What is Threat Hunting in Cybersecurity?: How You Can Take a Proactive Approach to Handling Threats

Cyber threats are evolving, becoming harder to detect, and staying hidden longer. That’s why organizations can’t rely solely on automated defenses anymore. Plus, cybercrime costs across the globe are expected to rise to $10.5 trillion by 2025, making protecting your business’s critical assets more important than ever.

“What is threat hunting in cybersecurity? Threat hunting steps in to proactively search for these hidden dangers, uncovering malicious actors who have bypassed traditional security measures,” said John Unger, President of Vaultas. “These attackers can linger undetected for months, gathering sensitive data or credentials while preparing to cause serious harm.”

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the big picture of cyber threat hunting, how it works, why you need to implement a threat hunting framework, types of hunting, steps hunters usually follow, and methodologies to be aware of.

What is Cyber Threat Hunting?

Cyber threat hunting is an active, hands-on approach to identifying hidden threats within a network before they can cause damage.

Rather than waiting for automated security systems to flag potential issues, threat hunters go deep into the network, searching for undetected malicious actors that have slipped through traditional defenses.

These attackers often lurk undetected, gathering sensitive data, gaining access to confidential information, or seeking ways to spread throughout the system. Cyber threat hunting puts IT teams on the offensive, enabling them to find and neutralize these threats before they can inflict serious harm.

Threat hunters tackle a wide array of issues that can silently infiltrate your network, like:

• Malware and viruses: These threats, including ransomware, trojans, and spyware, are designed to disrupt normal device functions. They can corrupt or steal data, spreading quickly across systems to cause widespread damage.
• Insider threats: Insider threats arise from employees or contractors misusing their access, either intentionally or unintentionally, to compromise sensitive data or disrupt operations.
• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): These stealthy, well-funded attackers infiltrate networks and remain hidden for extended periods, slowly gathering valuable data without detection.
• Social engineering attacks: Tactics like phishing and baiting trick employees into handing over access or sensitive information, making your business vulnerable from within.

How Cyber Threat Hunting Works

Threat hunters dig deep into your network’s data, looking for hidden malware, unusual activity, or attackers that have slipped through your defenses. They’re actively searching for vulnerabilities and plugging the gaps to keep threats from coming back.

Automating parts of the threat hunting process can also help. Using machine learning and AI-driven tools, like Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), threat hunters can automate responses to known threats, making it easier to stay ahead of attackers.

Why You Need to Implement a Threat Hunting Framework

A formal threat hunting framework adds structure, reliability, and efficiency to your organization’s cyber defenses. Without a framework, threat hunting can become reactive and inconsistent. By adopting a repeatable process, you establish a proactive approach that uncovers threats that would otherwise slip past automated security systems.

A solid framework allows you to go beyond surface-level detection, integrating various sources of data, threat intelligence, and hypothesis-driven investigations into a comprehensive security strategy.

These methodologies enable organizations to adapt their threat-hunting strategies, ensuring they’re always a step ahead of cyber attackers.

Frameworks you might choose from include:

• Sqrrl Threat Hunting Reference Model (2015): As one of the earliest and most influential frameworks, Sqrrl introduced a hypothesis-driven approach to threat hunting. The process operates as a continuous loop.
• TaHiTI: Targeted Hunting Integrating Threat Intelligence (2018): Developed by the Dutch Payments Association, TaHiTI builds on the foundation of Sqrrl’s model by adding a more detailed approach to threat hunting. It introduces the concept of unstructured or data-driven hunts and emphasizes integrating threat intelligence to sharpen the hunt.
• PEAK: Prepare, Execute & Act with Knowledge (2023): The PEAK Framework, developed in 2023, takes threat hunting a step further. Created by one of the co-creators of the Sqrrl model, PEAK emphasizes adaptability and integrates machine learning in what’s called Machine-Assisted Threat Hunting (M-ATH).

Types of Cyber Threat Hunting

Threat hunting takes on different approaches depending on the strategy and what you’re trying to protect. Here’s a breakdown of the three main types.

Structured Hunting

Cyber hunters start with a hypothesis, predicting how an attacker might target the system using known tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). By mapping out potential attack vectors, they can catch threats before they cause real damage. Structured hunting is proactive, giving you a head start on stopping attackers in their tracks.

Unstructured Hunting

Here, hunters begin with an indicator of compromise (IoC) and dig into historical data to uncover patterns or signs of a breach. It’s less about guessing where an attacker might go and more about following breadcrumbs from an existing threat. This method can help reveal hidden dangers that went undetected and may still pose a risk to your organization.

Situational Hunting

This method focuses on protecting high-value assets, such as sensitive data, key personnel, or critical systems. Hunters prioritize specific resources that pose the greatest risk if compromised. Situational threat hunting ensures that the most important areas are under constant scrutiny, reducing the chances of a high-stakes breach.

Follow These Cybersecurity Threat Hunting Steps to Resolve Concerns

Cyber threat hunting follows a structured process designed to identify and neutralize potential threats before they cause damage. Here’s how it works.

1. Hypothesis Formation

Threat hunters begin by forming a theory based on intelligence, past incidents, or vulnerabilities. They might suspect a TTP being used by attackers and focus their search around this potential threat. The goal is to create a clear, logical path to detecting the danger.

2. Data Collection and Intelligence Gathering

Quality intelligence is key to a successful hunt. Threat hunters gather and centralize data using tools like SIEM systems, which provide a real-time view of activities across the network. This step ensures that all necessary information is available for a thorough investigation.

3. Trigger Identification

A hypothesis or anomaly in the data acts as the trigger that sets the hunt into motion. Threat hunters focus on the specific area or system flagged for investigation, narrowing their efforts to where a threat is most likely lurking.

4. Investigation

With a trigger identified, threat hunters dive deep into the data, investigating any irregularities to determine whether they are benign or truly malicious. This phase involves using investigative technologies to search for hidden malware, suspicious behavior, or evidence of a breach.

5. Response and Resolution

Once a threat is confirmed, the hunter moves to resolve it. (Think along the lines of hunting malware.)

This could involve removing malicious files, restoring affected systems, or updating security protocols to prevent future attacks. The information gathered during the investigation also helps improve the organization’s overall security posture, ensuring the same vulnerabilities are not exploited again.

Threat Hunting Methodologies You Should Be Aware of

These proactive approaches help security teams stay ahead of malicious activities. Here’s a breakdown of the primary threat hunting methods.

Hypothesis-Based Hunting

This method begins with forming an educated guess or hypothesis about potential attacks. The process involves leveraging threat intelligence libraries and frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK. 

After formulating a hypothesis, hunters gather and analyze security data—such as system logs or network activity—to confirm or disprove their theory. The goal is to anticipate possible threats and act before any real damage occurs.

Intelligence-Based Hunting

This approach is more reactive, focusing on analyzing IoCs such as IP addresses, hash values, and domain names from external threat intelligence sources. 

Threat hunters follow guidelines from tools like SIEM to investigate any identified IoCs. By focusing on known cyber threats, intelligence-based hunting helps detect ongoing attacks and assess the damage that might have already occurred.

Investigation Using IoAs (Indicators of Attack)

This highly proactive method involves investigating Indicators of Attack (IoAs), focusing on identifying and analyzing the tactics and behaviors of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups. 

Using global detection frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, hunters assess their environment to find patterns that align with known attack behaviors. This technique is designed to isolate and neutralize threats before they can escalate.

Hybrid Hunting

A flexible and comprehensive approach, hybrid hunting combines elements from hypothesis-based, intelligence-based, and IoA-based methodologies. It allows security teams to customize hunts based on situational factors like industry-specific threats or geopolitical issues. 

This method offers a full-spectrum defense, leveraging data from both internal and external sources to anticipate, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

Protect Your Business From Lurking Cyber Threats

You need more than just basic defenses. We offer a range of services to give you the proactive, expert support necessary to keep your digital assets secure. With our comprehensive cybersecurity consulting, you’ll gain the tools, strategies, and expert advice to stop potential attacks before they happen.

We offer services around:

• Zero-Trust architecture
• Ensuring compliance
• Identity and Access Management (IAM)
• And much more

Ready to take control of your security? Contact us today.