Advanced Persistent Threats or APT are a growing concern in the business world. Hackers are constantly improving their tactics and adopting new vulnerabilities. Organizations are scrambling with the increasing sophistication of attacks and are ready to invest in cybersecurity solutions in the hopes of early Advanced Persistent Threat detection and mitigation. However, before choosing a solution, it is important to understand the meaning and nature of APT.
Understanding Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
APT is when the cybercriminal gains access to an organization’s network infrastructure for a prolonged period without being detected. The goal of APTs is to exfiltrate data or disrupt their operations.
What makes APT more dangerous?
- Targeted: APT attacks are never random but instead well targeted with a goal in mind.
- Advanced Technique: APT attackers use more advanced techniques than traditional cyberattacks.
- Long Term: An ATP attack can remain undetected for months or sometimes longer.
- Well-funded: These attacks are often funded by groups such as crime groups, state government, or national government.
Stages of an APT Attack
Advanced Persistent Threat attacks are complex and have many components, APT is a process where an attacker uses multiple access techniques to gain access to the target network, builds an area in an unsuspecting network, and then steals information or targets internal information. It is important for organizations to understand these stages so that they can better protect themselves from such advanced threats. We’ll break down each step further:
1. Target Identification and Reconnaissance
In the first stage of the APT Attack, the attacker is identifying potential targets based on the value, vulnerability, or strategic importance within their industry. This usually means that a good part of the preparation phase involves information gathering on the target systems, networks, and personnel. A detailed outline of the target may require the use of tools like social engineering, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), and even physical surveillance. This information is gold because it directly leads to an attack with the most possible effect on the target.
2. Exploit Method Selection
When the target is defined and enough information has already been gathered, the attackers jump to choose their very specific exploit route. The stage aims at finding the most suitable means for penetration through the target’s defenses. Attackers might use pre-existing vulnerabilities in the software or hardware, or they can create malware suitable for exploiting unique aspects of the target environment. This is an essential step that is required to allow initial access.
3. Initial Access
This stage is where attackers take advantage of bugs in the system and configuration or vulnerabilities inside the systems so they can access resources. Common approaches to do this are via phishing attacks, zero-day exploits, or through exploiting weak passwords in the network. From there, malicious actors work their way up into further privilege to reach more critical systems or data. Occasionally this lateral movement across the network is carried out very slowly.
4. Establishing Persistence
Once inside, the hackers concentrate on lateral movement to stay established inside the network. This is where they insert backdoors or other ways for them to access the system even if their initial entrance gets noticed and sealed. Attackers can continue their schemes freely, returning to the network at will without concern over potentially being locked out.
5. Data Exfiltration
After having gained a strong foothold, attackers can now start extracting data. At this stage, the perp(s) who alleviate the alarm are methodically and stealthily cherry-picking sensitive information (i.e. trade secrets, customer records, financial & proprietary information). This may occur at small levels at a time to prevent the monitoring systems from catching it.
6. Covering Tracks
Attackers often (and quite logically) attempt to cover their tracks as part of their future prevention methodologies. It also involves altering logs or system settings that might lead to their detection in the environment. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that any signs of intrusion are hidden from security teams until they have achieved their goals.
Keep in mind that the individual steps and how long an APT attack remains within each stage can be very different based on factors like organizational defenses and particular attacker objectives. Every APT incident comes with a different set of obstacles, further highlighting the necessity to keep our heads up and stay alert for what may lie ahead while adopting dynamic security measures that can adapt to these changing threats.
APT Detection and Protection Using NDR
Advanced Persistent Threat prevention and detection is critical to cybersecurity today, where Network Detection and Response (NDR) has a significant role to play. Picture your business as a castle, with all your security walls set up and in place to keep intruders out — NDR serves as the watchman manning the gates watching, walking throughout the perimeter ensuring that no one comes within range of slipping past undetected.
NDR systems monitor network traffic for anomalies like constant threats that may signal an APT. Such advanced persistent threats (APTs) frequently use powerful tactics to penetrate networks and then lurk quietly undetected for months or even years. NDR can detect these anomalies in real-time using machine learning algorithms and behavioral analytics to give your organization the upper hand in acting before any serious harm is done.
But Advanced Persistent Threat detection is only the first step, it is equally important to protect as well as detect. Apart from informing you of potential threats, NDR also enables you with insights that help to secure such risks suitably. By having both traits, your business will stay fortified against the continuously evolving cyber threat landscape, and it will protect sensitive data and ensure that organizational operations keep running.
Let’s dive deeper into understanding how NDR protects your IT infrastructure from APTs.
How to Detect Advanced Persistent Threat Using NDR
Network Detection and Response (NDR) plays a key role in protecting your organization from Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). APTs are those crafty targeted ones that hook into your network, make themselves at home, and then, wait it out, flying under the radar until a bunch of data is compromised. This is where NDR steps to detect advanced persistent threats and provide protection from them.
Fidelis’ NDR platform, Fidelis Network®, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to monitor real-time network traffic.
NDR can detect Advanced Persistent Threats by recognizing anomalies through pattern and behavior analysis. Allowing cyber security teams to detect any threat early in its attack lifecycle.
The capabilities of NDR are not only limited to detection as it can initiate response as well. When a potential APT is detected, the system can automatically trigger pre-defined responses or notify security personnel for further investigation.
In an age of sophisticated cyberattacks and data breaches, deploying a strong NDR solution such as Fidelis Network® helps you strengthen your Advanced Persistent Threat protection while making the entire sensitive data in your organization a safer place. This technology empowers you to stay ahead of cyber adversaries who consistently strive and find themselves leveling up their game.
Key Features to Look for in an Effective NDR Solution
One of the greatest things that you can do to secure your network is to select a robust Network Detection and Response (NDR) solution such as Fidelis Network®. A good NDR solution can be your watchful protector: it always keeps an eye on the threats and is able to react fast as soon as something goes wrong. Here are some of the essential must-have features for an NDR solutions.
1. Real-time Visibility and Monitoring
First and foremost, look for advanced threat detection capabilities. Your NDR should utilize machine learning algorithms and behavioral analysis to identify anomalies in network traffic that could indicate malicious activity. This proactive approach allows you to catch threats before they escalate into significant security incidents.
2. Scalability
Another thing to consider is the scalability of the NDR solution. As your business expands, so will the complexity of your network infrastructure. Your chosen NDR should be able to adapt to increased data flow and additional endpoints.
3. Reporting and Analytics
To make more strategic decisions, you require insights into the response actions that were initiated for all detected threats as well as the health of your network.
4. Ease of Use and Management
A sign of a good NDR solution is that it is easy to use so that the security team can safely monitor and manage the system.
5. Cloud Integration
Ideally, the NDR solution will support hybrid cloud environments or native cloud capabilities so that organizations can protect on-premises as well as cloud infrastructure.
With these capabilities, NDR provides a substantial amount of security while developing a system of proactive threat detection.
Act Now to Fortify Your Defenses Against Advanced Persistent Threats!
As the threat landscape continues to grow more complex, it has become necessary for organizations to implement a highly secure solution that defends their most valuable digital assets. It is necessary for organizations to protect themselves against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) as they are becoming more sophisticated, as well as being targeted better.
With the right NDR solution in place, you can significantly improve your security posture while safeguarding against Advanced Persistent Threats.
Choose Fidelis Network®. with powerful features, and advanced technology that are capable of protecting the organization against APTs, thus ensuring a solid security posture.
Fidelis Network® - Solution Brief
Deep Visibility and Control to Protect Against Network Threats
- Detect 9X Faster
- Eliminate Alert Fatigue
- Accelerate Threat Response