How to Prepare for Cyber Attack Using The Models of Cyber Security
There are many cyber attacks prevalent today, so many in fact that it can be challenging and overwhelming to be aware of and prepare for them all. Every year brings new and unknown cyber threats, and the year 2023 is set to be no different as various trends are expected to emerge. The shifting working culture of remote working from home, as well as the spread of the internet of things, means that there are more opportunities than ever for complacent security measures to be breached, resulting in a lot of stress and a lot of expense. The more devices are connected together, the more windows exist for attackers to break in and cause damage. There is even an increased risk of international state sponsored attackers targeting both businesses and governments over the next year, as more than 70 countries are due to hold governmental elections, making it the perfect time for an attack by hostile foreign entities.
With so many threats on the horizon, businesses of all kinds and sizes are preparing their plans for action in an attempt to protect themselves from cyber attack. It’s naïve to think that anyone is beyond the reach of an attacker, that there is no point in making the necessary preparations. The question is, are you prepared?
In this article, we will learn more about intrusion analysis, a process of determining the sequence of attack in order to expose any weaknesses and vulnerabilities with the goal of strengthening a business’s defences. We will learn about the three main models of intrusion analysis so that you can do all you can to prepare and protect your business and its future in this age of deadly cyberthreats.
The Use of Professional Working Models
The concept of using a working conceptual model as a professional is not unique to the field of cyber security. Medical professionals rely on working models in order to describe and explain how a disease can be identifies, observed and differentiated. Mental health professionals use models to assess and care for patients in a way that will benefit them the most. These working model provide a basis for threats and solutions, adapting as time progress and situations change. They help professionals to see the bigger picture, and see smaller details in context.
The same principle applies to the working models used in cyber security.
Working Models in the Field of Cyber Security
Cyber security models help cyber security professionals to profile how attacks are perpetrated and how best to put security controls in place. Cyber security experts use three common models in order to understand what is referred to as the hacker lifecycle and these models are used in many different ways, from AI to other technology. The three main models of cyber security are as follows:
- The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis
- The Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain
- The MITRE ATT&CK Model
We will now take a deeper look into these three main security models that help professions to investigate intrusions.
1. The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis
The diamond model first appeared as early as 2006, when Sergio Caltagirone, Andrew Pendergrast and Christopher Beltz developed it, before it was published in 2013. The idea was formulated with the goal of focusing on specific hacker behaviours in order to come up with a model that allowed professionals to make the link between the victim, the technology used to lead the attack and the hackers motivations behind it. This model gets its name from the way it features four main events that make up a quadrant, coming together to form a diamond shape. The four quadrants of the diamond describe four core features, namely the adversary (the attacker), the infrastructure (such as email addresses or domain names), the capabilities (what the attacker can do), and the victim (such as people, assets or information).
2. The Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain.
This model has been around the longest and proved its value over a considerable amount of time. The Lockheed model specifies, seven linear steps that an attacker takes during an intrusion: reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control, and finally actions on objectives. While the logical, linear nature of this model is of benefit in drilling down to the specific steps of an attack, it can be a challenge as it sometimes causes cyber security professional to come to a conclusion too hastily or not provide a fully comprehensive solution due to the simplification of the situation.
3. The MITRE ATT&CK Model
This model has grown in popularity over the last few years and is now found in software applications of all kinds. The steps that a hacker takes are viewed in a larger context with the help of this model, creating mapping of tactics and procedures for each of the 10 steps outlined in the model.
Choosing the Model for You to Protect Yourself From Cyber Attack
The truth is that there is no one cyber security model that is superior to the others. They each bring their own benefits and drawbacks, their own pros and cons. The choice is yours, and it depends on the needs you have to be filled by a cyber security model in the first place. With the help of a cyber security professional, you can be assured that the model they choose will be the best for you and your businesses, to protect you from the inevitable attack from a cyber threat.
Become the Hacker to Beat the Hacker
The benefits to the hacker lifecycle models is that it allows experts to think like a hacker, to anticipate their next steps, and to act in order to prevent the damage they will cause. Knowledge is power, and knowledge over hackers tactics will prove to be the power you need to protect you, your business and your reputation as the scene of cyber threats heats up over the coming months.