Turn the Tables on Network Attackers: The Art of Effective Honeypots
There's a common saying in cybersecurity, that the defender needs to get everything right, while the attacker only needs to get one thing right. However, in today's sophisticated digital landscape, this adage is due for an update.
Nowadays we instead speak of the concept of the cyber-kill chain. A successful breach isn't a matter of one lucky strike; rather, it's a series of calculated steps an attacker must get right, from reconnaissance to data exfiltration. Often, especially when it comes to cyber-crime, it is not even one singular attacker but different groups who specialise in each step of the attack.
It's during the first phase, the reconnaissance, that the defender - you - have a clear and natural advantage. You may not know every little part of the network, but compared to an attacker, you're practically a tour guide.
So how do we make the most of this familiarity? You could consider Network Security Monitoring (NSM). Open-source tools such as Snort and Zeek provide this capability. They provide visibility on what is happening, on your side, the inside, of the network. And they are great tools which can detect and stop a lot of bad things. Yet, despite their merits, these tools are far from plug-and-play solutions. They demand a steep learning curve for setup, require ongoing maintenance, and tuning them to be sensitive enough, while still catching bad actors is hard or impossible.
Now, let's consider an alternative strategy, borrowing a page from the book of seasoned hunters. Hunting, in the traditional sense, can be an exhausting endeavour requiring constant vigilance and quick reflexes. The same can be said about active network monitoring. However, hunters discovered long ago a more energy-efficient method - setting traps. In the world of cybersecurity, you can apply a similar tactic by setting up your own trap, a digital snare known as a honeypot. This approach allows you to switch from active hunting to patient waiting, saving resources and increasing efficiency.
The honeypot strategy is particularly effective at reducing false-positives. Your existing users, like Bob from accounting and Linda from HR, already know their way around the network. They know where to find what they need and are unlikely to stumble into the honeypot.
But an intruder who stumbles upon an outdated Windows file server? In the world of cyber-attacks, especially in the case of ransomware, gaining Domain Admin access is one of the primary goals. And what easier way to achieve this than by trying to use what looks like a dusty old windows server, which lack modern protections and are sometimes even too important to patch.
When the attacker decides to engage with this server, the honeypot, the alarms sound. For instance, you get a notification that Mike from Marketing is attempting to log in over RDP - a task far outside his usual job description. This is a high-quality signal that something might be seriously amiss, while it might be an innocuous mistake, it is not something automated which has accidentally tripped some old NSM rule.
Keep in mind, a honeypot is just one layer in your defensive stack. Think of it as the hidden tomb trap in the labyrinth of your digital pyramid - a silent, unobtrusive element that springs into action when an intruder, thinking they've found treasure, stumbles upon it.
If you don't already have a honeypot incorporated in your network security, it's time to consider adding one, or 10 (*hint* our starter plan includes up to 10 *hint*).
The charm of a honeypot is its ease of use. Installation is quick and straightforward, it's ready in mere minutes. And once deployed? They require no maintenance. This contrasts sharply with many other security tools where the real labour begins after installation.
With a honeypot, you can relax knowing that an additional layer of defence is quietly doing its job. Upgrade your layered defence strategy, bolster your network security, and let this silent guardian work its magic. Contact us today to secure your digital pyramid against potential tomb raiders.
