7 ways attackers steal privileged credentials

Organizations are as strong as their security systems are. Measurements, numbers, facts and observations act as the basis for strategy formulation in any organization. This is applicable to all types of Industries irrespective of the products and services they deal with. It then becomes a necessity to safeguard the knowledge capital in the form of data and facts. Key information is usually maintained as privileged credentials by the top Management in organizations.

Privileged credentials include confidential financial data, information pertaining to personal identification and critical health records in specific industries.  Some of the entry points through which hackers access such pertinent information are accounts that are administrative and privileged in nature, application backdoors, hardcoded passwords and default passwords assigned to certain aspects of the network.

The crux of the matter is how much security is offered to privileged credentials to protect them from being hacked. A clear understanding of the techniques deployed by the hackers to steal privileged credentials will help us understand the importance and means to protect the same.

1.      Privileged credentials is the target for attack

Privileged credentials which act as oxygen to organizations, acts as the gateway for hackers to take away crucial information.  Without laying their hands on such pivotal information hackers’ movements in the concerned networks gets blocked. It is these privileged credentials that provide them the access to servers which will enable steal pertinent data and track the domain controllers. These domain controllers ultimately makes them take complete control over the IT environment of organizations as a whole. Block the access to privileged controls in order to block your data from getting hacked.

2.      Safeguard your security system

All organizations which are interested to safeguard their data must ensure that their security systems are secured at the first instance. Attention must be focussed on setting up detection methods and data encryption systems right while setting up the privileged credentials network. An organization’s security system is effective only to the extent of security available for privileged accounts in the network. This makes it mandatory to put the security system in place for the privileged credentials before the general security solutions are put in place.

3.      Domain controllers are the key

Domain Controllers act as the key to the IT environment of organizations. When hackers get their hands of domain controllers, organizations lose their control over the complete IT infrastructure. Access to domain controllers is the passport given to the hackers to move around the network freely. They can travel through the IT environment end to end without any hassles when they are able to lay their hands on Domain controllers. It is highly difficult to pinpoint the exact space of infection and can get manifested the moment any user downloads a malware or when they click on the phishing link. When this happens, the complete infrastructure comes under the control of hackers within a few minutes. Safeguard your domain controller so you disallow the hackers to take charge of your privileged credentials.

4.      Identifying the exact security need

Identifying the exact need to safeguard the privileged credentials from the hackers is the beginning point of all efforts taken towards protecting the same. When Privileged Accounts are secured in a perfect manner the entire network escapes from the wrath of mischievous insiders as well as the malicious outsiders. The high levels of protection offered to privileged accounts add value to general network security by keeping strict control over the access rights given to users in different capacities.             

5.      Privileged Accounts post breach

Once a hacker takes over the Domain controller, it is advisable to build the infrastructure completely right from the scratch. New systems need to be installed with the help of new hardware. The first thing that needs to be addressed post breach is to add multiple layers of security to privileged credentials. This will safeguard the overall security of the entire network in the organization making it stronger than ever before. Post breach organizations will be more proactive since they have already experienced the effect of lack of the same.

6.      Plugins and Applications for periodical security audits

Hackers find it easy to hack privileged credentials that are not proactively audited and protected. Privileged credentials can be safeguarded at all points of time if security audits are conducted periodically in an in depth manner. There are many applications and plugins available to conduct such security audits in set periodicities. Such applications are capable of identifying the privileged accounts connecting them with the relevant user authorized to operate on the same. This attaches complete responsibility with the particular accounts, usage of which is constantly tracked. Such constant tracking enable steady monitoring, blocking or terminating any activity that is suspicious.

7.      Management and support for Privileged Credentials

Managements of every organization must make protection for privileged credentials as their priority at all points of time. Unless the importance of the same is clearly understood by business heads, the bright days will belong to the hackers who are waiting for the next hacking opportunity. Top Management of organizations must ensure that relevant policies are enforced on time to protect privileged credentials. These policies can hover around password usage protocols which must include privileged accounts also. Organizations must also have proper systems in place which allows automatic replacement of passwords once an employee in crucial position gets relieved from his responsibilities. Periodical quality audits will also ensure the implementation of access rights in the set ways and set manner.

Ever organization has its own set of privileged credentials. Privileged credentials, looked at from this angle, is something internal to every organization. While the infrastructural arrangements and security levels differ between one organization and the other, the basic motto of organizations is profit making and sustenance. Unprotected IT accounts and privileged credentials can cause huge dent for an organization from a finance and security point of view. It is prudent to be proactive and safeguard the privileged credentials than reacting to breaches which costs a fortune to the organization. Be prudent. Safeguard your business by safeguarding your privileged credentials.