In the realm of cybersecurity, engaging in threat hunting entails actively seeking out potential risks on a company’s network that may have gone undetected by conventional cybersecurity measures. A recent study conducted by Armis revealed a 104% surge in cyber attack attempts in 2023, emphasizing the importance of proactively identifying threats to avert security breaches.
This discussion delves into the essence of cyber threat hunting, its operational mechanisms, and the array of tools or services one can utilize to safeguard their enterprise.
Defining cyber threat hunting
Cyber threat hunting stands as an assertive security approach whereby specialists actively pursue and eradicate unnoticed risks within the network.
The pursuit of hidden threats involves a range of strategies, including assessing indicators of compromise or attack, structuring hypothesis-based investigations on emergent cybersecurity threats, and focusing proactively on high-risk sections within an organization based on internal risk evaluations or specific client demands.
VIEW: Leading 7 Cyber Threat Hunting Tools for 2024 (TechRepublic)
In contrast with conventional security techniques that respond after the breach has occurred, cyber threat hunting actively seeks to anticipate and tackle risks before they infiltrate the system. Traditional methodologies usually rely on cross-referencing threat cues (e.g., unknown code execution or unauthorized registry modifications) against a catalog of recognized threats.
Operational Mechanisms of Cyber Threat Hunting
The process of threat hunting unfolds through a synergistic collaboration between experts in threat identification and diverse advanced detection methodologies. In cyber threat hunting, security analysts merge their analytical acumen, intuition, and inventive troubleshooting proficiencies with cutting-edge monitoring and security analytics tools to reveal covert risks within a corporate network.
Threat hunters apply an assortment of techniques in their quest. These methods may comprise:
- Scouring for internal threats like those posed by staff, temporary workers, or suppliers.
- Proactively recognizing and rectifying network vulnerabilities.
- Pursuing known threats such as notable advanced persistent threats (APTs).
- Formulating and executing security response strategies to incapacitate cyber risks.
Merits of Cyber Threat Hunting
Conventional reactive cybersecurity strategies predominantly focus on erecting a boundary of automated threat detection utilities, presuming that any unauthorized entries are innocuous. If an intruder manages to breach this perimeter undetected, perhaps through social engineering to pilfer valid user credentials, they could navigate within the network for months and extract data undetected. Reactive threat detection tools like antivirus software and firewalls may fail to flag suspicious activities unless they align with known threat signatures.
Proactive threat hunting endeavors to preempt and fix vulnerabilities before cyber malefactors exploit them, curtailing the frequency of successful breaches. Furthermore, it meticulously analyzes all data emanating from applications, platforms, devices, and users to pinpoint irregularities indicative of ongoing breaches, thereby minimizing the lifespan and repercussions of successful assaults. Moreover, cyber threat hunting techniques typically involve integrating security components such as monitoring, detection, and response into a centralized framework, augmenting visibility and streamlining efficiency.
Pros of threat hunting
- Anticipates and remedies vulnerabilities before exploitation.
- Mitigates the impact and duration of successful breaches.
- Enhances visibility across network security operations.
- Boosts efficiency in monitoring, detection, and response.
Cons of threat hunting
- Procuring essential tools and securing qualified cybersecurity expertise necessitates substantial initial investments.
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Varieties of cyber threat hunting
Despite the proactive search for threats being a common thread in all scenarios, investigations can take different paths. Here are the primary categories:
Theory-driven or organized pursuit
Organized hunting entails threat hunters assuming that a sophisticated threat has already breached the network. In such instances, they analyze signs of attack and recent tactics, techniques, and procedures utilized by a threat actor.
Through this data, a theory is formulated about the process and methodology of the threat actor’s attack. Moreover, threat hunters scrutinize patterns or irregularities to preclude the threat before causing any significant harm.
SEE: 4 Methods to Hunt Down Malicious Agents by 2024 (TechRepublic)
Unorganized pursuit
In contrast to the systematic approach where a hunter begins with a theory, unorganized hunting starts with exploration and an open-ended approach. Hunters commence by seeking indicators of compromise or triggers within a system. These can manifest as unusual user conduct, distinct network traffic, suspicious login activities, odd DNS requests, etc.
Hunters then cross-reference these occurrences with historical data and cyber threat intelligence to identify patterns or trends that may lead to a probable threat. Frequently, unorganized hunting uncovers hidden or emerging threats.
Circumstantial pursuit
Lastly, circumstantial threat hunting homes in on particular resources, employees, events, or entities within an organization in the pursuit of potential threats. This is generally based on an internal risk evaluation and gives priority to high-risk items or individuals that are more susceptible to attacks at a given moment.
In this approach, threat hunters are sometimes explicitly tasked to concentrate on these high-profile areas to uncover adversaries, malevolent actors, or sophisticated threats.
How does the cyber threat hunting process unfold?
While the sequence of steps in a cyber threat hunt can fluctuate based on the type of investigation, there are essential checkpoints that nearly all threat hunting missions encompass.
- Setting the hypothesis or trigger phase: Threat hunters devise a hypothesis to proactively pursue undetected threats based on emerging security trends, contextual data, or their own expertise and/or experience. This phase may also kick off with a trigger, often in the form of attack indicators or compromise hints. These triggers guide hunters in the general vicinity or direction of their proactive pursuit.
- Thorough investigation: At this juncture, hunters leverage their security acumen in conjunction with security utilities like extended detection and response solutions or integrated security information and event management tools to pinpoint vulnerabilities or malicious elements in a system.
- Resolution and response segment: Upon uncovering a threat, the same advanced technologies are utilized to address the threats and alleviate any harm inflicted on the network. During this phase, automated reactions are implemented to fortify the security stance and decrease human intervention prospectively.
Tools and techniques for cyber threat hunting
Here are some prevalent types of tools used for proactive threat hunting activities.
Security surveillance
Security surveillance tools encompass antivirus scanners, endpoint security applications, and firewalls. These solutions oversee users, devices, and network traffic to detect signs of compromise or intrusion. Both proactive and reactive cybersecurity tactics employ security surveillance tools.
Sophisticated analytical input and output
Security analytics solutions employ machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to scrutinize data collected from surveillance tools, devices, and network applications. These utilities offer a more precise depiction of a company’s security posture than traditional security monitoring tools. AI also excels at identifying abnormal activities on a network and recognizing innovative threats compared to signature-based detection tools.
SEE: 5 Common Misconceptions about Threat Hunting (TechRepublic)
Integrated security data and event management (SIEM)
A security data and event management software accumulates, tracks, and evaluates security data in real-time to assist in threat identification, examination, and response. SIEM utilities integrate with other security systems such as firewalls and endpoint security solutions, consolidating their surveillance information in a single location to streamline threat hunting and remediation.
Extended detection and response (XDR) solutions
XDR expands the functionalities of conventional endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions by integrating other threat detection tools like identity and access management (IAM), email security, patch management, and cloud application security. XDR also offers improved security data analysis and automated security responses.
Managed detection and response (MDR) systems
MDR combines automated threat detection software with human-managed proactive threat hunting. MDR is a managed assistance offering companies continual access to a team of threat-hunting specialists who identify, categorize, and address threats using EDR tools, threat intelligence, advanced analytics, and human knowledge.
Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) systems
SOAR solutions centralize security surveillance, detection, and response integrations, automating several tasks associated with each. SOAR systems empower teams to orchestrate security management procedures and automation workflows from a single platform, ensuring efficient, comprehensive threat hunting and remediation capabilities.
Infiltration testing
Infiltration testing (commonly known as pen testing) is essentially a simulated cyber assault. Security analysts and specialists leverage specialized software and tools to probe an entity’s network, applications, security structure, and users to spot vulnerabilities that cyber attackers might exploit. Pen testing proactively identifies weak spots like unpatched software or careless password security measures, with the aim of rectifying these security vulnerabilities before real attackers exploit them.
Trending threat hunting platforms
A diverse array of threat hunting platforms cater to each type of tool mentioned earlier, with alternatives tailored for startups, small-medium enterprises (SMEs), larger corporations, and establishments.
CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike provides various potent threat detection tools such as SIEM and XDR, available for separate acquisition or as a package, tailored for small and medium-sized businesses ($4.99/device/month), large corporations, and enterprises. The integration of these tools on the CrowdStrike Falcon platform offers a harmonized security solution.
ESET
ESET delivers a scalable threat detection platform that adjusts its offerings and capabilities based on the size of the organization and the level of protection required. For instance, emerging businesses and SMBs can access advanced EDR and full-disk encryption at $275 annually for 5 devices; larger corporations and enterprises can incorporate cloud application security, email protection, and patch management at $338.50 yearly for 5 devices. Furthermore, companies have the option to add MDR services to any pricing tier for an extra cost.
Splunk
Splunk functions as a cybersecurity observability and protection platform that furnishes SIEM and SOAR solutions to businesses. Splunk stands out with its extensive platform offering more than 2,300 integrations, robust data analytics and collection features, as well as detailed customization options for controls. The pricing model is adaptable, allowing clients to pay based on the workload, data ingestion rate, host numbers, or monitoring activities quantity.
The initiative of cyber threat hunting involves a proactive security approach that detects and mitigates threats overlooked by conventional detection methods. Investing in tools and services for threat hunting aids organizations in lessening the frequency, duration, and impact of cyber assaults.
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