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What Is Persistence in Cybersecurity and How Do You Stop an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)?

An advanced persistent threat (APT), also known as persistence, is a type of cyberattack where an attacker gains long-term, undetected access to a system. Unlike short-term attacks like phishing or malware campaigns, APTs are designed to remain hidden for extended periods, often months or years, allowing the attacker to maintain control without disruption, even after system reboots, credential changes, or other security measures.

This blog will discuss the impacts of APTs, how persistence methods work, and the various ways attackers achieve and maintain access within a network.


ATA vs. APT: What’s the Difference?

The terms Advanced Targeted Attack (ATA) and Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) are sometimes used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of an attack. ATAs are specific methodologies used by APT groups—such as “Fancy Bear” or “Lazarus”—to gain Advanced Persistent Access. While the tactics may vary across different APT groups, the goal is consistent: establishing a long-term presence within a target’s environment. ATAs are the toolset, while APTs describe the sustained control attackers maintain.


How Do APTs Remain Hidden for So Long?

One of the most significant challenges in addressing APTs is their ability to remain undetected. Many organizations, especially SMBs, lack the monitoring and detection capabilities needed to identify APTs in their networks. According to the FBI and the IBM 2022 Data Breach Investigation Report, persistence attackers often go unnoticed for an average of 200 days. During this time, attackers can establish multiple user accounts, gain remote access to key systems, and even control servers—all without triggering security alerts.

Additionally, threat actors may create diversionary tactics, such as launching a DDoS attack, to mislead security professionals, while their primary attack, the APT, continues undetected. Such tactics allow them to focus on higher-value targets while the organization scrambles to address the decoy attack.


Key Risks Posed by Advanced Persistent Threats

APTs pose a wide array of risks, as attackers can exploit their access for multiple malicious purposes. These include:

  • Infiltrating the victim’s supply chain, targeting partners, vendors, or customers.
  • Cyber espionage, often driven by nation-states looking to compromise government agencies or critical infrastructure.
  • Cybersecurity reconnaissance, allowing attackers to observe weaknesses in an organization’s defenses or identify users susceptible to phishing.
  • Initiating watering-hole attacks, in which attackers compromise websites frequently visited by their targets.
  • Exfiltrating data without detection, leveraging the long-term access to avoid raising red flags.
  • Intellectual property theft, particularly sensitive in industries like technology, defense, or pharmaceuticals.
  • Slowly leaking sensitive data, evading detection by blending in with normal network activity.

How Does the Persistence Method Work?

Hackers use a variety of techniques to maintain their foothold within a compromised network, including:

  • Windows Services: Manipulating legitimate services to avoid detection.
  • Misconfigurations: Exploiting improperly configured security settings.
  • Custom Malware: Developing undetectable malware or leveraging zero-day exploits to bypass security.
  • Domain-based Persistence: Attackers may compromise a domain controller or other key servers within a network, giving them persistent access to all connected systems.

Attackers also take advantage of multi-stage operations to establish a foothold. After initial access—often through phishing, social engineering, or exploiting known vulnerabilities—they install malware like backdoors or rootkits. These tools allow them to maintain access while remaining hidden from most monitoring systems.

They also use privilege escalation techniques, gradually gaining more control over the system by exploiting software vulnerabilities or using stolen credentials. By obtaining administrative privileges, attackers can move laterally through a network, exfiltrating data or preparing the system for larger attacks without detection.


Case Studies: Learning from Real-World APT Incidents

Examining real-world case studies of Advanced Persistent Threat incidents can provide invaluable insights into the tactics and strategies used by attackers. For instance, the SolarWinds breach, where attackers exploited vulnerabilities in software updates to infiltrate thousands of organizations, serves as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with third-party vendors. By studying such incidents, organizations can identify gaps in their security posture and develop targeted strategies to address them. Analyzing the timeline of an attack, the methods of exploitation, and the subsequent response can offer lessons on improving detection capabilities and refining incident response protocols, ultimately leading to a stronger defense against future APTs.


Countermeasures Against APTs

Stopping an APT requires a combination of proactive defense strategies and comprehensive detection systems. To protect against these threats, organizations should focus on the following measures:

  • Advanced Threat Detection: Implementing sophisticated detection systems like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms. These solutions help monitor for unusual activity, such as unauthorized access attempts or irregular data transfers.
  • Network Segmentation: Limiting access across different areas of your network can reduce the potential damage of an APT. If an attacker gains access to one segment, network segmentation ensures they cannot move freely across the entire infrastructure.
  • Regular Patching: Keeping software and systems up-to-date by applying security patches as soon as vulnerabilities are disclosed. Attackers often exploit known vulnerabilities, so staying current on updates is one of the simplest but most effective defenses.
  • User Awareness Training: Educating employees about phishing attacks and other social engineering methods can significantly reduce the chances of attackers gaining an initial foothold in the network.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Requiring MFA for all critical systems can make it more difficult for attackers to use stolen credentials to gain access.
  • Incident Response Planning: Having a well-defined incident response plan ensures that if an APT is detected, your organization can act quickly to contain and eliminate the threat. Regularly testing and updating this plan is crucial.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Automated tools that provide continuous system scanning and monitoring, like Netizen’s offerings, are essential for detecting APTs early. By continuously assessing the network for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and suspicious activity, businesses can catch attacks before they escalate.

How Can Netizen Help?

Netizen ensures that security gets built-in and not bolted-on. Providing advanced solutions to protect critical IT infrastructure such as the popular “CISO-as-a-Service” wherein companies can leverage the expertise of executive-level cybersecurity professionals without having to bear the cost of employing them full time. 

We also offer compliance support, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and more security-related services for businesses of any size and type. 

Additionally, Netizen offers an automated and affordable assessment tool that continuously scans systems, websites, applications, and networks to uncover issues. Vulnerability data is then securely analyzed and presented through an easy-to-interpret dashboard to yield actionable risk and compliance information for audiences ranging from IT professionals to executive managers.

Netizen is an ISO 27001:2013 (Information Security Management), ISO 9001:2015, and CMMI V 2.0 Level 3 certified company. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for hiring and retention of military veterans. 

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