5 ways to use threat intelligence to defend smarter, not harder

The phrase, actionable insights, is frequently mentioned in the context of threat intelligence. But how can an organization effectively use a vendor's report to enhance its security posture? Cyberthreats are evolving every day, leaving organizations more vulnerable than ever. Awareness alone isn’t enough anymore. It’s time to take proactive, strategic action to strengthen your defenses and deter attackers. 

According to Mimecast’s threat intelligence reports, there are proven strategies you can implement to elevate your organization’s cybersecurity posture.

Sophisticated cyberattacks can strike organizations of any size, from phishing campaigns to supply-chain attacks. To stay ahead of these increasing threats, businesses must adopt a layered security approach that combines organizational vigilance with advanced tools and practical measures.

Read on for five specific steps you can take to start defending smarter today.

1. Manage human risk with a tailored framework

Your employees are the first line of defense, and often, the weakest link. Combatting human risk effectively requires a focused, adaptable strategy.

Implement a human risk management framework. Align security efforts with business goals by naming potential risks like intellectual property theft, resource misuse, or accidental data leaks. Use tiered responses to distinguish between inadvertent mistakes and malicious intent.

Foster cross-functional collaboration. Build partnerships across departments to encourage buy-in, develop clear communication on cyber risks, and ensure streamlined execution of mitigation strategies.

Balance remediation with support. Combine corrective measures with positive reinforcement to create a workplace culture that prioritizes security. By addressing human risk head-on, you ensure employees become proactive participants in protecting your organization.

2. Boost security with comprehensive awareness training 

The threat landscape isn’t static, and neither should your training be. From basic phishing detection to understanding geopolitical cyber risks, employees must stay equipped to respond. 

Build a human firewall. Equip staff with actionable knowledge to actively identify suspicious activity. With a well-trained workforce, businesses can thwart attacks before they even start. Key topics to cover with employees include: 

• Email phishing campaigns and spotting malicious links
• Risks from collaboration tools and social media platforms 
• Real-time geopolitical threats that might affect operations  

3. Make third-party security a priority 

Supply-chain attacks are on the rise. Auditing and elevating the security standards of your third-party vendors is crucial to safeguarding your business. 

Strengthen third-party service-level agreements. Demand stricter cybersecurity standards in SLAs with partners and suppliers. Ensure transparency about how data is handled and secured. 

Conduct due diligence. Use external rating services to assess vendor security levels, especially during mergers or acquisitions. Preventing vulnerabilities in your supply chain minimizes entry points for attackers. When every vendor holds themselves to ambitious standards, your defenses gain an added supporting layer.

4. Proactively secure IT infrastructure 

Cybercriminals continue to exploit gaps in infrastructure to access critical systems. Address these vulnerabilities regularly. 

Deploy proactive scanning. Regularly scan for misconfigurations and open external ports. Enforce strong passwords and multifactor authentication (MFA). Ensure IT teams eliminate default admin credentials, require strong password policies, and roll out MFA to prevent unauthorized access. Close common attack vectors. Address often exploited weaknesses such as open RDP ports to drastically reduce exposure to attacks like ransomware. 

A fortified IT environment not only protects your immediate operations but also acts as a deterrent to potential attackers.

5. Go beyond the basics with advanced countermeasures 

For organizations ready to elevate their defenses, these advanced measures add critical depth to your cybersecurity strategy. Block images in emails. Attackers frequently embed malicious code in image files. Prevent automatic image loading in emails and allow trusted sources only for enhanced security. 

Implement network segmentation. Isolate critical assets into separate network segments to contain breaches. This reduces the potential for attackers to move laterally across your systems. 

Monitor internal logging. Conduct regular internal network monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or early signs of intrusion, especially near sensitive data repositories. 

These advanced countermeasures layer on more safeguards, giving attackers fewer opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities.

Act today 

Cyber threats demand more than passive awareness; they require proactive, actionable efforts to address risks and improve defenses. From managing human risks to hardening infrastructure, implementing these strategies not only reduces your attack surface but also raises the barrier of entry for attackers. 

Looking for more insights on translating threat intelligence into actionable security strategies? Watch Mimecast’s on-demand webinar, Translating Threat Intelligence into Practical Security Strategies, and learn how experts turn intelligence into an edge against cyber threats.

Join Andrew Williams, Principal Product Marketing Manager, and Mimecast’s internal security team, Phil Hay, Director of Threat intelligence, and Rich Arsenault, VP Infrastructure and Operations, as they utilize learnings from Mimecast’s threat intelligence reports. Listen to them discuss their approach to intelligence gathering requirements, information prioritization, and the dissemination of intelligence.

Watch the webinar now