Indicator of Attack vs Indicator of Compromise
Indicators of attack (IoA) and indicators of compromise (IoC) are both key elements of cybersecurity, and have some fundamental similarities and differences. First, an IoA provides evidence that a cyberattack is in progress. It focuses on the motive behind the attack and is most commonly used to detect and respond to attacks. Meanwhile, an IoC serves as a critical marker indicating potential security breaches or suspicious activities within a network or system. They both play important roles in cyber defense, as they help to provide clarity into adversary tactics and inform the next steps in combatting a breach or other nefarious activity.?
Indicators of Attack?
IoAs focus more on the intentions behind an attack and less on the attack itself. When analyzing IoAs, little attention is paid to the types of attacks deployed (ransomware, malware, etc.), and more emphasis is placed on the events leading to the cyberattack.?
Some examples of IoAs include:?
Because IoAs show pieces of data or behaviors that show a potential cyber attack is underway, they play a key role in threat detection. Once IoAs are noticed, security teams can escalate alerts to the appropriate parties to ensure threats are handled quickly.?
Indicators of Compromise?
IoCs are technical signs that adversaries have breached a system. Security teams use IoCs to determine the level of damage after an attack. They are reactive, focusing on signs a breach has already happened, not that one is approaching.??
Some examples of IoCs include:?
The core function of IoCs is to decipher a breach and understand the situation at hand, arming security teams with key knowledge to combat adversaries and resolve compromised systems.???
Key Differences Between IoAs and IoCs?
The main difference between IoAs and IoCs is the type of information they provide. IoAs inform teams of intent and motives, while IoCs focus on signals that compromise has occurred. In essence, IoAs are proactive signals, while IoCs are reactive. Additionally, IoAs and IoCs are used for different purposes during and after a breach. IoAs are used in cyber threat hunting and removing threats in real time, while IoCs are used for incident response and damage assessment.???
How do IoAs and IoCs work together??
IoAs and IoCs combine to provide a comprehensive cybersecurity defense by covering both proactive and reactive analysis. This includes enhanced detection capabilities across the board. This includes adversary detection as well as malware, ransomware, and compromised file detection. The collaboration also reduces dwell time, whether that be detecting threats early in the attack cycle or remedying a breach quickly upon the adversary gaining access using hints from the clues they leave behind.?
How NETSCOUT Helps
NETSCOUT's Omnis Cyber Intelligence and CyberStream uses real-time packet data to monitor network traffic. This helps uncover unauthorized access quickly, discovering key IoAs and IoCs as they become available. Omnis Cyber Intelligence also maps many adversary activities to the MITRE ATT&CK Framework to inform security teams on the tactics being used and how to combat them.