Cyber Threat Landscape: Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

The world of cyber threats is large and fast-changing. Security teams study Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, or TTPs, to understand how attackers act. By looking at TTPs, defenders can spot patterns and block attacks earlier.

TTPs describe the route from first contact to final impact. A typical path includes initial access, execution, persistence, and data theft. Each step offers chances to detect and interrupt.

Common TTPs include phishing, software exploits, and the misuse of legitimate tools. Here are some examples seen in many networks:

  • Initial Access: Phishing emails and social engineering
  • Execution and Persistence: Abuse of PowerShell, scheduled tasks, and registry keys
  • Privilege Escalation and Lateral Movement: Credential dumping and remote services
  • Command and Control and Exfiltration: Hidden C2 channels and data theft
  • Impact: Ransomware deployment and data destruction

Practical examples help teams prepare. A worker may click a malicious link, the malware downloads a second stage, and attackers move with stolen credentials. In other cases, attackers use valid tools to stay hidden and reach sensitive data.

Why this matters for teams of any size. A simple threat model helps you focus on what matters most. Start with your critical assets and the people who use them. Align detection with real user behavior, not only alerts from antivirus. Practice incident response with a short runbook and a tabletop exercise.

Defensive steps are straightforward and effective. Train users regularly on phishing and social engineering. Enforce strong access controls and multi-factor authentication. Patch software promptly and maintain inventories of assets. Segment networks to limit how far an attacker can move. Monitor for unusual login times, new admin accounts, and data transfers to unfamiliar destinations. Combine endpoint protection, firewall filtering, and threat intelligence for better detection.

Understanding TTPs helps security teams prioritize actions. Mapping to well-known frameworks, like MITRE ATT&CK, makes it easier to share findings and plan defense.

Key Takeaways

  • Studying TTPs reveals attacker patterns and helps prevent breaches.
  • Basic controls like MFA, patching, and user training reduce risk quickly.
  • Regular drills and a simple incident response plan improve readiness.