When threats like those posed by the Hafnium hackers become reality, Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is essential to protecting your business. You may remember the recent, global Microsoft cyberattack leveraged by the Hafnium hacker group, which we detailed on our blog. Businesses that had managed detection and response services in place, like those offered by Locknet® Managed IT, were able to swiftly apply the required Microsoft patches that resolved multiple common vulnerability exposures. In addition, we were able to run numerous checks for our clients against exchange servers to ensure no indicators of compromise existed, as well as the presence of webshell attacks on the affected servers. In fact, our MDR platform was one of the first responders to offer further investigation and guidance to the Information Security community in response to this large-scale attack.
But what exactly is MDR? And how does it protect your network and your business from attack? Let's take a closer look.
Network threats are never off the clock, and today more than ever businesses need round-the-clock protection and defense. While traditional IT security tools like anti-virus and firewall play an important role when stopping cybercriminals from breaking in, hackers are finding other innovative ways to bypass these systems so they can camp out and lurk inside of your network, otherwise known as gaining a “foothold”. Some hide out to capture sensitive information and others deploy malicious software such as ransomware. With ransomware strikes on the rise, businesses need to take a newer approach to safeguard their systems. Managed Detection and Response does just that. MDR is a monitoring and detection service designed to actively hunt, identify, investigate hard-to-detect threats and “quiet” indicators of compromise that other tools miss. Locknet’s MDR enables you to find and stop hidden threats that sneak past preventive security tools. By focusing on a specific set of attack surfaces, vulnerabilities, and exploits, our platform helps organizations protect their networks from persistent footholds, ransomware, and other attacks.
Traditional security solutions often focus on prevention methods, which are great, and you need to have them. However, the bad guys are very aware of the prevention security methods and can find ways to circumvent this defensive strategy. This is where detection security tactics come in to play and MDR is one of the first solutions you should consider to strengthen your security stack. Locknet’s MDR works in 3 steps:
Detection: Expose attackers who abuse legitimate Windows applications and processes to bypass other security systems and establish persistence.
Analyze: Receive and process custom incident reports that combine automated intelligence with human expertise to understand the scope and severity of potential threats.
Respond: Eliminate hackers who are dwelling in your protected environments, with one-click execution of automated actions and step-by-step guidelines to harden your security and reduce future risk.
Typically, Managed Detection and Response services are outsourced to a network security provider like Locknet. As cyberattacks and threats grow in number and sophistication minute by minute, having the right cyber defense is a non-negotiable for businesses of all scopes and sizes.
The threat of attack on your network has never been more real or imminent. Managed Detection and Response services are an essential extension of your organization's cybersecurity strategy, to protect your data and that of those you serve. With our unique combination of automated detection and human-powered threat hunting, even sophisticated attackers won’t stand a chance against your defenses. Ready to learn more? Contact us; our experts can help clarify the many benefits of Managed Detection and Response for your organization.