What Are Advanced Persistent Threats?

Many different cyber threats keep business owners awake at night. However, one cyber threat flies under most organizations’ radar even though most IT professionals have been ranking it as one of the top security issues for years, according to Cloud Adoption Practices & Priorities Survey Report. We’re talking about advanced persistent threats (APT).

Let’s look at what makes APTs so dangerous and how to protect your organization from them.

Table of Contents

What Are Advanced Persistent Threats?

APTs are defined as continuous and sophisticated hacking techniques whose purpose is to gain access to a system and remain inside for a prolonged time. To better understand APTs, it helps to break down the acronym into its parts.

Advanced

APTs are executed by highly skilled hackers who are familiar with the latest technology and have the ability to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities that have yet to gain the attention of less advanced hackers.

Persistent

Most cyberattacks are like flash floods. They leave just as quickly as they appear and cause a lot of chaos in the process. On the other hand, APTs tend to go undetected for long periods of time, and they take even longer to develop and deploy.

Threats

Just like all other cyber threats, APTs endanger organizations on many levels – from their ability to keep business-critical systems running to their reputation among customers and partners.

For the most part, APTs share the same goal: steal your organization’s valuable information. In the past, attacks of this kind were typically carried out against large enterprises. However, the cybercriminals behind them have been shifting their focus toward smaller and smaller organizations.

Today, even SMBs with just a few employees face APTs. So, it’s important to know how a typical APT attack works.

How Does a Typical APT Attack Work?

As we’ve explained, APTs are characterized by their advanced and persistent nature. As such, they work somewhat differently than most other major cyber threats.  

Here are the most critical stages of your average APT.

1. Planning

Just like a team of Hollywood criminals meticulously planning a bank heist, the individuals and groups behind advanced persistent threats start by thoroughly probing their target to uncover any weaknesses they can exploit.

2. Obtaining Access

Once they identify the weakest entry point, they stealthily maneuver around their target’s defenses, avoiding detection at every step.

3. Establishing Command and Control

Next, attackers work to gain control over the compromised network. Depending on the level of access they want, this phase can take months and involve various techniques to break into secured accounts, including: or.

  • Password cracking
  • Spear phishing to steal credentials

4. Data Exfiltration

After weeks and possibly months of meticulous preparation, cybercriminals are finally ready to steal sensitive information.

5. Ongoing Presence

If data exfiltration was completed without detection, then nothing stops the attackers from maintaining a presence on compromised machines.

How to Defend Against Advanced Persistent Threats?

Fortunately, there’s a lot that organizations of all sizes can do to stop APTs dead in their tracks. Some of the most effective defenses are basic cybersecurity practices that every business should follow.

Prevention: Security Awareness Training

Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals that human error is responsible for 68% of all breaches. Whether it’s the use of weak passwords or the inability to recognize phishing messages, there are many ways employees can make it easier for cybercriminals to obtain access credentials.

Security awareness training can turn regular employees into the first line of defense against commonly used cyberattacks, helping them stop APTs dead in their tracks.

For such training to be effective, it must be performed regularly and by someone with first-hand experience with the subject matter.

How to Create a Cybersecurity Awareness Training Program Ebook

Learn how to implement an engaging and successful cybersecurity awareness training program.

Detection: Network Activity Monitoring

In the early stages, APTs may generate unusual network activity, abnormal login attempts, and other anomalies that can be easily missed unless you’re actively looking. The good news is that highly effective network activity monitoring solutions are readily available and possible to implement without much effort. 

A multilayered defense approach against APTs is important. You’ll want to combine tools like antivirus software, next-generation firewalls, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and managed detection and response (MDR). If you’re unsure which tools are best for your organization, we recommend consulting a managed IT services provider.

Response: Incident Response Plan

Even with diligent security awareness training and best-in-class technologies in place, your defenses are not foolproof. A remarkably skilled group of cybercriminals can still breach them, especially if an employee mistake inadvertently opens the front door to your network.

That’s why you should always consider data breaches unavoidable and plan for “when” not “if.” A comprehensive incident response plan can help you minimize the damage caused by an APT and stop further information leakage as soon as possible.

Defending Against APTs Requires Layered Protection

Advanced persistent threats are no longer a threat only large enterprises need to worry about. Cybercriminals have realized that SMBs are also lucrative targets. So, the clock is ticking for you to strengthen your defenses and prepare for the worst. 

If you’re not familiar with handling advanced cyber threats, partnering with a seasoned managed cybersecurity services provider can strengthen your defenses. Teal offers responsive and secure cybersecurity solutions tailored for small and mid-sized businesses across the nation, along with local IT support in:

Additionally, we employ robust data-centric strategies to enhance our resilience against threat actors and ensure compliance with multiple security frameworks. Contact us today to learn how we can safeguard your organization’s future against cyber threats.

Latest Teal News

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join Teal Exclusive now to be notified of the latest news, tech tips, and more.

Recent Articles
Categories
Don’t Stop Here

More To Explore

cost of cybersecurity

The Cost of Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

The cost to secure your small- to medium-sized business (SMB) with cybersecurity measures varies based on several factors. In this article, you’ll discover expert insights on the expected cybersecurity costs

Password best practices that safeguard your company's sensitive information

12 Password Best Practices

Implement strategies that effectively educate your staff on password best practices to safeguard your company’s sensitive information.