Don’t let your security guard down

24 March, 2022

As employees spend more time working in the browser and accessing cloud-based applications, the risk of HEAT attacks increases, explains the report. Almost two-thirds of organisations have had a device compromised by a browser-based attack in the last 12 months. The report suggests that organisations are not being proactive enough in mitigating the risk of these threats, with 45% failing to add strength to their network security stack over the past year. There are also conflicting views on the most effective place to deploy security to prevent advanced threats, with 43% citing the network, and 37% the cloud.

Mark Guntrip, senior director of cybersecurity strategy at Menlo Security, comments that threat actors seek to exploit gaps in traditional security defences and the fact that security capabilities haven’t really changed over the past decade. He explains that one of the areas of focus for attackers is using web threats and more and more of them are being successfully deployed using HEAT techniques. “Last year, we saw Nobelium use HTML smuggling, a HEAT tactic to avoid static and dynamic content analysis, to deliver malware and ransomware attacks,” he points out. “The fact that these are successful means their usage will increase, which could have devastating consequences for companies of all sizes.”

Guntrip reflects that working practices have changed and companies must stop relying on traditional tools and strategies that just don’t cut it anymore. “Adopting a prevention-driven approach to security is the only way to achieve this and using isolation-powered security to do so stops the browser from having any direct interaction with the website and content and ensures that HEAT attacks don’t stand a chance,” he remarks.

According to the research among 500+ IT decision makers in the UK and US, hybrid/remote working (28%) is the biggest challenge organisations expect to face this year when it comes to protecting their corporate network from advanced threats. This is followed by budget restrictions (15%), the presence of unmanaged devices (14%), and outdated security solutions (13%). There are also a number of competing priorities for IT professionals when it comes to improving their security posture in 2022. Training staff tops the list (61%), followed by technology investment to protect the corporate network (60%), adapting to new ways of working (50%), and investing in skilled security members at 45%.

Although 55% of respondents have invested in their security stack over the past year and 27% have advanced threat protection in place, it is not having the desired effect as attacks are still successfully penetrating their defence lines. Half of respondents believe that firewalls are an effective way of mitigating HEAT attacks, and 31 per cent favour VPNs. Organisations believe that the threat of a cyberattack is a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’, regardless of size. Consequently, IT decision makers are most concerned about the reputational damage (62%) and financial loss (57%) that a security breach could have on their business.

As Guntrip points out, organisations need to prioritise a review of their network security solution stack. Highly Evasive Adaptive Threats target web browsers as the attack vector and employ techniques to evade detection by multiple layers in current security stacks, including firewalls, Secure Web Gateways, sandbox analysis, URL Reputation and phishing detection, so clearly a new strategy is needed. As cyberthreats plot an even more challenging course, organisations of all sizes must be ready to meet the challenge. Cybersecurity needs to become a top priority in 2022.

Ed Holden, Editor