Threat actor profiling has become standard practice among security teams specializing in using dark web and open source intelligence (OSINT) tools to proactively seek out and prevent cyberattacks. The threat actor profile is similar to a criminal dossier. It provides specific information on individuals and groups of people most likely to target an organization.
By way of comparison, a global corporation might develop different customer personas to help the marketing department better understand who buys its products. The threat actor profile is similar from a security standpoint. According to DarkOwl, threat actor profiles help security teams better understand individual threats, how they work, and how to stop them before they do serious damage.
Anticipating Rather Than Reacting
DarkOwl points to a number of reasons threat actor profiles are so critical to modern business. The first is the ability to anticipate attacks rather than merely reacting to them. Think of it this way: in the absence of accurate threat actor profiles, an IT team ends up playing ‘Whack-A-Mole’ in an attempt to identify threat actors. Such a strategy almost always dictates reacting rather than anticipating.
On the other hand, threat actor profiles provide direction. For example, some threat actors are known to target the healthcare industry by using social engineering techniques to gain access by fooling employees. Their signature move is well known. The security team can implement a combination of policies and training that makes employees less susceptible to attacks.
Understanding Threat Actor Motives
Threat actor profiling does not just reveal individual and group identities. It also reveals the motivation behind what they do. Financial gain motivates some threat actors. Others are pushing a cause, seeking revenge, looking to steal trade secrets, etc. Some are even rogue nations looking for a leg up on their adversaries.
Understanding motivation helps clarify threat actor strategies. Consider a rogue nation looking to steal national security secrets. Their activities are generally kept quiet and might be hidden for years. On the other hand, a ransomware specialist is looking for a quick payday. His actions are aggressive and clearly visible.
Just by knowing who is trying to break in, security teams can better understand what the organization is at risk of losing. A deeper level of understanding gives them a vital tool for developing ways to stop attacks from achieving their desired goals.
Profiling Makes Better Use of Security Spend
Although threat actor profiling requires an additional investment, it is one that pays off with a better return down the road. The fact is that security teams cannot possibly defend against every single threat simultaneously. There are far too many. Maximizing an organization’s defenses is all about prioritizing. More importantly, threat actor profiles are one of the chief drivers of efficient prioritization.
A good example is an organization susceptible to social engineering techniques. Think of a healthcare organization, an organization whose threats come mainly from hackers using social engineering techniques to gain unauthorized access.
Does it make sense for that organization to invest millions in a new firewall solution while ignoring employee training? No, it’s better to invest a finite budget in strategies for preventing social engineering failures. Later on, if and when the budget allows, it might be appropriate to invest in a new firewall solution.
A threat actor profile is an invaluable dossier that informs security teams and C-suites alike. It makes little sense not to use them at a time when threat actors are winning battles as frequently as they are. Any organization not using them is leaving a valuable resource on the table.
