Defending Against Hybrid Attackers: Top 3 Challenges
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- The Top Three Challenges Defending Against Hybrid Attackers
2.1 Increase in Tax Service for Organizations
2.2 Lack of Full Visibility
2.3 Analysts Believing They are Compromised
2.4 Analysts Worrying About Missing Events
2.5 Ignoring Alerts and False Positives
2.6 High Analyst Attrition Rate
2.7 Growing Attack Surface and Complexity
2.8 Dealing with Alert Noise
2.9 Shortage of Security Skills
2.10 Costly Identification and Response to Attacks
- Vectra's Approach to Solving the Challenges
3.1 Utilizing AI to Solve Different Problems
3.2 Detecting and Prioritizing Attacks with Accurate Signal and Speed
3.3 Reducing Gaps in Visibility
3.4 Investigating and Responding to Attacks
3.5 Vectra MDR and its Methodology
- Conclusion
- Additional Resources
- FAQs
Article: Defending Against Hybrid Attackers with Vectra MDR
Introduction
Welcome to part one of a four-part series called Vectra MDR in Action. In this series, we will address the top three challenges companies face when defending against hybrid attackers with the help of Vectra. In today's session, we will discuss these challenges, Vectra's approach to solving them, the Vectra MDR methodology, and additional resources available. So let's dive in and explore the world of defending against hybrid attackers.
The Top Three Challenges Defending Against Hybrid Attackers
- Increase in Tax Service for Organizations
According to a survey conducted by Vectra, 63% of companies reported a significant increase in their tax service over the past three years[^2.1]. This indicates a growing threat landscape and the need for robust defense mechanisms. Hybrid attackers are constantly finding new ways to infiltrate organizations, making it essential to stay one step ahead.
- Lack of Full Visibility
Another significant challenge faced by analysts is the lack of full visibility into their organization's network. About 70% of analysts admit to not having complete visibility due to various gaps in their systems[^2.2]. These gaps allow attackers to exploit vulnerabilities and go undetected for longer periods, increasing the risk of successful attacks.
- Analysts Believing They are Compromised
Approximately 71% of analysts believe that they are compromised in some way, indicating a distrust in their own security measures[^2.3]. This lack of confidence can hinder effective threat detection and response, as analysts might miss critical indicators of compromise due to skepticism or a Sense of being overwhelmed.
- Analysts Worrying About Missing Events
One of the major concerns for analysts is the fear of missing an event due to information overload. With 97% of analysts stating they worry about missing events because of the constant noise and flooding of alerts[^2.4], it becomes challenging to focus on significant threats. This overload often leads to alert fatigue, where analysts start to ignore alerts altogether, putting organizations at risk.
- Ignoring Alerts and False Positives
A staggering 60% of analysts admit to ignoring alerts, with 83% of them stating the reason as the abundance of false positives[^2.5]. False positives can be time-consuming to investigate and divert valuable resources from genuine threats. An effective defense system must minimize false positives and enable analysts to prioritize real threats effectively.
- High Analyst Attrition Rate
Due to the nature of the cybersecurity industry and the challenges faced by analysts, the attrition rate is exceptionally high. As per the survey, 67% of analysts have either left or are considering leaving their jobs due to the overwhelming workload and noise[^2.6]. This shortage of skilled analysts adds to the existing skills gap, leaving organizations vulnerable to attacks.
- Growing Attack Surface and Complexity
Attackers are continuously finding new ways to infiltrate organizations, expanding the attack surface and increasing complexity. This creates a significant challenge for defenders. With multiple entry points and attack vectors, it only takes one vulnerable door for an attacker to gain access to an organization's network[^2.7]. Organizations must be proactive in identifying and securing potential vulnerabilities.
- Dealing with Alert Noise
The deafening noise of alerts can hinder effective threat detection and response. Defenders often lack the necessary fidelity to prioritize critical alerts amidst the overwhelming noise[^2.8]. There is a need for advanced technologies that can separate genuine threats from false alarms and provide actionable insights for Timely response.
- Shortage of Security Skills
The shortage of skilled security professionals is a persistent challenge in the industry. As organizations struggle to find and retain talented individuals, there is a constant demand for experienced cybersecurity experts[^2.9]. This shortage further amplifies the risks organizations face, as they may not have the necessary expertise to detect and mitigate advanced threats effectively.
- Costly Identification and Response to Attacks
Identifying and responding to attacks can be a time-consuming and expensive process. With an average of 4,500 alerts to deal with per day[^2.10], security teams often struggle to prioritize and effectively address each incident. The cost of incident response, including investigation, remediation, and potential damage, adds to the overall impact on organizations' resources.
Vectra's Approach to Solving the Challenges
- Utilizing AI to Solve Different Problems
Vectra leverages the power of AI to address the various challenges faced by organizations. By developing custom AI models for different attack scenarios, Vectra can accurately detect and mitigate threats across multiple cloud and SAS solutions[^3.1]. The combination of proprietary analytics and real-time detection allows organizations to stay ahead of attackers.
- Detecting and Prioritizing Attacks with Accurate Signal and Speed
Vectra's goal is to prioritize detections and ensure accurate signal and speed at Scale. By unifying visibility for hybrid and multi-cloud attack surfaces, Vectra provides a holistic view of the entire network environment[^3.2]. This enables organizations to identify and prioritize attacks Based on their severity, allowing for swift and effective response.
- Reducing Gaps in Visibility
With the growing complexity of attack surfaces, reducing gaps in visibility is crucial. Vectra's platform enables organizations to access data from all environments, including identity, SAS, public cloud, network, and endpoint[^3.3]. By combining these sources of data, organizations can gain comprehensive insights into potential threats and eliminate blind spots.
- Investigating and Responding to Attacks
Vectra emphasizes the importance of effective investigation and response. The platform provides a user-friendly interface that allows analysts to quickly triage and investigate alerts, providing them with the necessary information to take immediate action[^3.4]. This reduces the time between detection and response, minimizing the impact of an attack.
- Vectra MDR and its Methodology
Vectra Managed Detection and Response (MDR) offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges of defending against hybrid attackers. With a 24/7 global team and a follow-the-sun model, Vectra ensures round-the-clock monitoring and response to potential threats[^3.5]. The MDR team consists of highly experienced specialists who can adapt the service to meet the specific needs of individual organizations.
Conclusion
Defending against hybrid attackers requires a proactive approach that addresses the challenges posed by an evolving threat landscape. Vectra's AI-powered platform, along with its MDR services, provides organizations with the necessary tools and expertise to detect, prioritize, and respond to threats effectively. By leveraging AI, reducing gaps in visibility, and empowering skilled analysts, organizations can protect their assets and proactively defend against hybrid attackers.
Additional Resources
For further information on Vectra's solutions and services, please visit our Website at vectra.ai. You can also reach out to our team via email at webinars@vectra.ai for any questions or inquiries regarding our webinars and solutions.
FAQs
Q: Does Vectra MDR have a US-only operational team?
A: Yes, Vectra MDR operates with a US-only team for organizations that have specific requirements in terms of managing, monitoring, and responding to their infrastructure[^6.1].
Q: How quickly can Vectra MDR become operational?
A: The deployment time for Vectra MDR may vary depending on various factors, such as configuration requirements and internal change management processes. While it can take a few days for some organizations, others with more complex environments may require a few weeks[^6.2].
Q: What is Vectra's approach to minimizing false positives?
A: Vectra's platform combines signatures with behavior-based threat detection to minimize false positives. By analyzing entities' activities across various data sources, Vectra ensures higher fidelity in threat detection and minimizes the chance of false alarms[^6.3].
Q: How does Vectra MDR address the shortage of security skills?
A: Vectra MDR provides a team of highly skilled analysts with an average of over 10 years of experience and relevant certifications. By outsourcing security operations to Vectra MDR, organizations can leverage this expertise without the challenges of recruitment and talent retention[^6.4].
Q: What is the AdVantage of Vectra MDR's global coverage?
A: Vectra MDR follows a global coverage model, allowing organizations to benefit from monitoring and response services around the clock. The follow-the-sun model ensures that there is always a team available to detect and respond to potential threats, regardless of the time zone[^6.5].