Cyber threat hunting is the process of actively seeking out potential threats in your network and eliminating them before they can cause harm. But, is this a service your organization needs? 

Hackers are always looking for new vulnerabilities to exploit, and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. To protect your business, it’s essential to have a comprehensive security strategy in place.

But simply having security measures in place isn’t enough – you need to be proactive in identifying and mitigating threats before they can do damage. That’s where cyber threat hunting comes in.

Cyber hunting is the process of actively seeking out potential threats in your network and eliminating them before they can cause harm. It’s a vital component of any business security strategy, and it can make a big difference in protecting your company from online attacks. So why is cyber threat hunting so important? And how can you get started?

The Importance Of Cyber Threat Hunting

There are many reasons why cyber threat hunting is so important. Most importantly, it can help you to identify potential threats before they have a chance to do damage. By proactively seeking out vulnerabilities, you can fix them before hackers have a chance to exploit them.

Threat hunters use threat intelligence and exceptional tactics techniques and procedures to identify potential threats and then take action to mitigate them. This can involve anything from patching vulnerabilities to implementing security controls.

Consider a Threat Hunting Team

In many cases, threat hunting can help you to avoid costly breaches. The average cost of a data breach is over $3 million – and that number is only going to increase as hackers become more sophisticated. By identifying and eliminating threats before they can cause damage, you can save your business a lot of money in the long run.

In addition to saving money, cyber threat hunting can also help to protect your brand reputation. Data breaches can have a major impact on public perception, and they can damage your relationships with customers and partners.

By proactively hunting for threats, you can reduce the chances of a breach occurring in the first place. This can help to protect your brand and maintain customer trust.

How To Get Started With Cyber Threat Hunting

If you’re interested in getting started with cyber threat hunting, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to build a strong foundation of security controls. This will give you a good starting point for identifying and mitigating threats.

Next, you need to develop a comprehensive threat intelligence strategy. This will help you to identify potential threats and understand the risks they pose to your business.

Finally, you need to put together a team of skilled threat hunters. These individuals should have experience in security, incident response, and network forensics. They should also be able to work effectively as part of a team and understand the most up-to-date threat hunting methodologies.

What is Cyber Threat Hunting in Cybersecurity?

Cyber hunting is the proactive search for cyber threats to neutralize them before they can do damage. This activity is usually carried out by security professionals who specialize in cyber security.

Cyber hunting generally involves the use of tools and techniques that are designed to find, identify, and track down cyber threats. Once a threat has been located, the threat hunters will then work to neutralize it.

This may involve taking steps to isolate the threat or working to remove it entirely from the system. Cyber hunting is an important part of cyber security, as it helps to protect systems and data from harm using threat intelligence indicator searches.

What is Threat Hunting in SOC?

Threat hunting is usually performed by a security operations center (SOC) team, which uses a variety of tools and techniques to find signs of malicious activity. Some common threat hunting strategies include analyzing system logs, inspecting network traffic, and reverse-engineering malware samples.

By constantly searching for new threats, SOC teams can help to keep their organizations safe from the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity threats.

Automated cybersecurity tools traditionally used by a SOC will typically catch around 80% of threats. Threat hunting is vital for sophisticated attacks. Skilled cyber threat hunters will use successful data analysis procedures, machine learning to help mitigate threats.

Should I Hire a Threat Hunting Service?

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether or not to hire a threat hunting service. These include the size and complexity of your organization, the types of threats you are most likely to face, and your overall security posture.

If you are concerned about sophisticated cyber attacks, then hiring a threat hunting service may be the best option for you. A threat hunting service can help to find and neutralize threats before they cause damage.

However, if you are more concerned about simple cyber threats, then hiring a threat detection service may be a better choice. A threat detection service can help you identify and respond to potential threats quickly and effectively.

What Tools are Required for Cyber Threat Hunting?

Cyber threat hunting requires several different tools, depending on the specific needs of the organization. Some common tools used in cyber threat hunting include network monitors, intrusion detection systems, malware analysis toolkits, and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.

Organizations may also choose to use honeypots, which are systems designed to lure attackers and collect data about their activities.

To be effective, cyber threat hunting must be constantly updated with the latest information about new threats. This can be accomplished through the use of threat intelligence platforms, which provide real-time data about the latest cybersecurity threats.

Organizations may also choose to hire a threat hunting service, which can provide expert assistance in identifying and responding to threats.

Is Cyber Threat Hunting Necessary?

The decision of whether or not to implement cyber threat hunting depends on several factors, including the size and complexity of your organization, the types of threats you are most likely to face, and your overall security posture. If you are concerned about sophisticated cyber attacks, then cyber threat hunting may be the best option for you.

How does Cyber Threat Hunting work?

The process of cyber threat hunting usually begins with the identification of a potential threat. This can be done through the use of network monitoring, intrusion detection systems, and malware analysis. Once a threat has been identified, it is then assessed for its impact and severity. Based on this assessment, a response plan is put in place to mitigate the threat.

Organizations may also choose to use honeypots, which are systems designed to lure attackers and collect data about their activities. To be effective, cyber threat hunting must be constantly updated with the latest information about new threats. This can be accomplished through the use of threat intelligence platforms, which provide real-time data about the latest cybersecurity threats.

What are the benefits of Cyber Threat Hunting?

Cyber threat hunting can provide several benefits for organizations, including the following:

• Helps to identify and neutralize threats before they cause damage
• Can be used to collect data about attacker activities
• Can help to improve an organization’s overall security posture
• Can be used to improve the efficiency of security operations

What are the challenges of Cyber Threat Hunting?

Cyber threat hunting can be a difficult and time-consuming process. It requires a high level of expertise and knowledge about cybersecurity threats. Additionally, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest information about new threats.

Organizations may also choose to hire a threat hunting service, which can provide expert assistance in identifying and responding to threats. However, this option can be expensive and may not be feasible for all organizations.

To be effective, cyber threat hunting must be constantly updated with the latest information about new threats. This can be accomplished through the use of threat intelligence platforms that updates through routine data collection, which provides real-time data about the latest cybersecurity threats.

Organizations may also choose to hire a threat hunting service, which can provide expert assistance in identifying and responding to threats. However, this option can be expensive and may not be feasible for all organizations.

While automated security tools are incredibly helpful in security strategies, especially when using artificial intelligence, human threat hunters are invaluable in keeping potential risks at bay.

Threat Hunting Maturity Model

A threat hunting maturity model is a framework that can be used to assess the readiness of an organization to engage in cyber threat hunting. The model can be used to identify the areas where an organization needs improvement and to provide guidance on how to improve.

The threat hunting maturity model consists of five stages: awareness, preparation, detection, response, and continuous improvement.

Awareness:

The first stage of the threat hunting maturity model is awareness. In this stage, organizations should have a basic understanding of what cyber threat hunting is and its benefits. Additionally, they should be aware of the types of threats they are most likely to face and the potential damage that can be caused by these threats.

Preparation:

The second stage of the threat hunting maturity model is preparation. In this stage, organizations should develop a clear understanding of their goals and objectives for cyber threat hunting. They should also create a plan for how they will conduct threat hunting operations and what resources they will need. Additionally, they should identify the individuals who will be responsible for carrying out threat hunting activities.

Detection:

The third stage of the threat hunting maturity model is detection. In this stage, organizations should have the ability to detect potential threats through the use of security tools and processes. Additionally, they should have a system in place for identifying and responding to suspicious activity.

Response:

The fourth stage of the threat hunting maturity model is the response. In this stage, organizations should have a plan in place for how they will respond to threats that are identified. This plan should include the steps that will be taken to neutralize the threat and prevent it from causing damage. Additionally, the plan should identify the individuals who will be responsible for carrying out the response.

Continuous Improvement:

The fifth stage of the threat hunting maturity model is continuous improvement. In this stage, organizations should constantly review and revise their threat hunting operations to ensure that they are effective. Additionally, they should identify new threats and develop plans for how to address them.

Conclusion

The Ponemon Institute’s study found that the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million, so it is clear that organizations need to take every step possible to protect their networks and data. One such step is engaging in regular cyber threat hunting activities.

Threat hunting involves proactively searching for threats on your network before they cause damage. It is a vital activity that should be done by professionals who have the expertise and tools necessary to identify and mitigate risks quickly.

If you are not currently engaged in cyber threat hunting, we encourage you to consider Managed Security Services as a way to improve your organization’s security posture. Our team of experts has the experience and knowledge necessary to help you stay ahead of the latest cybersecurity threats. Contact us today to learn more about our services.