repair inspections. Implementing remediation actions is fortifying against future storms and updating policies and tools for stronger defenses.

The analyst should be able to implement remediation measures to remove the threat from the affected endpoint and restore it to a secure state. This may involve applying patches, updating security software, or restoring from backups.

Isolate Infected Systems Remove Malicious Code Patch and Update Change Credentials Review and Enhance Security Policies Forensic Analysis: Conduct a forensic analysis to identify the root cause of the incident. Preserve evidence for potential legal or investigative purposes.

Recovery from a security incident is commonly understood as removing all connections, accesses, programs, and configuration settings that were maliciously altered by an attacker. While this the most critical aspect of recovery, it is important to take into account that recovery also includes the bolstering of the organization's security posture. In response to an incident, additional security controls, such as MFA, should be implemented. When implementing these new controls, it should be done so in a methodical way that does not cause a self-inflicted DoS and further exacerbate the organization's current situation. If an attack happened once, the organization will be targeted again, so it is necessary to be prepared.

Esto puede ser fácil... o complicado :-) ?Tenemos copia de seguridad? ?Y no está comprometida? ?Seguro? Pues es un buen punto de partida. Pero primero hay que identificar todos los elementos comprometidos (equipos, usuarios...), limpiarlos/borrarlos, asegurar la confianza del entorno, realizar una monitorización muy estricta para evitar posibles persistencias, y entonces recuperarnos. No tiene sentido recuperarnos si el enemigo sigue entre nosotros. ?Y si no es posible? Lo podemos hacer por segmentos de confianza. Ir por partes. ?Qué es lo más crítico? Pues vayamos primero a esta parte, aseguremos la continuidad del negocio (para ello los proveedores podemos ayudar con sistemas adicionales de seguridad), y vayamos poco a poco.

Identifying a potential security incident on an endpoint through monitoring for anomalous behaviors, security tool alerts, or user reports is a fundamental and often crucial procedure. Swift incident identification is key to initiating an effective response. From identification, subsequent procedures can be triggered to investigate, isolate, contain, and remediate the situation. Early identification success often dictates the incident's impact and response effectiveness.

Tras un incidente es importante que no vuelva a ocurrir, y esto pasa por ENTENDER como ha podido pasar. No diré que todo es inevitable, pero recordemos que cuanta más complicado lo pongamos, menos rentables seremos. El análisis del incidente nos debe haber dicho qué ha podido salir mal (la lista puede ser eterna): usuarios no concienciados, sistemas mal parcheados, políticas muy permisivas, incluso la mala suerte puede afectarnos. Pero es importante ser capaces de evolucionar nuestra postura de seguridad. En Perseus usamos MITRE ATT&CK como modelo, y en base a las técnicas, podemos evaluar nuestra postura y nuestra madurez. Es un método, cada uno que elija el suyo, pero debemos poder ver como mejoramos y dónde debemos invertir.

After-action improvement procedures are critical to enhancing an organization's endpoint security incident response capabilities. Following an incident, an analyst should focus on: Based on recent incident reviews, Update checklists for analysis, emergency communications, system recovery, and "jumpbag" preparations. Conduct a thorough cybersecurity review to identify which controls failed, how they can be improved, and ways to implement mitigations. Review incident detection, scoping, containment, eradication, and recovery processes to identify improvement areas. Implement training for the incident response team to improve coordination and effectiveness in future incidents.

The post-incident review process should be structured as follows: 1. Analyze the incident response for efficiency and effectiveness. 2. Identify any procedural gaps or weaknesses. 3. Examine response timelines, decision-making processes, and tool effectiveness. 4. Document lessons learned and best practices for future reference. 5. Use the documented information for team training and skill enhancement. 6. Share insights and experiences with peers and the broader security community. 7. Utilize the findings to improve the organization's overall endpoint security posture.

The analyst should be able to effectively communicate with relevant stakeholders, such as IT teams, management, and law enforcement if necessary. They should also be able to provide detailed reports on the incident for documentation and future prevention.

We talk about endpoint security as if it is only a technical "objective". I tend to find this offensive. Our end-users are the ones as at these keyboards, so while we need to address the technical side, we should maybe recognize that our end-users are the other 90% of this end-point environment (STS or socio-technical system). Our job, as security practitioners, is to provide them a safe environment to operate in. Doesn't that mean we have to add end-user education, as a priority, to properly maintain our end-point environment. Only 3% of breaches are caused by a technology failure - the remainder is directly or indirectly contributed to end-point users. Shouldn't we update our definition of what an end-point entails at this point?

Unpatched software are one of the top security requirements, keeping your security systems patched and updated with daily signature definitions, would help you to reduce the attack surface and more possibilities to detect any new malicious activities in your endpoint devices.

This can be hard on legacy systems, where there simply is no patch or no windows of time to patch. Compensating controls should be implemented to prevent new breaches from happening.

After responding to an incident, the analyst should continue monitoring the affected endpoint and other systems for any signs of further compromise or re-infection.

Whilst conducting Incident Response, Threat Analysis and digital forensic activities, it is crucial for the analyst to document his findings in a cohesive format. Depending on the formalities agreed upon, I believe that a clause should be included to create an incident response play book entry that can be shared with the client. This ensures that the client is always up-to-date on what threats have been identified within their environment and what steps have been taken to eradicate the threat. Transparency between external SoC's that cater to small medium enterprises should be an area of improvement, especially in terms of teaching the businesses about their cybersecurity threat landscape rather than a simple message concluding the event.

Other ideas: - improve detections for next time - improve process for next time - write up and review lessons learned - research if others have other ideas to improve the above

It is important for analysts to document all aspects of their response procedures, including their actions taken, findings, and outcomes for future reference and improvement in incident response processes.

Having proper documentation around what an organization will do when it comes to an incident is key when executing incident response. The runbook/playbook/procedure should be something that is followed and reviewed on a consistent basis. Especially when the plan is used for tabletops or real world incidents. This allows for the growth of the incident response team and an expedited resolution.

In summary, the steps to follow, described at a high level are: - Identify the scope and impact of the incident, determining which endpoints are involved and what type of attack has occurred. - Isolate affected endpoints, disconnect them from the network, or apply quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the threat. - Preserve the evidence, making forensic copies of the information. - Analyze the evidence to identify the attack's origin, method, and objective, as well as the possible damage caused. - Remediate the incident, restoring systems to a safe state, and applying necessary updates or patches. - Communicate the findings and lessons learned, prepare a detailed incident report, and share best practices and recommendations.