In prior blogs, we have discussed what Attack Surface Intelligence is and why organisations need to leverage it. However, this post focuses in on small businesses who may otherwise feel that utilising intelligence may be a waste of time as cybercriminals would never target them. This is in stark contrast to actual figures with the UK Government’s latest cybersecurity breaches study states that 32% of small businesses and 31% of micro businesses have faced cyber attacks in the last twelve months prior to April 2023.
Understanding the potential risks your organisation may face from external threats should be of significant concern in all businesses, regardless of size.
Understanding Attack Surface Intelligence
Attack surface intelligence refers to the process of identifying, analyzing, and managing the vulnerabilities and potential entry points that a cybercriminal could exploit to gain unauthorized access to a business’s digital assets. By understanding the various components of a company’s attack surface, businesses can better assess their overall cybersecurity posture and make informed decisions on protecting their critical assets from external threats.
Components of an Attack Surface
An attack surface can be broken down into several components, each representing a potential vulnerability or entry point for cybercriminals. These components may include:
- Hardware: Physical devices, such as servers, routers, and workstations, that store or transmit sensitive information.
- Software: Applications and operating systems that run on hardware devices and can be exploited through vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.
- Network: The connections between hardware devices that enable data transmission, including wired and wireless connections.
- People: Employees and other individuals with access to sensitive information who may be targeted through social engineering attacks or accidentally cause security incidents.
- Processes: Business procedures and policies that govern the use and management of digital assets, which may introduce vulnerabilities if not properly enforced.
The Importance of Attack Surface Intelligence for Small Businesses
Small businesses often lack the resources and expertise of larger organisations regarding cybersecurity, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. By utilising attack surface intelligence, small businesses can better understand their potential vulnerabilities and prioritize their security efforts accordingly. Some key reasons for small businesses to focus on attack surface intelligence include:
Identifying External Threats
Attack surface intelligence can help small businesses identify potential external threats, such as cybercriminals, nation-state actors, and hacktivists, who may target their industry or region. Businesses can develop more effective defence strategies by understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by these threat actors.
Reducing the Impact of Cybercrime
By proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in their attack surface, small businesses can reduce the likelihood of successful cyberattacks and minimize the potential impact of cybercrime on their operations.
Enhancing Cybersecurity Posture
By focusing on their attack surface, small businesses can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of their current cybersecurity measures, enabling them to make better-informed decisions about where to invest resources and how to prioritize security initiatives.
Compliance with Regulations
Many industries and regions are subject to cybersecurity regulations that require businesses to maintain a certain level of security. By understanding and managing their attack surface, small businesses can ensure they meet these regulatory requirements and avoid potential fines or other penalties.
Leveraging Attack Surface Intelligence to Combat Cybercrime
To effectively utilise attack surface intelligence in protecting their business from external threats, small businesses should consider the following steps:
Conduct Regular Assessments
Regularly assessing the various components of a business’s attack surface can help identify new vulnerabilities and ensure that existing security measures remain effective. Small businesses should consider conducting comprehensive attack surface assessments at least annually and more frequently if significant changes are made to their digital assets.
Utilise Vulnerability Scanners
Automated vulnerability scanning tools can help small businesses identify potential weaknesses in their hardware, software, and network components. By using these tools to scan their digital assets regularly, businesses can quickly detect and address any vulnerabilities that may be present.
Implement Strong Access Controls
One of the most crucial aspects of managing an attack surface is ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information. Small businesses should implement strong access controls, including multi-factor authentication, to protect their digital assets from unauthorized access.
Develop a Security Awareness Program
Educating employees about the risks of cybercrime and the importance of following security best practices is essential for reducing the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks. Small businesses should develop a security awareness program that includes training on topics such as phishing, password security, and safe internet browsing habits.
Collaborate with Industry Partners
Many industries have cybersecurity information-sharing organisations or partnerships that can help small businesses stay up-to-date on the latest threats and best practices for protecting their attack surface. By collaborating with these organisations, small businesses can benefit from their industry peers’ collective knowledge and resources.
Monitor for Potential Threats
In addition to proactively managing their attack surface, small businesses should also monitor for potential threats that may be targeting their industry or region. This may include subscribing to threat intelligence feeds, participating in industry-specific information-sharing groups, or using tools that analyze social media and other open-source data for signs of potential cyberattacks.
Conclusion
In today’s digital age, small businesses face an ever-growing array of external threats, making it more important than ever to manage their attack surface effectively. By leveraging attack surface intelligence, small businesses can better understand their vulnerabilities, prioritize their security efforts, and reduce the risks posed by cybercriminals. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, small businesses can enhance their cybersecurity posture and better protect their critical assets from the ever-evolving landscape of cybercrime.
Here at Perspective Intelligence, we specialise in developing bespoke attack surface intelligence for our clients and offer a range of options to ensure you get the service you need. If your business needs help understanding its risk profile online or what a cybercriminal may be able to find out about your organisation, call us now on freephone 0800 915 3650, or you can use our contact form for a no-obligation consultation on how your business can better protect itself from cybercriminals.
About Perspective Intelligence
Perspective Intelligence is a United Kingdom-based cyber intelligence specialist. We offer services across attack surface, cyber threat and open-source intelligence in addition to intelligence training services both in-person and online.
About Aaron Roberts
Aaron Roberts is an intelligence professional specialising in Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT). He is focused on building intelligence-led cyber capabilities in businesses of all sizes and conducting online investigations and research. He has worked within the public and private sectors and the British Military. As such, he understands how intelligence can and should be utilised within all environments and the fundamental approach businesses must take to get the maximum value out of their cyber intelligence program.
Aaron founded Perspective Intelligence in 2020 as he identified several ways in which his experience could support and improve the underlying security posture of organisations across the UK and globally. Aaron delivers training on behalf of Perspective Intelligence and is the author of the book Cyber Threat Intelligence: The No-Nonsense Guide for CISOs and Security Managers.