Detecting and responding to threats is a critical component of any modern cyber security strategy, hence the rapid rise of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services in the market today. Whether managed internally in partnership with a service provider, continuously scanning for threats and being ready to respond when defences are breached is widely recognised as essential. However, while most organisations and/or their MDR providers focus their detection and response efforts on threats within their own infrastructure, it's essential to recognise that there exists a vast universe of external threats persistently targeting your business. 

Threats manifest in the external environment on the open, deep, and dark web. It is here that threat actors discuss targeting your brand, share or sell stolen data or credentials, or take action to spoof or mimic your web pages, your applications, your social media profiles, and your VIPs for nefarious purposes. Doesn’t it follow that detection and response that ignores this huge arena of malfeasant behaviour deserves detection and response attention also? 

The Perfect Complement: Integrating Digital Risk Protection with MDR for Full-Spectrum Visibility 

Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS) aren’t intended to replace your traditional internally-focused Managed Detection and Response (MDR) capabilities, but to become and extension of them. In fact, Digital Risk Protection is in fact Managed Detection and Response for the external environment. When you combine detection and response on the inside and on the outside, it provides the comprehensive, 360-degree coverage of your threat exposure that is so essential in today’s environment. 

For example, Endpoint detection and response (EDR), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions are all critical components of your cyber security threat detection and response ecosystem. However, they primarily focus on your own environment. By integrating DRPS as part of a more all-encompassing MDR strategy, you can expand this focus to include external threats, providing a more holistic perspective. 

DRPS fills the gaps left by these other solutions, offering visibility into areas they typically don't cover, like the deep and dark web, social media platforms, and other external digital spaces. By doing so, DRPS ensures that no stone is left unturned in your quest for threat visibility, complementing your MDR, EDR, SIEM, and XDR solutions to provide full-spectrum, 360-degree coverage. 

The digital universe is vast, and focusing solely on your own assets leaves you vulnerable. To ensure comprehensive security, you need visibility into the external threats as well. This is where DRPS truly shines. It continuously monitors the open, deep, and dark web, alerting you if your leaked or stolen data appears online, or if specific threat actors are targeting your business. 

The Hackers Mindset 

More importantly, DRPS adopts the hacker’s mindset, the attackers-eye view, enabling you to scan your systems from the outside in. This perspective provides invaluable insights into how a threat actor might approach attacking your business, helping you identify vulnerabilities and shut them down before they can be exploited. 

DRPS can reveal weak spots you may have overlooked such as misconfigurations, open ports, and expiring certificates. These areas, while seemingly minor, can serve as entry points for attackers and need to be identified and remediated promptly. 

Cyber security isn't just about combating malicious code or securing your network infrastructure. It also involves dealing with the human element of risk. Threat actors frequently exploit the interconnectedness of today's world to target individuals within an organisation or impersonate them to achieve malicious ends. Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS) can help in mitigating these threats. 

Social Media Monitoring 

Take social media platforms, for instance. They are a treasure trove of personal information and are often used by threat actors to gather intelligence on potential targets. Recent changes in platforms such as Twitter, where users can now purchase verification badges, have made it easier for malicious actors to impersonate others. Imagine a scenario where a C-level executive is spoofed on social media. This could lead to brand abuse, reputational damage, or even be used as a conduit to distribute malicious links and lead users to unsafe sites. 

DRPS is specifically designed to tackle these kinds of challenges. By continuously monitoring social media platforms, DRPS can help identify if an employee is being impersonated or targeted. The moment a suspicious activity or a fake profile is detected, DRPS can trigger alerts, enabling your team to take swift action - be it reporting the impersonation to the platform, alerting the targeted individuals, or notifying your stakeholders about the potential threat. Requests to take down the malicious impersonation form the “response” component such an “external MDR" service. 

It's essential not to overlook the human element. By integrating DRPS into your cyber security strategy, you can ensure you're well-equipped to tackle threats across the digital spectrum, regardless of their source. 

Integrity360: Your Ally in Threat Detection and Response 

Detection and response services, whether internally or externally focussed, are designed to filter out the noise, helping you distinguish between false alarms and genuine threats. Our team of experts works around the clock, leveraging state-of-the-art tools and technologies to monitor your digital environment and respond to any threats promptly and efficiently. 

We understand that every moment spent dealing with false positives is a moment taken away from addressing real threats. Our services are designed to free up your security teams, allowing them to focus on what really matters. By doing the heavy lifting when it comes to threat detection and response, we ensure your teams can focus on strategic tasks, like improving your overall security posture and building resilience. 

Moreover, we're not just reactive; we're proactive. We understand that threat actors are always changing and evolving, and so our monitoring efforts are constant and vigilant. We believe that knowledge is power. By staying abreast of the latest threat trends and actor tactics, we can help you prepare the most relevant defences, ensuring you're always one step ahead of the risk. 

In the end, cyber security isn't just about having the right tools; it's about having the right partner. With Integrity360, you can rest assured that your cyber security needs are in capable hands. 

MDR services play a pivotal role in your cyber security ecosystem, they cannot cover all bases. To bridge the gap between internal and external threats, Digital Risk Protection Services are indispensable part of any detection and response strategy. They supplement your MDR capabilities and provide a more holistic view of your cyber security threat exposure, ensuring you're not just secure, but cyber resilient.