If you hear the term ‘advanced threat protection’ (ATP) and immediately think of bodyguards, we don’t blame you. It sounds like a wonky term, but it carries great significance in the IT and business worlds. ATP essentially refers to a category of security solutions that defends against sophisticated malware or hacking-based attacks targeting sensitive data.
Since ATP refers to a category of services, ATP solutions are varied. They offer different approaches and components. Yet, no matter the approach, ATP solutions all have at least a few things in common. Most include some combination of malware protection protocols, endpoint agents, network security devices, email gateways, and some kind of centralized system where alerts can be monitored and defenses gathered in the event of an attack.
A Primer on How Advanced Threat Protection Works
ATP functions based on a set of goals. They are as follows:
- Early Detection: Businesses want to head off attacks at this point and detect potential threats before they have the opportunity to break in and gain access to critical systems or information.
- Consistent Protection: There must be consistent, round-the-clock protection keeping critical systems and information defended against threats.
- Threat Response: If a threat presents itself, you must have the ability to mitigate it and respond quickly.
There are several ways a comprehensive ATP system will protect a company’s internal network. First, users must have constant, real-time visibility over what happens across the network. This is important whether or not a threat actor ever breaks through. Malicious attempts to probe a network are easily noticed when the network is being monitored in real-time.
Individuals working in IT cybersecurity must understand the context of a threat. This will allow them to effectively prioritize threats to the organization and plan a response. Finally, make sure you have always-on data awareness. It is impossible to understand the threats facing a network without also having a deep understanding of enterprise data, its sensitivity, value and other important factors.
Formulating a Threat Detection Response
When a threat to the network is uncovered, the next step should be of immediate analysis. ATP services should include threat analysis and rapid response should a breach occur. Halting attacks in progress and preventing further breaches should be at the top of the priority list when a breach occurs.
Other considerations should include disrupting activities in progress and sealing up exposure from the breach. All malicious attacks have a lifecycle. Competent IT security professionals know how to interrupt the lifecycle of a breach to ensure the threat is stopped and damage mitigated.
And that’s where companies like us come in. We sleep, eat, and breathe cyber threat prevention. So, next time you worry your critical data might be at risk, join us at one of our next webinars, and we’ll see you there.
