What is cyber threat hunting?
- Cyber threat hunting is a proactive security strategy where experts search for hidden threats on a network that traditional security measures may miss.
- These experts use various methods such as investigating indicators of compromise, developing hypothesis-based hunts for new threats, and focusing on high-risk areas within an organization.
- Cyber threat hunting differs from reactive security methods that only respond after a threat is detected.
- Traditional security methods rely on comparing threat indicators to a database of known threats, while threat hunting is proactive and aims to prevent breaches.
How does cyber threat hunting work?
- Threat hunting involves collaboration between threat hunters and advanced detection tools to identify hidden threats.
- Security analysts use their critical-thinking skills along with monitoring and analytics tools to detect threats within a network.
- Various threat hunting techniques include searching for insider threats, patching vulnerabilities, identifying known threats like advanced persistent threats (APTs), and implementing security incident response plans.
Benefits of cyber threat hunting
- Proactive threat hunting can help identify and patch vulnerabilities before they are exploited, reducing successful breaches.
- It allows for careful analysis of data to detect anomalies indicating a breach, limiting the impact and duration of attacks.
- Cyber threat hunting techniques provide greater visibility and efficiency in security operations.
Pros of threat hunting:
- Proactively identifies and patches vulnerabilities
- Limits the impact of breaches
- Improves security monitoring efficiency
Cons of threat hunting:
- Requires a significant upfront investment in tools and cybersecurity talent
Types of cyber threat hunting
- There are three main types of threat hunting: hypothesis-driven, unstructured, and situational hunting.
- Hypothesis-driven hunting involves formulating a hypothesis about a threat actor’s attack method based on indicators of attack.
- Unstructured hunting starts with exploration and looking for indicators of compromise in the system.
- Situational hunting focuses on specific resources or entities within an organization based on internal risk assessments.
What is the cyber threat hunting process?
- The cyber threat hunting process involves hypothesis setting, investigation, and resolution/response phases.
- Threat hunters formulate hypotheses based on emerging security trends or indicators of attack.
- They use security tools to investigate vulnerabilities and malicious areas, then respond to threats using advanced technologies.
Threat hunting tools and techniques
- Commonly used tools for threat hunting include security monitoring, advanced analytics, SIEM, XDR solutions, MDR systems, and pen testing.
- These tools help in detecting and responding to threats proactively and efficiently.
Popular threat hunting solutions
- CrowdStrike, ESET, and Splunk are popular threat hunting solutions that offer a range of tools for different business sizes.
- These solutions provide effective threat hunting tools like SIEM, XDR, EDR, and MDR services to help companies protect against cyber threats.
roosho
Senior Engineer (Technical Services)
I am Rakib Raihan RooSho, Jack of all IT Trades. You got it right. Good for nothing. I try a lot of things and fail more than that. That's how I learn. Whenever I succeed, I note that in my cookbook. Eventually, that became my blog.
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