Infiltrators Precisely Belong to the Category of Internal Security Risks
In the Shifting Landscape of Cybersecurity: The Emergence of Identity-Oriented Managed Security
As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated and frequent, external threats are no longer solely an issue of breaching endpoint devices. Today, hackers and attackers are increasingly exploiting identities rather than just targeting devices. This has led to the rise of identity-oriented managed security, a significant evolution in the Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) model.
The Ascendancy of Identity-Based Attacks
Traditional endpoint security primarily focuses on protecting individual devices, whether laptops, desktops, or mobile phones, by installing agents that monitor for and prevent malicious activity. However, not all endpoint devices can have security agents installed, and this gap is where attackers have found an opportunity.
Many of today's most damaging attacks are identity-driven, using stolen credentials as their primary means of attack. Breaches facilitated by infostealers and Account Takeovers (ATO) are on the rise. These breaches are often exacerbated by the manipulation of customer-owned equipment (CPE), such as VPNs and RDP services, as well as third-party managed services that are often less secure.
The significant shift here is that identities are now a primary attack surface. Hackers no longer need to breach a physical device if they can exploit the identity that accesses it. Once they gain control of a user's credentials - through phishing, credential theft, or infostealers - they can navigate the network, mimicking legitimate users and causing havoc.
What makes this issue more concerning is that attackers who want credentials to attack a network do not even need to know how to go after those credentials themselves. There are numerous illicit online markets where a group of criminals, often referred to as Initial Access Brokers (IABs), actively trade stolen credentials with anyone willing to pay for them.
The Gap: Endpoint-Orientated vs. Identity-Orientated Security
The distinction between endpoint-orientated security and identity-orientated security is essential. Endpoint-orientated security relies on monitoring devices directly and installing agents to detect threats. However, not all devices or cloud-based services, especially SaaS applications, allow for the installation of such agents.
Identity-orientated security, on the other hand, focuses on monitoring and protecting the identity profiles that users - and attackers - need to access these devices and services. Every action associated with an identity, whether it's accessing a system, application, or dataset, leaves a trail. By analyzing this trail, identity-orientated managed security can detect abnormal behavior and potential misuse, even in environments where traditional endpoint monitoring falls short.
Fortifying the Defense: The Need for Identity-Based Security
This evolution towards identity-focused security has been largely overlooked by traditional Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers, who are restricted to monitoring endpoints that have agents installed. Similarly, many MSSPs have primarily focused on managed endpoint solutions. As attacks increasingly target the identities behind these endpoints, these conventional approaches are becoming less effective.
Hackers have become more sophisticated, frequently exploiting identity-based vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, misconfigured access, or stolen credentials. In light of this, a stronger focus on securing identities, rather than just endpoints, is critical in the battle against insider threats and external attackers.
The Guiding Hand of CISOs in Identity-Oriented Security
The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) remains the key decision-maker in this new era of managed security. While identity governance and management traditionally fall under the CIO's responsibilities, the monitoring and security of identity misuse is firmly within the CISO's domain. Identity-orientated security provides CISOs with the visibility they need to track who is accessing their systems, detect potential abuse, and enforce security policies effectively.
For CISOs, identity-orientated security is not just a trend; it's a necessary evolution in their strategy to defend against an expanding range of insider and external threats.
A New Era for Modern MSSPs
As identity becomes the new frontline in cybersecurity, identity-orientated managed security presents an opportunity for MSSPs to provide a more comprehensive defense solution. Monitoring identity access and behavior across devices and services - whether physical or cloud-based - is essential in preventing attackers from abusing credentials to bypass traditional endpoint protections.
Leading the Charge: A Pioneering MSSP in Identity-Orientated Security
At the forefront of this evolution is a MSSP that has recognized the limitations of endpoint-only security. This pioneering provider has embraced a comprehensive, identity-oriented managed security strategy that offers businesses enhanced visibility and control over the identities accessing their systems. With identity theft and Account Takeover (ATO) attacks on the rise, this MSSP offers businesses a robust solution to protect against this growing threat.
In the end, identity is the new attack surface - and this pioneering MSSP is here to help you secure it.
- The increasing number of identity-based attacks, such as infostealers and Account Takeovers, emphasizes the need for a shift from traditional endpoint security to an identity-orientated approach, which focuses on monitoring and protecting identity profiles.
- As cybercriminals become more adept at exploiting identity-based vulnerabilities, it is essential for businesses to seek the expertise of a Managed Security Service Provider that offers identity-orientated security solutions, empowering Chief Information Security Officers with the necessary visibility and control to combat both insider and external threats, while securing the new attack surface: identity.
