NIST Detect - Security Continuous Monitoring

DETECT – Security Continuous Monitoring (SCM):

Continuously gathers and analyzes data in real-time or near real-time of multiple possible attack vectors monitoring of multiple Focuses on identifying unusual or suspicious activity that might indicate a cybersecurity incident. Detecting anomalies early is crucial for enabling timely responses to mitigate or prevent potential threats. Here are a few key threats:

1. Malware and Ransomware

Risk: Without proper endpoint security, devices are more susceptible to malware, including ransomware, which can infect the system and encrypt or steal critical data.
Impact: Once malware infiltrates the network through an unsecured endpoint, it can spread, leading to data loss, operational disruption, and financial damage. Ransomware, for example, may demand a ransom to restore access to locked data or systems.
Example: A laptop without endpoint protection downloads a ransomware payload from an email attachment, which encrypts company files and demands a ransom for decryption.

Risk: Without endpoint security, devices can become part of a botnet—a network of compromised devices used for launching attacks like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) or spamming.
Impact: The device can be used to launch attacks against others or spread malware, all while being controlled remotely by cybercriminals.
Example: A compromised endpoint in an organization becomes part of a botnet, used to attack another organization or send spam emails.

Risk: Without endpoint security, organizations lose the ability to centrally monitor device activity, which makes detecting and responding to threats difficult.
Impact: Malicious activity may go unnoticed for extended periods, allowing attackers to move laterally across the network or exfiltrate data.
Example: An endpoint gets infected with malware, but because the device is not being monitored by a centralized system, the malware is allowed to propagate across the network undetected.

Endpoint Security:

Antivirus and Anti-Malware: Detects and removes viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and other malware.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Provides continuous monitoring and analysis of endpoint activities to detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats, such as zero-day attacks and fileless malware.
Offers forensic capabilities for incident investigation.
Behavioral Analysis and Machine Learning: Analyzes endpoint behavior to identify unusual or malicious activities.
Uses machine learning to detect new, evolving threats that do not match known signatures.