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Throughout 2022, enterprises across the world have been facing unprecedented security challenges. The main attacks recorded involved supply chain, software, remote, and hybrid work networks. Top in the list of attacks was ransomware at 91%, phishing at 76%, encrypted malware at 66%, and fileless attacks at 39%.
It is easier and cheaper to manage cyberattacks if they are quickly detected. Many enterprises take longer to detect them and thus respond when it is too late. They go through a variety of challenges that hinder quick attack detection and thus record huge losses.
Fast-evolving new threats
Organizations build strong cyberattack protection, but they often find themselves vulnerable. Cybercriminals work round the clock to develop new malicious software and launch them into target systems. They develop new strategies that are more advanced than the previous ones. After organizations build a hedge of protection against the current threats, they relax.
They do not consider the possibility of new advanced threats being injected into the system. This creates a loophole in their system through which cybercriminals can gain access. Organizations need to have an active cybersecurity detection and prevention team that stays informed about new evolving threats.
In modern times, remote and hybrid word structures are a major target of cybercriminals. Protecting employees and organizations from phishing attacks should be a priority for organizations. The image recognition-based engine by perception point helps identify brand impersonation and phishing attacks. The engine features advanced technology that accurately validates if an URL is legitimate or not.
Learning the lifecycle of attacks
Cybercriminals use advanced technologies to get ready for attacks and execute them. They first gather intelligence on the target network or data security. They learn the structure of the applications they use and the target’s website coding. After that, they create a weapon or application that can execute an attack on the system.
They deliver the weapon through the vulnerable structure and execute the attack once the weapon gains access to the system. Many organizations realize there was an attack after the weapon has already executed its purpose. The organization should develop security structures that prevent cyber criminals from learning about its network structures.
If the criminals succeed in learning, there has to be advanced protection that prevents the criminal’s weapon from accessing the system. The use of two-factor authentication is one of the strategies to prevent cybercriminals from getting information from the organization’s systems.
Detecting when a security breach occurs
Most cybersecurity mechanisms effectively detect security breaches immediately after it happens. They detect spyware, malware, ransomware, and other malicious attachments on emails. They alert the user so that they can take action quickly to mitigate the threat against further damage.
Cybercriminals understand this principle well, and they are now using encryption to escape detection. They are now using advanced ransomware weapons that are harder to detect and mitigate. Passive attacks are hard to detect because they do not alter any data. When the user sends or receives requests, neither the recipient nor the sender notices they have received a third-party message.
A report published by IBM in 2020 shows that it takes 197 days for an organization to detect its system has been breached. This is a long time because cybercriminals will have retrieved all the data they needed or learned about the entire system. This is a major challenge organizations have to deal with in detecting cyberattacks.
If detection is done instantly, the organization can cushion itself against losses, including loss of revenue and trust by customers. The organization needs to have in place the best cybersecurity breach detection practices as follows:
Keep watch of unusual behavior: When attackers successfully infiltrate a company system, they begin to search for administrator accounts. In some instances, they may create their own admin credentials. The IT or trained staff can detect there are user account login changes. It happens mostly to users who lack multifactor authentication. Another way is when you notice the organization’s proprietary files have been shared outside its networks. This is enough reason to raise the alarm and take quick mitigation action.
Get visible on all endpoints: The internal structure of an organization might have tight security. However, attacks can come through client devices or CRM. If an attack happens internally, the end user should have a way to get an alert to take action, such as changing passwords or software updates. The organization needs to consistently conduct security analysis to know how safe they are even with client devices.
Beware of slowed traffic: The organization network should perform fast and to the maximum. If the IT team notices a slowdown, the problem could be an attack. It will be worth quickly scanning the system to detect the threat before the team begins to check on hardware and software performance.
Start at Day Zero: CPO Magazine reports that 88% of security breaches occur due to human error. The report notes that most of these errors occur due to mistakes by internal staff. Daily, employees move fast to reach out to the market. They deploy technologies that they have not tested or learned their complexities.
Due to this, they misconfigure the applications. Organizations need to prepare robust and short training sessions during employee onboarding. The new employees need to be well-equipped with the security protocols of the organization from Day Zero.
Prolonged mitigation and recovery response time
IBM reports that organizations take 67 days to stabilize after a breach. After breach detection, the next step should be threat containment. The earliest steps can be:
Internet disconnection
Disabling remote connection
Software updates
Maintaining firewall settings
Change of passwords
The next step should be to understand the kind of threat that occurred. It helps the organization to know the mitigation applications to use. The security team should also know the extent of the damage so that it can begin the recovery process. Most organizations have no problem preventing further attacks. Unfortunately, many of them get challenges detecting the type of attack, damage caused, and recovery process.
Conclusion
Cyberattack is a major challenge experienced by organizations around the world. Detection is a greater challenge that leaves organizations prone to huge losses after security breaches. The main detection challenges faced by organizations are new threats and understanding the attack lifecycle. The organization is unable to detect when a threat occurs, and they take too long to understand the type of attack and to start the recovery process.
The world of technology is constantly changing, and as technologies change with it, the security landscape also changes. Nonetheless, many firms adapt their technology without the assistance of security specialists.
IT Consulting Services provides advanced experience in the current threat landscape by offering cybersecurity consulting, management, and strategy with the latest technology to provide businesses with higher protection. They supplement current IT capabilities, objectively examining the current environment and tackling the most complicated security concerns.
