Importance of Proactive Threat Hunting

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 We know the cost of response can be 100 times the cost of prevention, but when unprepared, the consequences are astronomical. A key prevention measure is a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 to anticipate and neutralize threats before they cause harm. Many enterprises struggled during crises like 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝟰𝗷 or 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗶𝘁 due to limited visibility into their IT estate. Proactive threat management combines 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲, and 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Here are few practices to address proactively: 1. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Having a strong understanding of your assets and dependencies is foundational to security. Maintain 𝗦𝗕𝗢𝗠𝘀 to track software components and vulnerabilities. Use an updated 𝗖𝗠𝗗𝗕 for hardware, software, and cloud assets. 2. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 Identify vulnerabilities and threats before escalation. • Leverage 𝗦𝗜𝗘𝗠/𝗫𝗗𝗥 for real-time monitoring and log analysis. • Use AI/ML tools to detect anomalies indicative of lateral movement, insider threat, privilege escalations or unusual traffic. • Regularly hunt for unpatched systems leveraging SBOM and threat intel. 3. 𝗕𝘂𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 Uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. • Implement bug bounty programs to identify and remediate exploitable vulnerabilities. • Use red teams to simulate adversary tactics and test defensive responses. • Conduct 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 exercises to share insights and enhance security controls. 4. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘂𝗽𝘀 Protect data from ransomware and disruptions with robust backups. • Use immutable storage to prevent tampering (e.g., WORM storage). • Maintain offline immutable backups to guard against ransomware. • Regularly test backup restoration for reliability. 5. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 Stay ahead of adversaries with robust intelligence. • Simulate attack techniques based on known adversaries like Scatter Spider • Share intelligence within industry groups like FS-ISAC to track emerging threats. 6. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Employees are the first line of defense. • Train employees to identify phishing and social engineering. • Adopt a “𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴” approach to foster vigilance. • Provide clear channels for reporting incidents or suspicious activity. Effectively managing 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 requires a 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, investment in tools and talent, and alignment with a defense-in-depth strategy. Regular testing, automation, and a culture of continuous improvement are essential to maintaining a strong security posture. #VISA #Cybersecurity #IncidentResponse #PaymentSecurity #12DaysOfCybersecurityChristmas

Been drinking from the firehose this past 30 days. In my new role, I’ve been in a lot of meetings with our Product team — hearing them talk about the threat landscape today. And then listening to the stories of customers coming over to us because their traditional perimeter defenses failed or how they thought they were covered by the brand name SAAS tool — only to find simply wasn’t enough. Here’s what I’m learning from listening to customer stories: - Proactive vs. Reactive: Cyber adversaries have moved beyond the rudimentary attacks of the past. CISOs who are winning today are making a shift to MDR —- from reactive firefighting to proactive threat hunting. In an era where adversaries leverage automation and advanced persistent threats, waiting for alerts to trigger responses is a risk no organization can afford. - The Human-Machine Synergy: Modern MDR solutions don’t merely rely on automated systems. They marry the precision of machine analytics with the intuition and expertise of human threat hunters. This dual approach is critical: while algorithms can spot anomalies, seasoned analysts can discern subtle indicators of compromise that machines might miss. - Continuous Improvement and Adaptive Intelligence: Static defenses are a thing of the past. Cyber threats evolve rapidly, and so must our detection capabilities. MDR providers invest continuously in threat intelligence and advanced analytics, ensuring that your security posture adapts in real time. This means investing in a solution that evolves as quickly as the threat landscape. - Resource Optimization: Building and maintaining an in-house team with the required level of expertise is not just challenging but cost-prohibitive. MDR offers an opportunity to augment internal capabilities with external experts who provide specialized, round-the-clock monitoring. A strategic partnership allows organizations to focus on core business priorities without compromising core security principles. - Strategic Decision Making: the value of MDR extends beyond operational benefits. It provides critical insights that empower informed decision-making at the executive level. By leveraging detailed threat intelligence and comprehensive incident response data, leaders can better articulate risk, justify investments, and steer organizational resilience strategies. It’s becoming clear to me that MDR isn’t just another layer in the stack—it’s a strategic advantage that transforms how CISOs detect, respond to, and ultimately prevent cyber threats.

Most companies are not hacked because of what they know. They are hacked because of what they do not know. In security, we focus heavily on dashboards, KPIs, and all kinds of reports. Yet the biggest threats are the ones outside our line of sight. "Unknown unknowns" are the silent gaps that cause the most damage. (Note: Donald Rumsfeld didn't invent "unknown unknowns" as it's been used by the defense industry since the 1960s.) Think about it: ✘ Assets no one tracks ✘ Third-party dependencies hidden deep inside your supply chain (you've got to MOVEit MOVEit) ✘ Misconfigurations buried in "secure" (or complex) cloud environments ✘ Legacy credentials long forgotten ✘ Nuanced security settings you didn't realize posed a risk** **e.g., How many people know that RC4 was the default Kerberos encryption until November 2022? These are the real risks. They rarely appear on your monthly risk report or risk register. So how do you manage an invisible risk? Here is what has worked for me: 𝟭. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 (yeah, yeah, I'm tired of this cliche, too), but understand that undetected compromise is the real threat. 𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 not by measuring what you protect but by interrogating what you might have missed. 𝟯. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 using red teams, threat hunts, and attack simulations designed to uncover blind spots. 𝟰. 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 if your team believes everything is covered, that belief is already your first weakness. 𝟱. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 focused on blast radius reduction to minimize the impact of actions on objectives. 𝟲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗨𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗮. "Well, the thing's gotta have a tailpipe." Using frameworks and metrics to measure your security posture can help identify capability gaps, but it won't pinpoint that unknown "weak link" that an attacker will exploit. You need to uncover and address what you cannot yet see. The next major breach will not come from an obvious vulnerability. It will come from a blind spot nobody is monitoring. Now tell me how you really feel: A) Easier said than done! B) Got EDR + MDR = I'm g00t. C) I've I had a dollar for every ignorant unk-unks speech. D) Didn't you see the new Gartner 2025 Magic Quadrant for NDR, you fool?

Signature-based detection is a relic. The SharePoint "ToolShell" breach is one of the most important case studies this year for why threat detection needs to evolve. Last week, Microsoft issued an emergency fix for CVE-2025-53770, a zero-day vulnerability in on-prem SharePoint servers. Attackers used custom exploit code to gain unauthenticated remote code execution, steal ASP.NET machine keys, and install a modular post-exploitation framework now referred to as ToolShell. The scope is serious-victims include U.S. federal agencies, universities, and major enterprises. Even more concerning: patching may not be enough. If an attacker has already stolen your machine keys, they can maintain access even after updates are applied. This breach highlights a few key realities: 👉 Exploits are increasingly built to evade signature-based detection. 👉 Post-compromise persistence is getting harder to spot, especially in large hybrid environments. 👉 Timely patching is necessary, but no longer sufficient on its own. What's needed is broader visibility and more adaptive detection. The best security teams I know are rethinking their approach to threat hunting. Instead of waiting for alerts, they’re proactively investigating for signs of abuse, especially in gray zones like unusual API behavior, lateral movement, or anomalous key usage. These are hard problems to solve with traditional tools. You need correlation across systems, behavioral context, and the ability to respond faster than human triage alone allows. Whether that’s supported by smarter automation, detection engineering, or emerging AI capabilities, the direction of travel is clear: we’re moving toward more continuous, contextual threat detection. ToolShell won’t be the last reminder. But it’s a timely one.

Raised by parents in security, you grow into a mini security ninja! At our home, bedtime stories start with, "Once upon a breach... We talk about security a lot at home, and recently, my son asked two great questions that I’ll cover in two posts. Here’s the first: What is threat hunting, and why is it important? Imagine your first day at a new school. You don’t have a map, and the halls are unfamiliar. You explore by reading signs, following others, or asking for help. Sometimes, though, you rely on your instincts—like noticing names on doors or where groups of students are heading. In cybersecurity, threat hunting is like that. Even with advanced tools, some risks slip past. These tools mainly catch known problems, but they might miss new, sneaky threats. That’s where human-led threat hunting comes in. It’s like having a detective skilled at spotting hidden dangers that tech might miss. Threat hunters dig deep to find suspicious activity, making it a key part of any strong security plan. Why is Threat Hunting Important? Cyber threats are always evolving. Human threat hunters bring creativity, instincts, and experience—things machines can’t fully replicate. Threat hunting helps to: - See More: Understand systems and spot unusual activities early. - Stop Threats Faster: Reduce the time attackers can cause damage. - Improve Response: Provide better information for quick actions. - Build Strength of the Security Program: Learn and adapt to stop future attacks. So, how are you and your team finding hidden threats? Or are you counting on your tools to do all the work? #Security #CyberSecurity #Threats #ThreatHunting #Leadership #CISO

This pyramid model represents escalating levels of defense that move beyond basic detection and reaction: - Know yourself, know your enemy: Inventory your assets and understand potential threats. Identify and document all your assets (devices, systems, data) to understand what needs protection. - Detect and analyze: Having visibility across your assets means collecting sufficient data (logs, network traffic, etc.) to monitor activity and detect anomalies. - Triage and validate: Assess and categorize security alerts, considering their fidelity to prioritize response efforts. - Hunt proactively: Don't wait, actively search for hidden adversaries. This is about actively searching for hidden threats or adversaries that may have already bypassed your initial defenses and established a foothold in your systems. - Real-time Monitoring: During an active intrusion, you need the ability to track the adversary’s movements in real-time to understand their actions and minimize damage. - Collaborate for strength: Working with trusted partners (e.g., industry peers, security researchers, law enforcement, et al.) allows you to share threat intelligence, coordinate responses, and disrupt larger-scale adversary campaigns. Credit goes to Matt S. for this model -- https://lnkd.in/e7MJQfJ #cybersecurity #networksecurity #datasecurity #informationsecurity #threathunting #incidentresponse #secops #securityoperations #cyberdefense #cyberthreatintelligence #riskmanagement