What is threat hunting?
- Attack library
- What is threat hunting?
- What is threat hunting?
- How does threat hunting work?
- What are the threat hunting models?
- What is the difference between threat hunting and threat intelligence?
- What are some of the challenges of threat hunting?
- What are the recommended best practices for threat hunting?
- Why choose ManageEngine Log360 for threat hunting?
Picture this: You're navigating a dark forest, not just waiting for any monsters to jump out but actively searching for tracks, sounds, and signs of their presence. Similarly, in the cybersecurity space, threat hunting is the proactive pursuit of hidden attackers within your network. It involves seeking out unknown and evasive threats that bypass traditional security measures.
Read further to understand threat hunting, the process, and its vital role in cybersecurity. Understand how Log360 can empower you on your threat hunting journey.
What is threat hunting?
Threat hunting, as the name suggests, is the process of proactively seeking out cyberthreats before they can cause any damage. In simpler terms, it is a strategic cybersecurity practice of actively searching for potential threats or security incidents within a network or system.
Unlike traditional cybersecurity methods that rely on automated alerts, threat hunting involves the use of human expertise to detect and investigate hidden threats that may evade automated systems. Think of it as the digital detective work of the cybersecurity world, focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks before they escalate. In a nutshell, threat hunting is a crucial strategy that helps you stay ahead of cyberadversaries, providing a proactive defense against evolving threats.
How does threat hunting work?
Threat hunting operates as a proactive, strategic cybersecurity practice of actively searching for potential threats rather than waiting for automated alerts. It entails continuous monitoring of the network and systems to ensure that any potential threats are identified in real time, minimizing the window of opportunity for attackers. Threat hunters collect and analyze vast amounts of data from diverse sources within the network, including logs, network traffic, and endpoint data.
Let’s take a look at how the proactive approach works and some of the techniques that enable effective threat hunting.
Here is a simple breakdown of how it works:
- 1
Generating hypotheses:
Cybersecurity experts formulate hypotheses based on a combination of threat intelligence, historical data, and their understanding of the organization's environment. A blend of knowledge, experience, and creativity is required to anticipate potential attack scenarios.
- 2
Investigating and collecting data:
Threat hunters employ various tools for data collection within the network. These include log analysis tools that scrutinize system logs for unusual activities as well as network forensics tools that examine traffic patterns for signs of anomalies or malicious behavior.
- 3
Analyzing and detecting patterns:
Cybersecurity experts analyze the collected data, identifying patterns and trends that signal potential threats. They correlate information to grasp the context of events, uncovering adversaries' tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). This process enhances the understanding of how cyberthreats operate within the network.
- 4
Uncovering and understanding anomalies:
Threat hunters focus on identifying anomalies or deviations from the expected norm, such as unusual network traffic, unexpected system behavior, or irregularities in user activities. Understanding anomalies is crucial for distinguishing between normal variations and potential security incidents, aiding in the early detection of cyberthreats.
- 5
Containing and mitigating threats:
Upon spotting a potential threat, threat hunters act swiftly, implementing containment measures to isolate affected systems or endpoints and prevent further spread of the threat. Mitigation strategies are then applied to minimize the potential damage caused by the identified threat, ensuring a rapid, effective response.
- 1
Behavioral analytics and heuristics:
Behavioral analytics involves examining typical behavioral patterns in the network, while heuristics involves employing rules and algorithms to identify deviations from expected behavior. The goal of both is to detect unusual activities that could indicate potential threats.
- 2
Indicators of compromise (IoCs) and indicators of attack (IoAs):
IoCs are specific artifacts, such as IP addresses or file hashes, that are linked to known threats. IoAs are patterns of activity indicating a potential attack. Recognizing and acting on both IoCs and IoAs enables you to proactively address potential threats.
- 3
The Cyber Kill Chain® framework and the MITRE ATT&CK® framework:
The Cyber Kill Chain framework delineates the cyberattack stages, aiding threat hunters in comprehending attack life cycles. MITRE ATT&CK furnishes a thorough matrix of known adversary behaviors. Leveraging these frameworks enhances threat hunters' ability to anticipate, detect, and respond effectively to cyberthreats.
Here are some techniques for effective threat hunting:
To sum up, threat hunting is a dynamic cybersecurity approach that relies on data collection, analysis, and the expertise of cyber detectives to help an organization stay ahead of potential threats. The techniques listed above empower threat hunters to navigate the cyber landscape effectively, ensuring a proactive, dynamic defense against evolving cyberthreats.
What are the threat hunting models?
Threat hunting involves presuming that adversaries are already present in the organization’s network and then initiating an inquiry to identify anomalous behavior that may indicate hostile activity. There are three types of inquiry initiation:
- 1
Reactive-based hunting:
This involves responding to threats using IoCs from sources like computer emergency response teams (CERTs). It follows predefined rules of SIEM, with threat hunters analyzing automated alerts to detect and respond to potential breaches swiftly, enhancing the organization’s overall security posture.
- 2
Hypothesis-based hunting:
In this type, hunters take a proactive stance by adhering to the MITRE ATT&CK framework. They employ a threat hunting library and global detection playbooks to identify threat actors based on behaviors. This method involves monitoring patterns, which allows for the early discovery of potential threats in the cybersecurity landscape and enhances overall defense mechanisms.
- 3
Custom hunting:
This involves proactively identifying irregularities in SIEM and endpoint detection and response tools, allowing for the early detection of potential threats. It is based on industry-standard threat hunting methods and situational awareness. This adaptable strategy can incorporate both reactive- and hypothesis-based models, considering data on IoAs and IoCs.
Threat hunters proactively identify adversaries within the organization’s network using these models, which together form a comprehensive strategy for mitigating potential cybersecurity threats.
What is the difference between threat hunting and threat intelligence?
While both threat hunting and threat intelligence are crucial for keeping your digital domain safe, they are different in several ways. Let’s delve into their unique strengths and see how they can be combined to outsmart any lurking adversaries.
Difference | Threat hunting | Threat intelligence |
---|---|---|
The nature of the activity | It encompasses an ongoing, continuous process of investigation, which involves a proactive, hands-on approach where cybersecurity professionals actively search for potential threats within the network. | It encompasses a more reactive approach focused on collecting and analyzing information about known threats, which involves gathering insights into historical, current, and emerging threats. |
The timing and focus | It’s conducted in real time, with threat hunters assuming that adversaries are already present. They actively investigate anomalous behavior to detect and mitigate potential threats swiftly. | It provides information about specific threats, often gathered from external sources. It informs organizations about the broader threat landscape but may not be as immediate as threat hunting. |
The goal and approach | It aims to actively identify and address potential threats before they escalate. It involves using frameworks, playbooks, and real-time monitoring to investigate and respond. | It aims to enhance organizations’ overall cybersecurity postures by providing insights and context about known threats. It informs organizations, allowing them to develop proactive defense strategies based on historical and current threat data. |
The role in your cybersecurity strategy | It plays a crucial role in ongoing, day-to-day cybersecurity activities. It is an integral part of maintaining a vigilant security posture. | It contributes to strategic planning by providing information on specific threats, which helps organizations make informed decisions to improve their overall security. |
Hands-on action vs. information gathering | It involves direct investigation and response by cybersecurity experts, utilizing their skills and experience in real-time scenarios. | It involves the collection and analysis of information about threats, providing knowledge that can be used to inform various aspects of cybersecurity, including threat prevention, detection, and response. |
Threat hunting is a hands-on, proactive approach focused on active investigation within a network, while threat intelligence involves collecting and analyzing information to inform defense teams and enhance awareness. Both play crucial roles in modern cybersecurity strategies in their own ways.
What are some of the challenges of threat hunting?
The effectiveness of threat hunters lies in their ability to identify and mitigate potential threats before they escalate. However, like any cybersecurity approach, threat hunting comes with its own set of challenges.
Listed below are some of the challenges associated with threat hunting:
- Integrations and the complexity of networks:
The integration of the various security tools used in threat hunting can be complex, requiring seamless coordination for effective threat detection and response. The increasing complexity of modern networks with diverse architectures and technologies makes it challenging to monitor and analyze all potential threats comprehensively.
- Monitoring large amounts of data:
Achieving continuous monitoring of network activities is challenging, particularly in organizations with resource limitations, leaving potential gaps in their threat detection. The sheer volume of data generated by network activities is overwhelming, making it difficult for threat hunters to sift through data and identify meaningful patterns.
- Advanced adversaries:
Sophisticated threat actors continually evolve their TTPs, posing challenges for threat hunters trying to keep pace with emerging threats.
- False positives:
The prevalence of false positives in security alerts can divert resources towards investigating non-threatening incidents, leading to inefficiencies and the potential oversight of real threats.
- Data privacy concerns:
Privacy considerations and compliance regulations may limit the extent to which organizations can collect and analyze data for threat hunting purposes, posing challenges in balancing security and privacy.
Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach, encompassing training programs, collaborative efforts, the standardization of practices, and strategic investments in both technology and personnel. By overcoming these hurdles, organizations can enhance their threat hunting capabilities and strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
What are the recommended best practices for threat hunting?
To conduct impactful, efficient threat hunting activities, organizations should follow best practices that enhance the overall effectiveness of the process.
Here are some recommended practices for threat hunting:
- 1
Define objectives and a framework:
Establish clear objectives and the scope for threat hunting initiatives, aligning them with overarching cybersecurity goals. Develop a structured framework encompassing methodologies, playbooks, and predefined processes to ensure consistent, effective threat hunting investigations.
- 2
Use automation and tools:
Implement automation for routine tasks in threat hunting, allowing analysts to concentrate on more complex activities. Utilize specialized threat hunting tools for enhanced efficiency. Keep systems and software up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate vulnerabilities and minimize the attack surface.
- 3
Establish a baseline of network behavior:
Establish a baseline for normal network behavior to facilitate the identification of anomalies during threat hunting, with any deviations signaling potential threats. Additionally, ensure thorough documentation of threat hunting activities and incident response and conduct postmortem analysis to pinpoint areas for improvement.
- 4
Follow the Zero Trust security model:
Implement the Zero Trust security model, assuming that adversaries may already be present within the network, and verify all activities, even those from trusted sources. In addition to this, you can also integrate your tools with threat intelligence feeds to stay informed about known threats, enhancing your contextual understanding of potential risks during threat hunting activities.
- 5
Ensure collaboration and a feedback loop:
Foster collaboration among cybersecurity teams, encourage information sharing, and leverage collective expertise to strengthen your threat detection capabilities. Establish a feedback loop between threat hunting and other cybersecurity teams to nurture continuous improvement in your detection and response capabilities.
By adhering to these best practices, organizations can enhance their threat hunting capabilities, proactively identify potential threats, and bolster their overall cybersecurity defenses.
Why choose ManageEngine Log360 for threat hunting?
ManageEngine Log360 is a comprehensive SIEM solution that offers robust threat hunting capabilities designed to empower organizations to proactively detect and mitigate cybersecurity threats. The platform integrates advanced technologies, analytics, and user-friendly features to enhance the effectiveness of threat hunting.
Here are some ways in which Log360 contributes to effective threat hunting:
- 1
Behavioral analytics
It employs behavioral analytics and ML algorithms to identify deviations from the normal patterns of user behaviors and system activities. This proactive approach enhances its ability to detect sophisticated threats that may go unnoticed by traditional security measures.
- 2
A unified threat hunting console
Log360’s three-way threat hunting console facilitates the seamless investigation of core digital artifacts. It serves as a multi-widget analytical wall for SOCs, enhancing their ability to hunt, investigate, and identify security incidents.
- 3
A widened scope for threat detection
The integration of VirusTotal, the world’s largest live threat feed, and other threat feeds like STIX/TAXII and AlienVault Open Threat Exchange significantly broadens Log360’s threat detection capabilities. It has a predefined correlation rule set for real-time process hunting that further enhances threat identification.
- 4
An incident workbench
Log360 addresses the challenges SOCs face by unifying the analytics of users, entities, and processes through its incident workbench. Its ML-based user behavior analytics, device snapshots, and process trees contribute to swift root cause analysis.
- 5
Enriched threat data:
Our threat feed integrations aggregate data from antivirus engines, files, URL scanners, and other sources. Log360 leverages these integrations to provide reputational insights into URLs, domains, and IP addresses, enriching threat data.
- 6
Correlation rules for process hunting
Log360 enhances threat detection by visualizing parent-child relationships with process tree visualization. A predefined correlation rule set for suspicious process spawning aids real-time detection, bolstering Log360’s ability to identify potential threats.
- 7
Automated alerting
Log360 automates the alerting process, notifying threat hunters of potential security incidents. This automation streamlines the detection and response workflow, ensuring timely actions are taken.
By leveraging these features and capabilities of Log360, organizations can empower their SOC and threat hunting teams with the tools needed to navigate security incidents with unprecedented efficiency and agility. You can read more about Log360’s threat hunting capabilities here.