Advanced Threat Protection ATP: Definition, Benefits, and How It Works
The cyber threat landscape has evolved rapidly in recent years. His corporate IT environment is changing with the move to cloud-based.
At the same time, cyber threat actors are becoming increasingly strong, resulting in more effective and widespread attacks.
Endpoints have become the first line of defense in many organizations' cybersecurity programs. This means that these endpoints are subject to attacks and require advanced endpoint security solutions to protect them.
ATP solutions are designed to provide this type of protection.
Detects cyber-attacks early in their lifecycle with its advanced security solutions that can interrupt the attack chain and prevent attacks before they cause significant damage to endpoints.
That being said, it's important to define what ATP is in further detail, and how it works. And what are the benefits of using it?
What is Advanced Threat Protection?
A group of security tools and solutions called “advanced threat protection" (ATP) guards against sophisticated malware or hacking attacks that target sensitive data. Advanced threat protection systems can be purchased as managed services or as software.
While advanced threat protection solutions can vary in their methodology and constituents, they often consist of a few or all of the following: endpoint agents, network devices, email gateways, malware protection systems, and a central management panel for managing defenses and correlating warnings.
History of Advanced Threat Protection
In the early 2000s, a surge of well-funded state and advanced cyber attackers increasingly targeted destabilizing targets in the corporate sector by introducing malicious files that we refer to as “Malware”, giving rise to the concept of complex threats and cyber attacks.
Those threats exposed corporations to serious cyberattacks. While the government sector was the target of the initial attacks in 2006-2007, big APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats) recognized possibilities in an expanded toolset of methods. They employed techniques including spear phishing, which uses email to spread malware.
The banking, telecommunications, energy, and manufacturing sectors were particularly impacted by those attacks. Today, organizations that have an impact on city infrastructure or have government contracts are susceptible.
How does Advanced Threat Protection Work?
The primary goals of advanced threat protection are:
- Early threat detection: Identifying potential threats before they can access crucial data or compromise systems.
- Adequate protection: Being able to quickly do threat prevention against threats that are detected.
- Response: The ability to mitigate threats and respond to security incidents.
How to achieve those Goals?
Real-Time Visibility
Without nonstop checking and real-time monitoring, threats are regularly identified as late as well. When the harm occurs, the reaction can be colossally expensive in terms of both asset utilization and notoriety harm.
Context
For true security effectiveness, threat alerts must contain context to allow security teams to effectively categorize threats and prioritize them in order to respond effectively.
Data Awareness
It’s nearly impossible to know what specific threats could actually cause harm without first understanding the nature and value of the data and security of the company or organization that is being targeted.
What should the ATP address?
- Stop ongoing attacks or mitigate threats before systems are compromised.
- Interrupt the attack lifecycle so that the threat cannot progress or continue.
- Interfere with ongoing activities or measures already in place as a result of the compromise.
Benefits of Advanced Threat Protection Software and Services
Advanced Threat Protection Services build on this advantage, providing access to a global community of security experts dedicated to monitoring, tracking, and sharing information about newly identified threat groups.
ATP service providers typically access a global threat intelligence sharing network to augment their own threat intelligence and analysis with third-party intelligence.
As new advanced threats are detected, ATP service providers can update defenses to ensure that protection remains. These global community efforts play an important role in keeping businesses safe around the world.
Organizations that implement advanced threat protection can detect threats earlier and formulate responses more quickly to minimize damage and recover from attacks.
A good security vendor looks at the attack lifecycle and manages threats in real-time. ATP providers notify organizations of attacks that have occurred, the severity of the attack, and the response initiated to stop the threat or minimize data loss.
ATP solutions, whether managed internally or delivered as a service, are critical regardless of where the attack originates or how serious the attack or potential attack is. Protect your data and systems.
What Makes a Threat “Advanced?”
Threats can be classified with this label for a variety of reasons. For example, threats can occur when:
- Perpetrators have unlimited resources or tools to carry out attacks and maintain access to networks.
- Attackers always have access to funds to customize attacks as needed.
- Attacks are designed to target specific organizations.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) are attack groups that allow attackers to gain covert access and gain a foothold in an organization's network where they can remain undetected for long periods of time.
APTs often target specific companies and use sophisticated malware that can bypass or circumvent common security measures. These are sophisticated attacks that must be repelled with equally sophisticated defenses.
Once attackers gain access to a target's network, typically through credential phishing attacks or malware, they can access everything from corporate data to private conversations and other sensitive information. If undetected for weeks, months, or even years, they can collect vast amounts of data that can be used for malicious purposes.
Here in this article, a group of modern cybersecurity threats is demonstrated.
What are the Most Common Advanced Attack Methods?
Advanced attacks almost always share some core techniques to get where the attacker wants to go. The most common of these are:
Phishing:
It tricks users into following links from apparently trusted sources to access company credentials and information. This is the most common method for APT attackers to gain access to internal networks.
Malware:
Cyber attackers can gain access to your network to dig deeper, monitor activity, and gather corporate data once they have malware installed on your system. That is primarily delivered by phishing.
Cracking Passwords:
Attackers can gain administrative access and take over the network at will if they could crack your passwords.
Backdooring the System:
This ensures that an attacker has a route back into your network if they need to leave.
Protect your Company against Unknown Malware and Viruses
At CyberTalents, we offer Advanced Threat Protection services for your organization to help you detect and respond to security threats. Contact us now to learn more!
Read more articles:
Types of Cybersecurity Threats, and How to avoid them?
9 Tips to Help You Reduce Cyber Threats for Your Healthcare Entity
A Quick Guide to Cybersecurity Incidents and How to Avoid Them?