Shhh…Be Vewy Quiet…I’m Hunting Hackers

Greetings fellow cyber enthusiasts! In this week’s blog, let's dive into the world of threat hunting and explore how we can put it into action effectively. Threat hunting is an active means of defense that contrasts with traditional protection measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, quarantining malicious code in sandboxes, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) technologies and systems. Threat hunting is like being a detective in the digital realm, constantly on the lookout for signs of potential attacks. The key to success? Fast access to the right data, especially long-term historical security data.

Why Historical Data Matters - Imagine you're piecing together a puzzle. Each piece represents a bit of data from various points in time. Without historical data, you're working with an incomplete picture, making it nearly impossible to identify patterns or anomalies. That's why having a robust archive of security data is crucial.

Signs of a Data Breach or Attack - The biggest challenge in threat hunting is distinguishing the “signal” — that is, true evidence of malicious activity from “noise” — the wide range of diverse activities that take place among legitimate users across the computing environment every day. Threat hunters know that the true signals are there, hidden in the daily noise. Threat hunting is the art and science of analyzing the data to uncover these hidden clues. Obviously, this will require the right tools.

Tools of the Trade - With access to comprehensive data sources, threat hunters can leverage powerful analytics tools like CyberSense. CyberSense allows you to run queries and create visualizations, highlighting the critical “signals” that might indicate a potential attack. Think of it as your magnifying glass, helping you spot the smallest details that could lead to big discoveries.

Leveraging the MITRE ATT&CK Framework - A vital component of an effective threat-hunting strategy is the MITRE ATT&CK framework. This comprehensive knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques is based on real-world observations. By mapping your threat-hunting activities to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, you can better understand the behavior of potential attackers and improve your detection and response capabilities.

This framework provides a structured way to analyze attacks and identify the methods adversaries use. By incorporating MITRE ATT&CK into your threat-hunting efforts, you can ensure that you cover a wide range of attack vectors and stay ahead of emerging threats.

Dell's PowerProtect Cyber Recovery - One tool that stands out in this arena is Dell's PowerProtect Cyber Recovery solution with CyberSense. This solution not only helps you recover from cyber incidents but also enhances your threat-hunting capabilities. CyberSense uses advanced analytics to scrutinize your data, detecting anomalies and potential threats with remarkable accuracy.

With CyberSense, you get an extra layer of security. It continuously monitors your environment, providing insights that can help you proactively identify and mitigate threats before they escalate. Combining this with your existing threat-hunting efforts and the MITRE ATT&CK framework makes for a formidable defense strategy.

Putting It All Together - To put threat hunting into action effectively:

1. Access the Right Data: Ensure you have comprehensive, long-term historical security data at your disposal.
2. Use Analytics Tools: Leverage tools like CyberSense to analyze data, create visualizations, and draw out critical signals.
3. Incorporate MITRE ATT&CK: Map your threat-hunting activities to the MITRE ATT&CK framework for a structured and thorough approach.
4. Integrate Advanced Solutions: Enhance your efforts with solutions like Dell's PowerProtect Cyber Recovery with CyberSense for continuous monitoring and advanced threat detection.

By following these steps, you can build a robust threat-hunting strategy that keeps your digital environment safe and secure.

I close with this every week, and it couldn’t be more relevant; organizations should never underestimate the power of preparedness and take a proactive stance against the threats that loom in today’s digital realm.

Stay vigilant, stay informed, and keep hunting those wabbits…I mean threats!

I’ll see you again next week for more insights and updates as we continue to delve into these ever-evolving cyber challenges. “That’s all folks!!!”