In our ongoing series on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, we have previously covered the identify and protect functions. In this article, we will delve deeper into the detect function, which is an essential component of any comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

The Detect function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is all about finding out if something has gone wrong in your organization's cybersecurity posture. This could be anything from a malware infection to unauthorized access to sensitive data. The goal of the Detect function is to identify and respond to these types of incidents as quickly as possible so that you can minimize the impact and prevent further damage.

To implement the Detect function, you will need to put some monitoring and detection mechanisms in place. This could include things like log review, network monitoring, and vulnerability scanning. By monitoring your systems and networks, you can identify anomalies and potential threats that may be present. You will also need to have a process in place for responding to incidents when they are detected. This should include steps for containment, eradication, recovery, and reporting.

It's important to note that the Detect function is not just about responding to incidents that have already happened. It's also about proactive monitoring and detecting potential threats before they become full-blown incidents. This could involve things like regularly reviewing logs and conducting vulnerability assessments to identify potential weak points in your organization's cybersecurity posture.

Establish A Baseline

In the previous discussion of The Identify Function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, we highlighted the importance of establishing baselines in the identify function. However, it's worth mentioning again in the context of the detect function, since establishing baselines is such a crucial step in detecting potential cyber threats. By understanding what is considered normal activity within your organization, you can more easily identify deviations or anomalies that may indicate a potential incident. In this article, we'll delve further into the process of establishing baselines and how it can help you detect potential cyber threats.

To establish baselines for your organization's systems and networks, you need to gather data on what is normal and/or expected activity. This can include things like the volume of network traffic, the number of login attempts, and the types of data accessed. This data can be collected through various means, such as network logs, firewall logs, and antivirus logs.

Once you have collected this data, you can analyze it to determine what is considered normal activity for your organization. This may involve looking at trends over time or comparing activity levels to industry benchmarks. By establishing these baselines, you can create a clear picture of what is considered normal activity within your organization.

Having this baseline information allows you to more easily identify any deviations or anomalies that may indicate a potential cyber incident. For example, if you see a sudden spike in network traffic or an unusual number of login attempts, it could be a sign that something is amiss. By quickly identifying these deviations, you can take steps to investigate and potentially mitigate any potential threats.

Here are some more examples:

• An unusual increase in the number of failed login attempts could indicate someone is trying to guess passwords or breach the system.

• An unusual pattern of access to sensitive data, such as access at unusual times or from unusual locations could indicate unauthorized access to sensitive data.

• A sudden increase in the volume of outbound network traffic could indicate data exfiltration or communication with malicious servers.

• A sudden decrease in the volume of inbound network traffic could indicate a denial of service attack or other disruption to normal operations.

• Unexpected changes to system configurations or settings could indicate unauthorized access or tampering.

• If an unauthorized user or a user with limited access privileges is attempting to access sensitive data, this could be a sign of an attempted cyber-attack.

Alerts and Notifications

Alerts and notifications are essentially a way to stay informed about what's happening within your organization's systems and networks. They can be set up to trigger in response to specific types of activity or events, such as a sudden spike in network traffic or an unusual number of login attempts. When an alert is triggered, you will typically receive some type of notification, such as an email or text message, that alerts you to the potential issue.

There are many different types of alerts and notifications that you can set up, depending on the specific needs of your organization. For example, you might set up an alert to notify you if a user attempts to access sensitive data from an unusual location. This could indicate that the user's account has been compromised and is being used for nefarious purposes. Alternatively, you might set up an alert to notify you if there is a sudden increase in network traffic. This could indicate that there is an issue with one of your systems or that you are under a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack.

In order to effectively implement alerts and notifications as part of your detect function, it's important to carefully consider the specific types of activity or events that you want to monitor. You should also ensure that you have systems in place to effectively triage and respond to any alerts that are triggered. This may involve assigning specific individuals or teams to respond to certain types of alerts, or implementing processes for escalating alerts to higher levels of management if necessary.

By setting up alerts and notifications and responding to them effectively, you can more easily identify potential cyber incidents and take the necessary steps to investigate and mitigate any potential threats.

Audits and Assessments

Audits and assessments are an important part of the Detect Function because they help organizations identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in their systems and networks. These weaknesses and vulnerabilities can be exploited by cyber attackers to gain unauthorized access or cause damage. By regularly conducting audits and assessments, organizations can proactively identify and address these weaknesses before they can be exploited.

There are several types of audits and assessments that organizations can use to identify vulnerabilities in their systems and networks. Some common methods include penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and risk assessments.

Penetration testing involves simulating a cyber attack on an organization's systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker. This can be done using automated tools or by manually testing the system. Vulnerability scanning involves using automated tools to scan an organization's systems and networks for known vulnerabilities. Risk assessments involve evaluating an organization's systems and networks to identify potential vulnerabilities and the likelihood of a cyber attack occurring.

It's important to conduct audits and assessments regularly to ensure that any new vulnerabilities or weaknesses are identified and addressed in a timely manner. This may involve conducting these activities on a monthly or quarterly basis, depending on the size and complexity of the organization. It's also important to regularly review and update the processes and tools used to conduct these activities to ensure that they are effective and efficient.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

In medium to large size businesses, there is often too much information to monitor manually, which is where a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tool can be useful. A SIEM tool is specialized software that can help you monitor your organization's systems and networks in real-time and identify potential cyber threats. These tools can collect and analyze data from a variety of sources, including network logs, firewall logs, and antivirus logs, to identify any unusual or suspicious activity.

One of the main benefits of using a SIEM is that it can help you quickly identify and respond to potential threats. For example, if a SIEM tool detects an unusual spike in network traffic or a user attempting to access sensitive data from an unusual location, it can alert the appropriate personnel so that they can investigate and take any necessary actions.

SIEM tools can also help you track and analyze trends over time, which can be useful for identifying patterns of suspicious activity or potential threats. For example, if a SIEM tool detects a series of login attempts from the same IP address, it can alert the security team so that they can investigate and determine if it's a legitimate user or a potential threat.

There are many different SIEM products available on the market, each with its own set of features and capabilities. When choosing a SIEM tool, it's important to consider the specific needs of your organization and how the tool can help you achieve your security goals. Some popular SIEM products include Splunk, LogRhythm, and QRadar.

A few useful feature and capabilities of SIEM tools include:

• Real-time monitoring: SIEM tools can continuously monitor systems and networks for potential threats, providing organizations with immediate visibility into any unusual or suspicious activity.

• Threat intelligence: Many SIEM tools incorporate threat intelligence feeds, which provide information about known threats and how to mitigate them.

• Compliance reporting: SIEM tools can help organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements by generating reports on system and network activity.

To use a SIEM effectively, organizations need to ensure that they are collecting data from all relevant sources and configuring the SIEM to monitor for specific types of threats. This can involve setting up rules and thresholds for the SIEM to use when generating alerts and notifications. It's also important to regularly review and update the SIEM's configuration to ensure that it is keeping up with the changing threat landscape.

In the bigger picture, SIEM tools are a key component of an organization's cybersecurity strategy. By continuously monitoring systems and networks for potential threats and providing real-time visibility into unusual or suspicious activity, SIEM tools can help organizations detect and respond to cyber threats more quickly and effectively.

Conclusion

In summary, the Detect Function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is all about being able to identify and respond to potential cyber threats in real-time. This involves establishing baselines for normal activity levels within your organization's systems and networks, setting up alerts and notifications to stay informed about any unusual activity, regularly conducting audits and assessments to identify vulnerabilities, and using security information and event management (SIEM) tools to monitor and analyze data from a variety of sources. By implementing these measures, you can quickly detect and respond to potential threats as well as minimize their impact on your organization. In the next article, we'll look at the Respond Function of the NIST CSF, which covers the steps you should take to effectively handle a cyber incident once it has been detected.