What is Advanced Threat Protection ?

Cybercriminals are constantly learning and evolving and cyberattacks get more sophisticated each day security technology has advanced to keep pace and anticipate risks and threats that be a threat to businesses or governments as well as other organisations. However, even with security technology that can anticipate the actions of criminals but new and undiscovered attacks could still happen, particularly in the absence of adequate security measures in place.

Advanced threat prevention (ATP) is defined as a variety of security products that guard against sophisticated malware and cyberattacks which target sensitive information. ATP technology helps an organization adapt to the constantly changing strategies used by cybercriminals to better prepare for costly security breach.

What is it that makes an attack “advanced?”

An attack or threat is considered to be advanced if attackers have access to unlimited sources of resources, or the tools required to execute the attack and remain connected to a network, and have access to ongoing funding to alter the attack when required, or if the attack was specifically designed to target a particular organization in addition to other circumstances.

To be able to defend against threats of a higher level It is essential to know the nature of these threats and how they affect your company.

A persistent and advanced security threat (APT) is an attack that occurs when an unauthorised individual or group gains access to the network of an organization and is able to remain unnoticed for a long period of time. APT attacks are typically planned and targeted to attack specific companies and utilize malware that allows them to bypass security measures that are commonly used. They are an excellent example of an attack that is malicious and requires sophisticated security technologies to deter and reduce.

After the attacker is able to access the network, usually through through phishing or installing malicious software, the attacker are able to look over company files, communications as well as other data that is considered to be sensitive. In the absence of detection for a long duration of time, which can range from a few weeks to months years in certain cases attackers can collect massive amounts of information from the company that can be used for various criminal purposes.

Which are the top popular methods of advanced attack on security?
  • Phishing by sending links to an untrustworthy website to obtain corporate credentials or other information can be the most commonly used method for hackers using APT in order to access internal networks.
  • Installation of malware after access is granted, allows cybercriminals to penetrate into networks, track the activity and collect information.
  • Cracking passwords allows attackers to gain administrative access as well as enjoy access to the internet without restriction.
  • The creation of a backdoor guarantees that hackers can gain access back to the network.

In spite of the fact that around 2/3 of world’s medium and small-sized companies are currently battling cyberattacks, nearly 45% of businesses still feel their cybersecurity are “ineffective.” 39% don’t have an incident response strategy in place Ponemon Institute The cost for a financial breach of the data breach is $3.86m IBM

What can you do to defend yourself against advanced threat?

While certain industries and companies are bigger and more lucrative victims of advanced security threats, all businesses must be aware of preventative steps they can take when these attacks increase in frequency.

The ATP landscape is changing as cyber-attacks become more sophisticated. Protection through sandboxing that scans for the suspicious file, is essential for ATP however, this technology was traditionally kept in old hardware within the data center. It doesn’t safeguard an ever-growing remote workforce.

In addition the file that is suspicious will typically be scrutinized by using TAP mode which implies that it gets pulled into the sandbox to test before being transmitted to the person who will receive it. If the sandbox detects danger, it issues an alert. However, the alert could arrive too late, once the damage is already done. In addition, over half of all malware in the world today is transmitted via secure SSL channels, however the limitations of budget and performance make it difficult for many organizations to detect the vulnerabilities until it’s late.

The cloud-based security solution can provide additional levels of ATP by safeguarding every employee, both onsite as well as remotely. In contrast to working using TAP Mode, Cloud Sandbox operates inline, which means that a thorough examination of all data traffic in the network of an organization, including SSL takes place prior to any suspicious files are forwarded.

Continuously on, zero-day protection, ransomware defense and increased real-time insight into malware’s behavior can provide additional protection. A complete security solution should be able stop well-known threats, offer real-time protection of zero-day attacks, and utilize predictive technology to help safeguard your company from evolving and new threats.

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) Services Providers List:

  • zscaler
  • digitalguardian
  • proofpoint