Threat hunting is the process of proactively searching for cyberthreats within an organization by using methodology, innovative technology and threat intelligence.

The Process of Threat Hunting

Threat hunting involves a series of steps:

  1. Theory Development: Threat hunters begin by forming theories and hypotheses based on their existing knowledge of threats, threat behaviors, vulnerabilities and the specific environment that the organization is in. This step can involve researching recent cyberattacks or incidents within relevant industries.
  2. Data Collection: Data is gathered from a number of sources including endpoint activity, threat intelligence feeds, and user behavior analytics. This data will provide the foundation for identifying patterns that may indicate the presence of a threat.
  3. Analysis and Investigation: Once all of the relevant data is collected, it is analyzed for indicators of compromise (IOCs) or other abnormal behaviors. This step can involve the use of advanced tools, machine learning, and manual review techniques to process the large volumes of information and identify potential threats.
  4. Validation and Response: If suspicious activity is detected, threat hunters must validate the findings to confirm whether a real threat exists. If they confirm a threat, then appropriate actions can be taken to mitigate the threat. This may involve isolating affected systems, removing the malware, or implementing additional security measures.
  5. Documentation and Improvement: When a threat has been addressed, findings including the methods used, the nature of the threat and the response taken are documented. This documentation will serve as a valuable resource for enhancing an organization’s overall security posture.

Types of Threat Hunting

There are two main types of threat hunting:

  1. Theory-Driven: This type is based on specific theories derived from known threats and vulnerabilities. Threat hunters use their understanding of the threat landscape to guide their search, helping them to focus on areas where potential threats will likely arise from.
  2. Intelligence-Lead: Threat hunters are guided by external threat intelligence, using insights about emerging threats and tactics to inform their efforts. This will allow them to focus on the most relevant risks.

Benefits and Challenges of Threat Hunting

Benefits include: 

  • Proactive Defense: By proactively looking for threats, organizations can identify and remediate potential issues before they escalate into significant breaches.
  • Informed Cybersecurity Plans: Using the insights gained from threat hunting allows organizations to strengthen areas that may be vulnerable to attacks.
  • Enhanced Detection: Threat hunting improves an organization’s ability to detect threats that may bypass existing security defenses. This can lead to quicker identification and response times.
  • Reduced Dwell Time: Effective threat hunting will reduce dwell time by identifying threats quicker, helping to minimize the impact of an incident.

Challenges include:

  • Resource Usage: Threat hunting requires skilled personnel and teams along with significant time investments, which can cause a strain on organizational resources.
  • Data Volume: A significant amount of data is gathered during threat hunting, which can make it difficult for threat hunters to determine what information is relevant and useful.
  • Continuous Improvement: Threat hunters strategies must evolve to keep up with the evolution of cyberthreats.