In the world of cybersecurity, lateral movement is a technique used by hackers to move around a network in order to gain access to more systems and data. This can be done in a number of ways, such as using malware to exploit vulnerabilities or using social engineering techniques to get user credentials.
In this blog post, we will discuss lateral movement in more detail and provide tips on how you can protect your business from these attacks.
Lateral movement is a technique that has been used by hackers for many years. In the past, lateral movement was often done manually, which meant that it was time-consuming and required a lot of knowledge about the network and systems. However, with the rise of automation tools, lateral movement has become much easier and quicker to do. This has made it a popular technique among today’s cyber criminals.
There are a number of reasons why lateral movement is so attractive to hackers. Firstly, it allows them to gain access to more systems and data within a network. Secondly, lateral movement can help them avoid detection by security tools, as they are able to move around undetected. And finally, lateral movement gives hackers the ability to pivot to other systems, which can be used to launch further attacks.
So how can you protect your business from lateral movement attacks?
Here are some tips:
– Use strong authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication, for all users.
– Ensure that all systems and devices are up to date with the latest security patches.
– Implement a least privilege model, so that users only have access to the data and systems that they need.
– Use intrusion detection and prevention tools to monitor network activity for suspicious behaviour.
– Educate employees about lateral movement attacks and social engineering techniques, so that they can identify these threats.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your business from lateral movement attacks. However, it is important to remember that no security measure is 100% effective and that lateral movement is just one of the many techniques that hackers can use to gain access to systems and data. Therefore, it is important to have a comprehensive security strategy in place that includes multiple layers of defence.
What should you do if you think you’ve been targeted by a lateral movement attack?
If you think your business has been the victim of a lateral movement attack, then you should contact a cybersecurity professional immediately. They will be able to assess the situation and advise you on the best course of action.