With so much happening digitally so quickly, securing your network is more important than ever. The cyber attacks are changing so quickly, that it is no longer enough to ensure just the perimeter. However, defenses are often breached, and the attackers slip within your network. That is when the lateral movement detection system comes into play. If you’re curious about how to detect lateral movement on the network and using Darktrace, keep reading!
In this blog, we explain the lateral movement, how it affects network security, and how to use Darktrace to detect it. We will also discuss lateral movement detection, the capabilities of Darktrace’s network monitoring, and how NDR is integral to preventing and detecting network breaches.
What is Lateral Movement Detection in Cybersecurity?
Lateral movement refers to the technique cybercriminals use to move through an organization’s network after they have gained an initial foothold. An attacker once compromised a part of your network, will attempt to make a lateral movement across the system. Because they’ll be looking for sensitive information or other ways to compromise the network.
Moreover, attackers normally use lateral movement as it gives them more systems to access, more data to collect, and an opportunity to escalate the privileges they already possess. It is thus a large threat to network security. So preventing serious damage to your systems is key, and that means being able to detect lateral movement early.
Why is Lateral Movement Detection So Important?
However, managing all of the lateral movement is critical, because it reveals hidden threats in your network. Therefore, too often attackers spend hours or days moving laterally before executing their final attack. In other words, when malicious activity is noticed there may be nothing that can be done about it. Early detection allows you to stop the attack well ahead of time when it’s too late to stop widespread damage.
Moreover, lateral movement detections give organizations the ability to identify malnourished patterns and isolate compromised parts of the network before new breaches take place. So the more you are aware of these movements the sooner you can take action to minimize the impact on your network.
How Does Darktrace Help In Lateral Movement Detection?
Our Darktrace, an elite cybersecurity platform uses Artificial Intelligence to monitor and protect your network. However, unlike typical security systems, Darktrace’s network monitoring capabilities are specifically meant to detect the more subtle signs of lateral movement.
Here’s how Darktrace can help you detect lateral movement:
1. AI-Powered Network Monitoring
Machine learning is how Darktrace understands the normal behavior of every device and user on your network. Once it establishes what’s “normal,” it can spot any unusual activity, including lateral movement.
For example, if an attacker gets access to a device that now begins to scan the network or move data across it, Darktrace will detect this as abnormal.
Moreover, Darktrace can quickly identify even the most sophisticated lateral movement tactics from the activities of your network continuously.
2. Visualization and detection of threat
With Darktrace, you know all the details about possible network activities, getting visualizations down to the last device and user. So that means you can easily spot something fishy, like a strange connection between two systems or a device trying to get into a file it shouldn’t be.
3. Real-Time Alerts
The AI engine that Darktrace uses continuously monitors your network and immediately raises alerts for suspicious lateral movement. So you don’t have to wait around for hours or days to find out an attacker is going laterally through your network. So what that means is you get instant notifications so you can immediately act against and isolate the threat.
4. Automated Threat Response
Darktrace’s one unique feature is its settlement to the action. Darktrace can automatically respond if lateral movement is detected. But how does it act? However, it isolates compromised devices, closing off unauthorized connections and blocking further moves throughout the network. Thus, it reduces opportunities for attackers and reduces damage.
Understanding the Role of NDR in Lateral Movement Detection
NDR is a crucial component of your network security overall strategy. So this threat detection with a real-time response lets you detect suspicious activities including lateral movement and act immediately to stop them.
Here’s why NDR is so essential in lateral movement detection:
Continuous Monitoring: Darktrace’s NDR systems offer 24/7 monitoring to stop attackers from making a stealthy move across your network without being detected.
Behavioral Analytics: Advanced analytics are used in building the profiles of normal network behavior that are possible with NDR solutions. However, when any deviation occurs from this baseline, alerts are triggered, so you can see the lateral movement unfold before it gets out of control.
Automated Response: As discussed earlier, Darktrace’s AI can take action automatically when it detects lateral movement. This reduces response time and minimizes the impact of an attack.
NDR brings detection and automated response together to stop attackers from successfully infiltrating your network, even if they successfully move laterally.
Best Practices for Darktrace Lateral Movement Detection
Now that you understand how Darktrace can help detect lateral movement, here are some best practices for using the platform effectively:
1. Train Darktrace with Your Network’s Behavior
The more Darktrace learns your network, the better it gets at spotting strange things. So set up Darktrace and spend time configuring it to learn what normal activity looks like on your devices and users. The more data it has the more accurate it can determine lateral movement patterns.
2. Set Up Custom Alerts
Darktrace has default alerts but you can customize this for lateral movement detection. Have alerts set up that tell you when devices or users begin doing things that are usually part of lateral movement like trying to gain access to systems or data they should not have.
3. Monitor User Patterns in Behavior
Darktrace not only tracks device activity, it also tracks user behavior. But what that means is if an attacker gains access to an employee’s credentials and starts moving laterally. Darktrace can still see this unusual behavior even if it’s being performed by a traditional user.
4. Analyze Detected Incidents in Detail
One thing I recommend when you are seeing lateral movement within Darktrace is to invest in that incident. If they report everything they can find about how the attacker moved through your network. However, the more you know about the threat, the better you can take steps to prevent further attacks in the future.
5. Test the System Regularly
It is very important to simulate cyber attack drills regularly to ensure Darktrace is detecting lateral movement effectively, alongside testing the system’s ability to detect and respond to these lateral movements.
Hence, this will give you an idea of any holes in your network security and make sure Darktrace is setting up your needs the right way.
Conclusion
Lateral movement poses a serious threat to your network, but with Darktrace’s AI-powered network monitoring and NDR, you can detect it early and respond swiftly. Moreover, Darktrace is trained to know your network and set up custom alerts. So if you’re constantly monitoring user and device activity, you could stay ahead of cybercriminals.
Hence, lateral movement detection using Darktrace not only strengthens your network security but also provides your organization. So, start using Darktrace today to detect lateral movement because the earlier you detect a threat, the better!
