How to Defend Against IAM Breaches With an XDR Solution

The first step in any cyberattack consists of threat actors obtaining access to an IT environment. After gaining initial access to an infrastructure, sophisticated threat actors move through the environment in search of valuable targets. Once a target is identified, the entities behind the incursion may exfiltrate or corrupt a company’s data resources.

Organizations must take a comprehensive approach to keeping unauthorized individuals and software out of their computing environment and protect their data resources. Identity and access management (IAM) is a key component of a robust cybersecurity posture. Compromising an IAM platform can provide threat actors with unfettered access to valuable and sensitive information.

We’re going to discuss the benefits of an IAM solution and look at the ramifications of a data breach involving an IAM platform. We’ll also demonstrate how an extended detection and response (XDR) tool can protect your data in the event of an IAM breach.

What is Identity and Access Management?

Gartner defines identity and access management (IAM) as a security and business discipline comprised of multiple technologies and business processes that restrict unauthorized access to data resources while supporting access by authorized people or devices for legitimate reasons. An IAM solution typically consists of a mix of the following procedures and policies.

• Strong password policies - Users should be forced to follow best practices for creating passwords. This entails using a mix of characters and digits to create long passwords or passphrases of at least 12 characters.
• Authentication - Strong multi-factor authentication procedures should be in place to verify users’ identities.
• Authorization - Only authorized personnel should have access to sensitive or valuable data assets.
• Zero trust policy - Zero trust is an approach to authorization that enforces accurate, least privileged per-request access decisions.
• Routine audits - IAM policies and practices should be regularly audited so modifications can be made to address potential vulnerabilities.

IAM Tools and Platforms

IAM tools and platforms offer organizations a centralized method of providing the functionality necessary to protect their data. These tools streamline access management by eliminating the need to have administrators log into individual applications. Following are some of the more popular IAM tools and platforms currently on the market.

• Okta focuses on backend user identity and workforce management with language-specific libraries and endpoint APIs. The platform is designed to support hybrid work environments.
• OneLogin minimizes IAM complexity by centralizing functionality across all users’ applications, directories, and devices. The tool provides adaptive multi-factor authentication for real-time visibility into login attempts.
• CyberArk gives customers the ability to secure third-party applications and endpoints. The platform leverages AI technology to assist in threat prevention.

What is an IAM Breach?

An IAM breach occurs when threat actors compromise user credentials to gain access to an organization’s critical systems and data. Poor cyber hygiene and the lack of proper IAM policies open the door to unauthorized access.

The consolidation of credentials and authentication data contained in an IAM tool makes it a prime target for malicious entities. Rather than collecting individual credentials through phishing or social media attacks, hackers can achieve a major score by breaching an IAM platform.

Examples of IAM Breaches

IAM breaches can be extremely damaging as they provide threat actors with copious amounts of credentials that can be used to compromise an organization’s IT environment. Let’s look at a few examples of IAM data breaches.

Okta data breach - The IAM firm was hit with a cyberattack that exposed data on all of the company’s huge client base of over 18,000 customers. Threat actors gained access to the company’s files from Sept. 28 through Oct. 17, 2023. The exploited vulnerability appears to have come from an Okta employee who signed into their personal Google profile on a company laptop’s Chrome web browser. Credentials were compromised and used to gain access to Okta’s IT environment.

MGM Resorts and Caesars Casinos - A major attack against the company was launched via social engineering and impersonation of a legitimate user. Hackers contacted MGM’s IT and convinced them to reset passwords. The threat actors then used access to the environment to launch a ransomware attack. System outages caused by the attack could cost the company over $8 million per day, providing a compelling incentive to pay the ransom.

Microsoft Midnight Blizzard attack - An attack by the Russian state-sponsored hacker group exploiting legacy vulnerabilities in the software giant’s test facilities. Threat actors compromised a test account that was not protected with multi-factor authentication. They employed a password-spray attack in which the adversary attempts to sign into a large number of accounts using a small subset of popular or common passwords.

How XDR Protects You From IAM Breaches

An extended detection and response platform defends your IT environment from IAM breaches that may allow threat actors access to your systems and sensitive data assets. An XDR solution leverages threat intelligence to provide threat detection. More comprehensive threat intelligence provides the raw materials needed to detect emerging threats before they can affect an IT infrastructure.

Samurai XDR is an advanced XDR solution that furnishes customers with unmatched threat detection and response, analyzing more than 40% of daily internet coverage using NTT’s Tier 1 internet backbone. Samurai is the only XDR tool on the market offering this level of threat intelligence.

Samurai XDR processes threat intelligence to protect an environment from IAM data breaches and other exploits perpetrated by threat actors.

• The platform identifies suspicious activity using artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.
• Samurai identifies the subtle lateral movements of malicious entities as they traverse an infrastructure in search of valuable targets.
• The software consolidates and prioritizes threat information so IT professionals can focus on addressing the most significant threats.
• Samurai defends against advanced persistent threats that attempt to remain undiscovered while they perform malicious reconnaissance or data exfiltration activities.

Conclusion

An IAM breach can expose an organization to multiple immediate and long-term risks. Integrating Samurai XDR with your existing cybersecurity stack gives your company the additional defense it needs to protect itself from the many dangers of compromised credentials.

Samurai’s Starter Plan provides an easy way to see how XDR improves your IT security.