Traditional security solutions are frequently insufficient in today’s quickly changing threat landscape to defend enterprises against sophisticated cyberattacks. As hackers continue to innovate and find new ways to exploit weaknesses, enterprises must implement increasingly complex security measures. One such method is behavior-based threat detection.
BBD represents a paradigm shift in cybersecurity, emphasizing the analysis of system, application, and process behavior to detect potential risks. Unlike typical antivirus software, which is based on known malware signatures, BBD can detect unexpected threats by detecting irregularities in system activity.
This blog will go into the complexities of BBD, investigating its essential features, benefits, and effective implementation. We’ll also talk about the role of endpoint detection and response (EDR) with BBD and compare it to traditional antivirus solutions. Understanding the benefits of BBD and its vital role in modern cybersecurity allows enterprises to make more educated security decisions and protect themselves from potential threats.
One cybersecurity strategy that keeps an eye out for odd or suspect activities is behavior-based threat detection.
Behavior-based threat detection is a proactive cybersecurity technique that detects and prevents threats by studying systems, applications, and process behavior. Unlike standard antivirus software, which is based on known malware fingerprints, behavior-based detection can detect new threats by analyzing irregularities in system activity.
This method uses machine learning algorithms to understand regular behavior patterns and identify variations that could signal malicious activity. It can recognize anomalies that can point to a security compromise by understanding the typical patterns of behavior. By continuously monitoring system activity, behavior-based detection can provide early warnings of possible dangers and assist companies in responding rapidly to problems.
For example, if an application typically connects to the same endpoints and runs a particular process, any abrupt changes may raise red flags.
An attacker could use a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability to get unauthorized access and change how the program functions. By spotting odd activity, such as connections to new endpoints or the execution of unexpected programs, behavior-based threat detection can spot these abnormalities. Security teams can analyze and neutralize the threat before it does major harm by sounding the alarm and providing context.
While behavior-based detection has many advantages, it’s crucial to remember that it can sometimes produce false positives. Careful construction and training of machine learning models can assist reduce false positives and ensure accurate threat detection.
The working of Behavior-Based Threat Detection has 4 steps that are mentioned below:
Baseline Establishment: By looking for patterns and trends in past data, BBD creates a baseline of typical behavior.
Anomaly detection: To identify deviations from the predetermined baseline, advanced methods, and algorithms are being used.
Analysis and Correlation: To spot possible risks, detected abnormalities are compared to other security occurrences.
Incident Response: To address identified threats quickly and efficiently, a strong incident response plan is put into place.
Comparing BBTD to conventional security techniques reveals numerous noteworthy benefits. A few of them are listed below:
Legacy antivirus (AV) software is a type of classic security software used to identify and prevent malware attacks. It mostly uses signature-based detection, which entails comparing files to known malware signatures stored in a database.
It is critical to note that legacy antivirus has limitations such as:
Signature-Based Detection: Uses out-of-date signatures that may not detect new and developing threats.
Reactive Approach: Due to long update cycles, the reactive approach limits the ability to respond to threats in real time.
On-Premises Deployment: Requires extensive installation and maintenance, raising operational costs.
Resource-intensive: Heavy resource consumption might have a negative influence on endpoint performance.
To assist you in making an informed decision, we’ve identified crucial aspects that will help you select the best option for your needs.
Determine the types of dangers that your firm confronts. If you’re dealing with advanced threats such as ransomware or zero-day exploits, BBD is probably a better option.
Think about your organization’s IT budget and resources. In comparison to classic AV, BBTD may require less ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Make sure the BBD solution you choose can work flawlessly with your current security architecture.
Look for a provider who can help you adapt and manage the BBD system efficiently.
Thus, integrating behavior-based threat detection (BBD) with existing antivirus (AV) systems can result in a more complete and effective security posture.
No security is guaranteed, not even by the finest preventive measures. A breach can still happen despite our best efforts. That’s when behavior-based defense steps in as an essential barrier. Even in situations where prevention fails, it provides the speed and precision required to halt attackers in their tracks. Behavior-based threat detection is a vital tool for today’s enterprises, even if it’s only one component of a multifaceted security plan.
Yogesh Yagnik is the Sr. VP Information Security and Data Protection Officer at Anunta. With over three decades in the industry, he has diverse experience in Information Technology, Information Security, Infrastructure Technology Services, and Project Management across industry verticals and geographies.