In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are a formidable league of cyber actors with unparalleled sophistication, resources, and expertise capable of breaching the most fortified defenses.
APTs pose a serious risk to organizations of all sizes and sectors. To respond to this growing threat, businesses must understand APTs, who they target, their goals, and adopt a multi-layered approach to keep them at bay.
Understanding Advanced Persistent Threats
APTs are often highly skilled and highly funded cyber adversaries. They can be a small group of sophisticated cybercriminals or an organized crime syndicate. However, what is becoming more prevalent is these attackers are state-sponsored government entities, making them incredibly dangerous, as they would have vast resources and ample state funding.
APTs are often more nuanced and distinguishable from traditional attacks. Their intent is to remain undetected within a targeted network for extended periods, enabling them to extract valuable information, disrupt operations, and cause significant damage without raising alarms. These attacks often employ a combination of social engineering, sophisticated malware, and advanced cyber tactics to achieve their objectives.
The Rise of Advanced Persistent Threats
More and more of our geopolitical adversaries around the world are seeing the benefit of targeting American enterprises. Our businesses and government organizations have become lucrative targets as most of these operations have moved online. It’s no surprise these countries are allocating vast resources to undermine our cyber integrity. Here are some examples of APT attacks:
Russian Cyber Attacks
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there was a noticeable increase in cyber attacks targeting American entities. The geopolitical tensions and economic implications surrounding the crisis provided fertile ground for APT groups associated with the Russian government to launch aggressive and sophisticated cyber campaigns. Russia will remain one our biggest adversaries, as they have vast cyber espionage networks and a core focus on undermining American network infrastructure.
SolarWinds Cyber Breach
An example of an APT attack that impacted an American business is the SolarWinds cyber breach that was discovered in late 2020. A sophisticated cyber espionage campaign was uncovered after lasting upwards of 14 months undetected. Once the cyber group gained access to SolarWinds’ Orion network management software, they stole information from over 30,000 organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, as well as state, local, and federal agencies.
North Korea Attempts a Billion-Dollar Heist
In February 2016, North Korea nearly pulled off a billion-dollar heist after targeting Bangladesh Bank whose dollar reserves were tied to the New York Federal Reserve. The North Korean operative group known as Lazarus infiltrated Bangladesh Bank a year earlier through a phishing email, secretly stealing information and waiting for the perfect time to attack.
Masquerading as Bangladesh Bank employees, the hackers attempted to withdraw $951 million from the bank and transfer it to various bank accounts. However, the transaction was flagged by Federal Reserve, stopping most of the theft, but not all. The secret group successfully stole over $81 million in the process, making it one of the largest and most successful heists in history.
Protecting Your Business Against Advanced Persistent Threats
Defending against APTs requires a multi-layered and proactive approach. These cybercriminals are often quite skilled in their craft and employ sophisticated tactics to undermine your network. Here are some essential strategies for businesses to protect themselves from APT attacks:
- Educate Employees: Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Regular training on recognizing phishing attempts, social engineering tactics, and best security practices is vital to create a security-conscious workforce.
- Report Suspicious Content: Whether it’s an email from an unfamiliar source or a link posted on an open forum, if it looks suspicious, trust your gut, and report it to your IT department for review. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, considering the damage these attacks can cause are enormous.
- Implement Strong Access Controls: Limit access to sensitive data and critical systems to only authorized personnel. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to bolster authentication measures and protect against unauthorized access.
- Segment Networks: Segment your network to isolate critical assets from less essential parts of your infrastructure. Multiple networks help contain potential breaches and limits lateral movement for attackers.
- Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: Employ advanced threat detection solutions that can analyze network traffic, user behavior, and system activity in real-time to identify suspicious patterns and potential APT activity.
- Thorough Incident Response Planning: Develop a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines the steps to take in case of a security breach. Regularly test and update the plan to ensure its effectiveness and confirm employees understand the protocol.
- Collaborate with Government and Industry Partners: Engage with government agencies, cybersecurity professionals, and threat intelligence platforms to stay informed about emerging threats and enhance your organization’s threat awareness.
APTs present a formidable challenge for businesses and government entities alike. These cyber adversaries are only going to become more sophisticated and more popular among our geopolitical opponents. By understanding the issue, educating employees about the risks, and partnering with a trusted security provider, businesses can strengthen their defenses and mitigate the risk of falling victim to these persistent threats.
Vector Security Networks is here to ensure your businesses is protected against the latest cybersecurity threats. For more information on how we can keep your business secure, contact us today.
