Introduction to Threat Analysis: Understanding the Basics

Protecting an organization’s valuable IT systems and data resources is essential in today’s dangerous threat landscape. Companies need to address the sophisticated methods employed by threat actors intent on compromising those assets. Meeting these existing and emerging threats requires a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that goes beyond traditional techniques and solutions.

Organizations should implement cybersecurity tools, such as an extended detection and response (XDR) platform, that performs threat analysis to identify potential risks before they can cause damage to their infrastructure. Effective threat analysis can be the difference between proactively addressing suspicious activities and being surprised by a devastating cyberattack or data exfiltration exploit. Companies are taking unnecessary risks by ignoring the benefits of threat analysis.

What is Threat Analysis?

Threat analysis is a cybersecurity strategy that evaluates and analyzes the components of an IT environment to identify existing and potential vulnerabilities and threats. Security personnel can study the information gathered through threat analysis to obtain an understanding of the threat level faced by the organization. Effective threat analysis enables companies to assess threats in real time so real risks can be addressed to reduce the occurrences of cyberattacks and mitigate the damages of a successful incursion.

Threat analysis can identify several types of threats to a company’s IT infrastructure.

• Deliberate threats - Deliberate threats are typically the result of cyberattacks by threat actors. Common types of attacks include phishing campaigns to obtain login credentials or to plant malware or ransomware in the IT environment.
• Accidental threats - Accidental threats may be initiated by misconfigured network or application settings. They can expose an organization’s valuable data resources and mission-critical systems to attacks by threat actors.
• Insider threats - Insider threats can be categorized as being malicious or unintentional. They put an organization’s data at risk and can be as damaging to a company as an external cyberattack.

How is Threat Analysis Performed?

An effective threat analysis solution consists of the following steps.

• Threat detection - The first step is for the tool to identify and list possible threats. Reliable threat intelligence is necessary to facilitate threat detection.
• Threat assessment - Threats are analyzed to understand their risk to the environment. Some threats may be deemed irrelevant and not pose a risk to the organization.
• Risk evaluation - Risks are evaluated against existing cybersecurity solutions to determine if they are adequate to protect the infrastructure. The goal is to identify gaps in security before they can be exploited by threat actors.
• Threat response - Plans are developed to respond to the threats that may include implementing new cybersecurity measures. In cases of new types of emerging threats, major changes may be required to safeguard critical systems and data resources.
• Monitor, review, and optimize - Threat analysis is a continuous activity that involves monitoring and incorporating changes in the threat landscape into future detection processes. Current cybersecurity measures should be reviewed to determine if they are adequate to protect the environment. Defenses should be continually optimized to ensure they align with newly emerging threats.

Benefits of Threat Analysis

Threat analysis offers organizations several benefits that enhance their ability to successfully protect their IT environments. These benefits may not be possible by deploying legacy cybersecurity solutions.

• Hardening the attack surface - The identification of existing and emerging threats enables a security team to strengthen specific infrastructure components. Areas of the IT environment that are repeatedly attacked may require additional cybersecurity measures to mitigate risk.
• Addressing the evolving threat landscape - Threat analysis provides organizations with an understanding of the current state of cyber threats which is always evolving and presenting new risks to an organization’s valuable resources. This knowledge can prove crucial in devising cybersecurity strategies that protect the company from these risks.
• Creating a risk profile - An updated risk profile can be instrumental in guiding a company’s efforts to improve cybersecurity measures and mitigation procedures. The profile allows for a more proactive approach to cybersecurity that focuses on addressing viable risks identified through threat analysis.

The Crucial Role of Threat Intelligence

Effective threat detection requires reliable threat intelligence. Superior threat intelligence should demonstrate the following characteristics that enable the information to be used efficiently by a threat detection platform.

• Relevant information such as Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) applicable to the environment being protected can be identified.
• Timely information must be provided to quickly address threats that may only exist for a limited period.
• Threat intelligence must accurately detect threats and avoid false positives that can waste cybersecurity resources.
• The depth of the information should provide insights into the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by threat actors.
• The information also needs to address the breadth of threats that may be initiated from a wide variety of sources. Threat actors may be launching multiple attacks that use variable techniques to compromise an IT infrastructure.
• Actionable recommendations are necessary regarding implementing controls and measures to mitigate identified vulnerabilities and threats.

Samurai XDR Protects Your Environment by Leveraging Superior Threat Intelligence

Samurai XDR is an advanced threat detection and response solution that leverages superior threat intelligence to protect an IT environment from existing and emerging threats. Customers can expect the following benefits from implementing Samurai XDR and integrating it with their current cybersecurity solution.

• The platform utilizes superior threat intelligence provided by NTT's Tier 1 ISP, which analyzes more than 40% of the internet. This level of visibility into potential threats is unmatched by other XDR solutions.
• Samurai XDR consolidates and prioritizes threat information so your cybersecurity personnel are not overwhelmed with signals and can focus on the most impactful threats.
• The platform detects threats and IoCs that escape detection from legacy security solutions. It can identify subtle lateral movements through the environment that are often indicators of a threat actor.
• Customers can test-drive Samurai XDR with a free trial to evaluate its threat detection capabilities. After that, the platform is based on a monthly subscription that eliminates a large initial investment. Companies can start small and add integrations for enhanced threat detection as they become comfortable with the solution.

Talk to the threat detection experts at Samurai and begin your free trial today to start protecting your environment with an advanced XDR platform.