Detecting and Mitigating Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) with Firewalls

One of the most dangerous cybersecurity threats businesses deal with today is Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Cybersecurity, APT detection, and threat intelligence are paramount to defending sensitive data and networks against adversaries. The importance of firewalls in detecting and preventing such threats from damaging you in real-time is immense.

Renting firewalls, servers, and routers is an excellent way to maintain security without substantial initial outlay for businesses that cannot afford high-end security solutions. In this blog, we will go through some important firewall rules that can be used to identify and block an APT.

Identifying APTs

Detection is a prerequisite to blocking APTs. APTs differ from regular malware in having an ability to stay in the systems for long and strike when least expected; they are also sneaky. They employ low-and-slow attack methods, which means they’re difficult to detect.

For that, though, there are signs that you might be experiencing an APT in your network.

• Unusual Outbound Traffic: If you notice the odd amounts of data being sent outside your network, then an APT might be exfiltrating sensitive information from your organization.
• Login Anomalies: Multiple login attempts from unusual locations or at weird times could be a sign of a hacker trying to gain access to an account.
• Undetected Malware: Conventional antivirus software may fail to recognize malware related to an APT, as the latter does not exhibit the traits of a run-of-the-mill virus.
• File Modifications: Changes to system files, configurations, or permissions that cannot be explained indicate harmful behavior.
• Long-Term Infections: Once inside, APTs can persist for several months or even years, continually modifying their tactics to remain undetected.

How to Implement Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence plays a major role in the configuration of your firewall for APT detection. Threat intelligence also allows businesses to maintain proactive tracking of emerging threats and new attack methods.

How to Leverage Threat Intelligence

• Threat Feeds: Configure your firewall to update with current threat indicators, i.e., blacklisted IP addresses, domain names, and file hashes.
• Geofencing: Disable traffic from countries where you do not operate. APT groups are always based around certain regions.
• Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS): An IDPS-enabled firewall monitors for suspicious patterns and blocks malicious activity.
• DNS Filtering: Blocking access to known malicious domains which stop APTs from accessing command-and-control (C2) servers.

Renting firewalls, with built-in threat intelligence, is a smart option for businesses that can’t afford to buy high-end security appliances.

Behavioral Analytics

Conventional firewalls rely on static rules to prevent threats, but APTs are always changing. This is where behavioral analytics comes into action, through detecting suspicious activity in general rather than just known threats.

How Behavioral Analytics Detect APTs

• Detects Anomalies: If a server that typically transfers 2GB per day suddenly sends 100GB, the firewall raises a red flag.
• User Behavior Monitoring: Employees logging in to files they never access? Potentially an attacker with stolen credentials.
• Detection of Lateral Movement: APTs traverse a network before conducting an attack. Behavioral analytics catches this movement for firewalls.
• Based on Machine Learning Algorithms: As time progresses, the firewall gets trained on normal behavior and marks anything abnormal.

Modern rental firewalls are capable of behavioral analytics, which means small businesses can take advantage of this enterprise-grade security without exorbitant upfront costs.

AI-Based Firewalls

Firewalls need AI to battle smarter cyberthreats. AI-driven firewalls monitor network traffic continuously and automatically adjust material so as to maintain protection in real-time.

How AI-Powered Firewalls Can Accidentally Net APTs

• Predictive Analysis: AI can identify the trends of cyberattacks and can also stop the threats before they occur.
• Auto-threat response: It responds by isolating infecting systems instantly to prevent further attacks.
• Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): AI firewalls inspect each packet for any malicious patterns and payloads.
• Adaptive Security: Machine learning-based firewalls create new security rules based on live data as opposed to static rules.

For businesses that are unable to invest in costly AI-based security, the preferred option is to lease the AI-based firewall to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure.

Real-Time Threat Response

Not even the best firewalls are immune to all attacks. This is why it is so important to have a real-time threat response system.

Strategies to Configure Firewalls for Immediate APT Response

• Automated Blocking: Firewalls should do more than just alert admins — they should automatically block suspicious traffic.
• Implement Network Segmentation: Network segmentation ensures that even if one segment of your network has been compromised, it is impossible for an attacker to access the other segments.
• Implement Deception Technology: Use of honeypots on some firewalls that utilize the honeypots to catch attackers to learn their operational behavior.
• Alert Security Teams: Prompt notification enables cybersecurity specialists to act once an APT is detected.
• Harvest and Inspect Events: Logs are uploaded for incident and forensic analysis, which provides security teams insight into how APTs operate and make continual improvements.

Advanced firewalls with real-time threat response are just a rental away from the average business, keeping them a step ahead of cybercriminals without stretching financial resources.

Final Thoughts

A basic rules-based firewall configuration is no defense against advanced persistent threats.

• Threat Intelligence: Closes the door to known malware & hacker IPs.
• Anomalies in Network Usage: Detected by Behavioral Analytics.
• AI Firewalls: Smart, evolving, attacking proactive edge breakers.
• Threat Response In Real Time (TRIRT): Enables quick and effective countermeasures.

Firewall rentals can be a great option for any business that wants to improve their cybersecurity without pouring millions of dollars into a solution that may or may not work. Be safe and ahead in combating cyber threats.