AI-native identity threat defense

Account Takeover (ATO) attacks are a growing threat to organizations as attackers leverage stolen credentials to gain unauthorized access to systems and data. Detecting these attacks requires a combination of advanced monitoring, context-aware security measures, and the right tools to address the evolving nature of these threats. Here's how security teams can detect ATO attacks and prevent them from causing harm:

1. Monitor authentication patterns

ATO attacks often start with malicious logins using stolen credentials. By continuously monitoring login behaviors and looking for anomalies, such as an unusual IP address, abnormal login times, or multiple failed login attempts, security teams can quickly spot signs of an ATO attack. Advanced identity security solutions can help track these patterns across cloud environments and on-premises systems, offering real-time alerts for suspicious activities.

2. Leverage Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

While MFA is fundamental in preventing unauthorized access, it’s essential for detecting ATO attempts post-authentication. Even with MFA in place, attackers can still attempt social engineering or phishing attacks to bypass these defenses. Security teams must implement additional layers, such as continuous user monitoring and behavioral analysis, to spot abnormal actions within an authenticated session.

3. Utilize Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)

CASBs help monitor user access to cloud services and enforce security policies. Although they are valuable for ensuring compliance, they also offer critical visibility into cloud-based ATO attempts. By integrating CASBs with other security solutions, security teams can gain a more holistic view of user activity, identifying threats that span multiple applications and cloud environments.

4. Analyze user behavior

Identity security solutions that offer user behavior analytics can identify unusual patterns of activity, such as access to sensitive data or resources outside of typical user behavior. These tools analyze the context around each login attempt and flag any deviations from normal usage, helping security teams detect ATO attacks that bypass traditional security measures like MFA.

5. Deploy advanced endpoint protection

Sophisticated ATO attacks may involve lateral movement across networks once an attacker has gained access to an account. Endpoint protection tools, combined with network monitoring and intrusion detection systems, can help detect malicious activities that occur after authentication, such as data exfiltration or system manipulation.

6. Integrate identity security solutions

One of the biggest challenges security teams face in detecting ATO attacks is the fragmentation of identity security solutions. Many organizations use Single Sign-On (SSO) or Active Directory (AD) management tools, which are limited in their ability to detect threats across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. By integrating IAM solutions with a broader suite of security technologies, teams can bridge the gaps and gain comprehensive visibility to identify and prevent ATO attacks.

Detecting ATO attacks requires a layered, multi-faceted approach that integrates advanced technologies, behavioral monitoring, and continuous oversight. While traditional security measures, such as MFA, can help prevent unauthorized access, organizations must also address blind spots and integrate tools that provide visibility into post-authentication activity and across all layers of their infrastructure. With a comprehensive approach, security teams can more effectively detect and respond to ATO attacks before they cause significant harm.

Identity management (IDM) and identity access management (IAM) are two critical components of an organization's overall security framework, but they serve distinct roles in the management of user identities and access to resources. Here's how they differ:

1. Identity Management (IDM)

Identity management is focused on the lifecycle of a user’s identity within an organization. This includes the creation, maintenance, and deletion of user accounts, as well as the assignment of user roles and attributes. The goal of IDM is to ensure that each user has a unique identity in the system, and that this identity is appropriately managed throughout their time with the organization.

Key aspects of identity management include:

User provisioning: Creating new user accounts and assigning attributes (e.g., name, email, department).

User deprovisioning: Removing accounts when a user leaves or no longer requires access.

Role management: Defining roles and responsibilities for users within the organization.

Identity governance: Managing and auditing user identities for compliance and security purposes.

2. Access Management (AM)

Access management, on the other hand, is focused on controlling a user’s access to specific resources based on their identity and role. It determines what a user can access and how they are authenticated to access these resources. Access management ensures that only authorized users can access certain applications, systems, or data, and that they do so securely.

Key aspects of access management include:

Authentication: Verifying a user's identity through methods such as passwords, biometrics, or multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Authorization: Determining whether a user has the right permissions to access a specific resource, typically based on roles or policies.

Single Sign-On (SSO): Allowing users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications without needing to log in each time.

Access policies: Defining who can access what resources and under what conditions (e.g., time of day, location).

Key Differences:

Focus: IDM is about managing the identity and user attributes, while AM is about managing the permissions and access that identity has to resources.

Scope: Identity management typically handles account creation, user profiles, and lifecycle management, whereas access management ensures secure access to data and systems by enforcing authentication and authorization rules.

Dependency: Access management is dependent on identity management because access decisions are based on the identity and role of the user, which is defined by IDM.

In summary, while identity management ensures the right users exist and are properly defined, access management controls what those users can do once they are authenticated. Together, they work to secure systems and ensure that users only have access to what they are authorized to see or do.

Identity and access management (IAM) is crucial for securing an organization’s sensitive data, applications, and systems by ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources. As modern IT environments become more complex, the importance of IAM increases. Here are the key reasons why IAM is vital for businesses today:

1. Bridging the gaps in security

Traditional IAM solutions often leave gaps due to fragmented security technologies, such as Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs), and Active Directory (AD) management. These solutions address specific needs but fail to provide a comprehensive view of user identities across diverse platforms. A holistic approach, integrating these tools with contextual threat detection and proactive risk management, ensures end-to-end visibility and protects against evolving cyber threats.

2. Unified identity management

A unified identity management system integrates SSO, MFA, CASB, and AD management to provide seamless user experience and security. This integration not only secures user access at the point of entry but also continuously monitors user activities for suspicious behavior. By linking all systems in a cohesive framework, IAM provides real-time insights into identity and access data across on-premises and cloud environments, ensuring comprehensive coverage against unauthorized access.

3. Contextual threat detection

Identity-related threats, such as account takeovers (ATO) and insider threats, can be difficult to detect with traditional methods. Incorporating advanced contextual threat detection powered by machine learning and behavioral analytics allows IAM systems to understand the normal behavior patterns of users. Anomalies in activity, such as access attempts at unusual times or from unusual locations, are flagged in real-time, enabling security teams to respond proactively and reduce risk.

4. Proactive risk management

IAM is not just about reacting to breaches but also about preventing them through proactive risk management. Regular audits, continuous monitoring, and automated compliance checks ensure that security policies are consistently applied and updated. With adaptive policies that evolve with the threat landscape, IAM helps organizations stay ahead of potential security risks, reducing the likelihood of identity-related breaches.

Identity and access management is essential for safeguarding an organization's resources by providing secure, continuous monitoring of user access. By adopting a holistic approach to IAM, organizations can ensure comprehensive protection, enhance user security, and respond quickly to emerging threats.

Account Takeover (ATO) attacks typically follow a multi-step process where attackers gain unauthorized access to a user’s account, often with the goal of stealing sensitive information, committing fraud, or leveraging the account for further attacks. The most common methods of account takeover include:

1. Credential stuffing

Attackers use stolen usernames and passwords, often acquired from previous data breaches, to gain access to multiple accounts. Given that many people reuse passwords across different sites, attackers automate this process, attempting to breach several accounts in quick succession. If users have weak or reused passwords, this method can be highly effective.

2. Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common techniques used to obtain a victim's login credentials. In this attack, an attacker impersonates a trusted entity (such as a bank, email service, or social media platform) and tricks the victim into revealing their username and password through fake login pages or fraudulent emails. Phishing may also be combined with social engineering tactics to persuade users to click on malicious links or open attachments.

3. Brute force attacks

In a brute force attack, attackers attempt every possible password combination until they find the correct one. While this method can be slow, it is often effective when passwords are weak or simple. Attackers may use automated tools to accelerate the process and break into accounts with weak password policies.

4. Social engineering

Attackers may use social engineering tactics to manipulate individuals into revealing confidential information, such as account credentials or security answers. This could involve impersonating a trusted colleague or using psychological manipulation to exploit a victim's trust.

5. Exploiting weak or stolen credentials

Attackers may exploit weak passwords (e.g., common phrases, predictable patterns) or credentials that were obtained through previous breaches. Once they gain access, they may move laterally within the victim’s account or network to escalate privileges and cause further damage.

6. Man-in-the-middle attacks

In some cases, attackers intercept communications between a user and a service to capture login credentials or session tokens. This can occur through insecure networks (e.g., public Wi-Fi) or vulnerabilities in the service's communication protocols.

The typical method of account takeover involves gaining unauthorized access to a victim's account through a combination of stolen or weak credentials, phishing, social engineering, or exploiting vulnerabilities in security protocols. Preventing ATO requires a multi-layered approach, including strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring for suspicious behavior.

Account takeover (ATO) attacks can result in significant damage, including:

Financial Losses: Attackers may make unauthorized transactions, leading to direct financial loss for both individuals and businesses.

Data Breaches: Sensitive data, like personal information or financial details, can be exposed, leading to identity theft or its sale on the dark web.

Reputational Damage: Organizations may lose customer trust, leading to a decline in business and damaged credibility.

Regulatory Penalties: Non-compliance with data protection laws due to a breach can result in fines and legal consequences.

Operational Disruption: Attackers may disrupt services, leading to downtime and productivity loss.

Increased Vulnerabilities: ATOs can provide attackers access to other accounts or systems, leading to further attacks.

Yes, Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a crucial component of cybersecurity. IAM focuses on ensuring that only authorized individuals or entities can access specific resources within an organization's IT environment. It plays a key role in protecting sensitive data, systems, and networks by managing user identities, controlling access, and enforcing security policies.

IAM solutions typically include tools and processes for:

Authentication: Verifying the identity of users before granting access (e.g., passwords, multi-factor authentication).

Authorization: Defining and managing what users are allowed to do after they are authenticated (e.g., access levels and permissions).

Account Management: Managing user accounts and ensuring proper deactivation or modification when necessary.

Monitoring and Auditing: Tracking user activities to detect suspicious behavior or potential security breaches.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) compliance, also known as identity compliance, refers to the adherence to regulatory standards and organizational policies that govern how user identities and access permissions are managed within an organization. IAM compliance ensures that only authorized users have access to specific resources, data, and applications, while also providing controls to prevent unauthorized access and ensure that user actions are tracked and auditable.

Key aspects of IAM compliance include:

Regulatory Adherence: Organizations must comply with various regulatory frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and others, which dictate how sensitive data should be accessed, stored, and protected. IAM helps enforce access policies that align with these regulations.

User Authentication and Authorization: Ensuring that proper authentication methods (e.g., multi-factor authentication) are in place and that access permissions are appropriately granted based on the principle of least privilege.

Audit and Monitoring: IAM compliance requires organizations to monitor and log user activities, ensuring that all access and actions within systems are traceable. This helps in detecting potential breaches or violations of access policies.

A key tool in maintaining IAM compliance in cloud environments is Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs). These solutions act as gatekeepers, controlling access to cloud services and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. CASBs enforce security policies, monitor data flow to and from cloud applications, and help organizations meet compliance requirements. However, CASBs often focus primarily on policy enforcement and may lack the ability to track user identities across different applications or networks. This gap in visibility can hinder the detection of sophisticated threats that exploit identity vulnerabilities across the infrastructure.

Identity compliance through IAM involves meeting regulatory requirements for user access management, and while CASBs play a significant role, organizations must also ensure comprehensive visibility and control across all layers of the infrastructure to mitigate identity-related risks.