An APT is a type of cyber threat that takes its time. They’re not just in and out like the usual threat actors. These bad boys get comfortable, infiltrating your systems over a long period, like weeks, months, sometimes even years, without you even realizing it. The moment they make their move, they’ve already mapped out your entire network, waiting for the right time to steal your most valuable data.

Let’s take a peek behind the curtain at how an APT unfolds like a slo-mo heist:

1. Initial compromise: This usually kicks off with a spear-phishing email or some sneaky social engineering tactic that targets somebody high value, like an admin.

2. Establish persistence: Once they’re in, threat actors install backdoors, which are like secret tunnels that help them come and go undetected.

3. Privilege escalation: Slowly but surely, they start to gain more access, eventually getting their grubby mits on admin-level privileges.

4. Lateral movement: They expand their reach, spreading across your network like a plague, until they control the whole thing.

5. Data discovery and exfiltration: By now, they’ve mapped out all your sensitive data. It’s only a matter of time before they start siphoning it off, piece by piece, out of your network.

6. Covering tracks: By the time you notice, they've already cleaned up after themselves, erasing all evidence that they were ever there.

And the worst part is that by the time you catch them, they’ve usually been hanging around your system for at least 200 days. That's more than half a year of free rein in your digital space.

So, how do you stop these creeps? It’s all about the moves you make to mess up their game. Some of the best practices for mitigating advanced persistent threats include conducting regular security audits, making sure endpoints are continuously monitored and updated, and training your people. Here are 10 best practices to do just that:

1. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Your traditional antivirus won’t cut it. EDR and real-time monitoring detect strange behavior and zero in on threats before they escalate. EDR tools analyze more than just malware signatures. They track weird patterns that suggest a breach.

2. Threat hunting

Don’t wait around for alarms to go off. Take a proactive approach with threat hunting. Hunt for the subtle signs of APT activity, like a bloodhound sniffing out a trail.

3. Security operations center (SOC)

Have a dedicated team of experts keeping an eye on your network 24/7. The Huntress SOC can act as the watchdog, catching threats that automated systems might miss.

4. Assume breach mentality

Assume APTs have already broken in and act accordingly. This mentality forces you to focus on detection, containment, and response, rather than just prevention. You need to be ready to stop them before they can do any real damage.

5. Incident response plan

When an APT attack happens, you need a plan. Having a solid, practiced response plan means that your team won’t panic and make things worse. Timing is everything. Watch our on-demand webinar to see if you’re doing it right.

6. Network segmentation

Break your network into sections, each with its own level of security. This way, if threat actors get into one part of the network, they can’t spread across the entire network like wildfire.

7. Aggressive patching

You need to patch your systems regularly. Patch every vulnerability, especially on internet-facing systems, because threat actors love to sneak in through these cracks.

8. Data loss prevention (DLP)

When the bad guys get access to your systems, they’re often after your data. DLP software helps you block unauthorized data transfers, so even if threat actors have access, they can’t exfiltrate your sensitive info. Read about real-world DLP scenarios in our blog post, Don’t Lose It.

9. User education

The weakest link in any security system is the human element. Educate your team with Huntress’s Managed Security Awareness Training (SAT) on how to spot phishing attempts and avoid falling for social engineering scams. A single trained eye can save your network from getting compromised.

10. Deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Passwords on their own are about as secure as a glass lock. MFA is the digital equivalent of putting a deadbolt on your door. Even if the attackers get your password, they still can’t get in without the second factor. Combine it with SSO and you have a streamlined, secure access solution that maximizes productivity while minimizing risk across all your applications.

While there’s no magic off switch for how to stop advanced persistent threats completely, you can mix proactive threat hunting, employee training, and EDR so you’ll be tougher to crack.