Protecting against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are one of the most dangerous and elusive types of cyberattacks. Unlike traditional attacks, APTs are long-term, targeted, and often aimed at high-value organizations, making them particularly difficult to defend against. As organizations continue to rely on distributed networks and cloud infrastructures, the need for robust network security to protect against APTs has never been more critical. 

What Are Advanced Persistent Threats?

An APT is a prolonged and targeted cyberattack where an attacker gains unauthorized access to a network and remains undetected for an extended period. The objective of an APT is to gain access to sensitive data, intellectual property, or even control over key systems. APTs can be state-sponsored or well-funded criminal organizations, using sophisticated techniques such as social engineering, malware, and zero-day vulnerabilities to infiltrate and remain present within the network.

These attacks are typically highly customized and stealthy, making them extremely difficult to detect. They often evade traditional security measures and remain undetected for months or even years. The longer the attacker maintains access, the greater the damage. 

The Role of Network Security in Defending Against APTs

The evolving nature of APTs requires a multi-layered defense strategy that extends beyond traditional firewalls. Modern network security involves an integrated approach that combines advanced technologies, constant monitoring, and proactive threat intelligence to provide continuous protection.

Here are network security four capabilities that are essential in defending against APTs: 

• Application and Domain Allowlisting

Allowlisting ensures only trusted applications and domains are permitted to execute or communicate within the network. This significantly reduces the risk of APTs by preventing malicious software or unauthorized domains from gaining access to the critical systems.

How it Works:

APT actors often rely on exploiting vulnerabilities within unapproved applications or malicious domains to gain initial access or escalate privileges. By implementing application and domain Allowlisting, only authorized or approved software and domains can interact with critical systems. This measure effectively blocks unauthorized applications and websites, preventing APTs from using commonly targeted or vulnerable attack vectors such as phishing emails, malicious downloads, or command-and-control (C&C) servers. 

• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) are crucial tools for detecting, analyzing, and preventing unauthorized access and activities within a network. While IDS focuses on identifying and alerting security teams about potential threats, IPS takes it a step further by actively blocking malicious activities in real-time.

How it Works:

IDS/IPS systems monitor network traffic, identify suspicious behavior, and alert administrators about potential threats. They can also stop known attacks, such as malware signatures, suspicious data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. By implementing real-time monitoring and blocking of malicious traffic, IDS/IPS helps detect and prevent APT activities at early stages, such as the initial compromise or lateral (east-west) movement stage. 

• Zero-Trust Application Control Access  

Zero-Trust Application Control Access is a security model based on the principle that no one, whether inside or outside the network, should be trusted by default. Every application and user must continuously authenticate and authorize before being granted access.

How it Works:

In a Zero-Trust model, access to applications is continuously verified based on strict policies. APTs often rely on gaining initial access and then moving laterally within the network. With Zero-Trust, even if an attacker breaches the perimeter, they must authenticate for every access request, reducing the likelihood of lateral movement. The principle of “never trust, always verify” minimizes the impact of a breach and limits the ability of the attack to move through the network. 

• Threat Intelligence and Behavior Analytics

Threat Intelligence collects and analyses data about known t and emerging threats, including attack techniques, malware signatures, and adversary tactics.

How it Works:

Integrating threat intelligence allows organizations to stay one step ahead of APT actors. By using actionable data on known attack methods, indicators of compromise (IoCs), and zero-day vulnerabilities, threat intelligence enables proactive defense measures, such as blocking known malicious Ips and identifying phishing efforts, thus improving incident response capabilities. 

The Forcepoint network security platform offers a software-centric approach to network security, delivering NGFW protection with native SD-WAN capabilities in a single platform. It provides the same features and functionality, whether deployed physically, virtually, or in the cloud. 

This enables organizations to securely connect people and systems across diverse sites and networking environments. It includes industry-leading security features such as Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), multi-layer inspection, encrypted traffic protection, and Zero-Trust Architecture. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with Forcepoint’s Remote Browser Isolation and sandbox solutions to block evolving web threats.  

Learn more about Forcepoint's Network Security Solutions:

• Forcepoint NGFW product page
• Forcepoint Secure SD-WAN product page
• Forcepoint NGFW Datasheet