proactively and iteratively discover threat

Threat hunting is a proactive security approach where experts actively search for signs of malicious activities in an environment that automated security solutions might have missed such as firewalls and antivirus software. It involves using a combination of human expertise and technology to proactively investigate potential security incidents and identify any signs of a breach or compromise.

Threat hunting can take many different forms, but it often involves analyzing system logs, network traffic, and other sources of data to look for unusual activity or patterns that could indicate a security threat. It may also involve conducting targeted searches for specific types of threats, such as advanced persistent threats (APTs) or insider threats.

The goal of threat hunting is to identify and neutralize security threats before they can cause serious damage to an organization's systems or data. By proactively searching for threats, organizations can improve their overall security posture and reduce the risk of a successful cyberattack.

Key features include:

• Proactive: Instead of waiting for automated alerts or relying solely on tools, threat hunters actively seek out the subtle signs of a breach.
• Use of Intelligence: Threat hunters use threat intelligence, analytics, and other resources to identify patterns and anomalies.
• TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures): A deep understanding of TTPs used by adversaries allows threat hunters to predict and identify malicious activities.
• Hypothesis-Driven: Hunters often begin with a hypothesis about what might be occurring and then use data analysis to prove or disprove that hypothesis.

Benefits:

• Proactive Defense: Threat hunting provides an active and proactive approach to cybersecurity.
• Early Threat Detection: Advanced hunting techniques allow early detection of potential threats before they cause significant damage.
• Expert Analysis: Leveraging the expertise of threat hunting professionals enhances an organization's ability to detect sophisticated threats.
• Continuous Improvement: Regular threat hunting contributes to continuous security improvement.

MSS vs. Threat Hunting:

While both MSS and threat hunting aim to protect an organization from security threats, the key difference lies in their approach. MSS is more reactive and tool-driven, providing a foundational layer of security operations and responding to detected threats. On the other hand, threat hunting is a proactive endeavor, where experts actively seek out the signs of compromise, aiming to identify stealthy or new threats that might not trigger traditional security alerts.