How To Protect Against Asymmetric Cyber Warfare
Written by Ravi Das, a business development specialist for the AST Cybersecurity Group, Inc.
Introduction to Asymmetric Cyber Warfare
When one thinks of a cyberattack taking place, many visions come to mind. Probably the most popular one is an individual dressed in a cloak-and-dagger outfit sitting in front of a computer in a dark room trying to enter a point of weakness in a business. While this particular image may not happen in reality, there is a new attack front that is emerging from this: This is known as “Asymmetric Cyber Warfare” and is the focal point of this article.
What Is Asymmetric Cyber Warfare?
The technical definition for Asymmetric Cyber Warfare is as follows:
“It is cyberwarfare that bypasses or sabotages a victim’s strengths while targeting their vulnerabilities. In these types of attacks, the perpetrator has an unfair (or asymmetric) advantage over its opponent and can be impossible to detect. Oftentimes, the aggressor cannot compete in strength or numbers, making this popular among small intelligence groups.”¹
In other words, it is not just one cyber-attacker launching a strike. Rather, it is an entire unit or group gaining access to your IT/network infrastructure through multiple points of entry. They can overwhelm your strengths and totally overpower your lines of defense in one huge blow.
Their goal is to move away from conventional thinking and instead use surprise tactics. During this phase, threat variants—often known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)—frequently go unnoticed for extremely long periods until it is too late to react.
The New Reality of Vulnerability
Because both the COVID-19 pandemic and the remote workforce have become the long-term reality, many more vulnerabilities have emerged. The convergence of home and corporate networks makes regular software patching an almost impossible task.
As a result, the new phrase is not so much “Weapons of Mass Destruction” but rather “Weapons of Mass Computers.” These are often launched by nation-state threat actors, such as groups from Russia, China, and Iran, whose cyber-attack units are overwhelming in sheer numbers.
How To Defend Against Asymmetrical Cyber Warfare
Traditional security policies typically only address “linear” attacks (one attacker, one threat, one entry point). Policies must be updated to combat “non-linear” attacks, where multiple attackers test numerous vulnerabilities at different times.
- Conduct a Thorough Risk Assessment: Traditional frameworks prioritize the most vulnerable assets. In an Asymmetrical attack, you must also assess and protect your least vulnerable assets. Think backward: hackers go after what is most vulnerable, not what is best fortified. Take a holistic, multilateral view of all assets.
- Make Use of More Advanced Tools: Standard firewalls and routers are no longer enough. You should seriously consider Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. These technologies can model new threat variants by analyzing both the strongest and weakest links in your security chain, predicting evolving threats from nation-state actors.
- Protect Both Internal and External Environments: It is time to move beyond “Perimeter Security” (a single circle of defense). Break your network into micro-segments or “subnets,” each with its own defense mechanisms. This helps protect against insider threats, such as a rogue contractor or third-party employee.
Conclusions
Asymmetric Cyberwarfare requires a shift in mindset. Currently, your best line of defense is the “Zero Trust Framework,” in which absolutely nobody is trusted and everyone must be authenticated through multiple layers.
Whether responding to a breach or performing internal data collection, you need access to every endpoint regardless of its location or network status. AD Enterprise is the first forensic solution to offer in-network, off-network, Mac, and cloud data source collection all in one product. Contact us to learn more.
About the AuthorRavi Das is a business development specialist for the AST Cybersecurity Group, Inc. He holds a Master of Science in agribusiness economics and an MBA in MIS. Ravi has authored five books, with upcoming titles focusing on AI in cybersecurity and risk management.
