What is the main goal of cyber threat hunting?

The main goal of cyber threat hunting is to proactively search for hidden threats in an organization’s systems. This approach goes beyond merely responding to alerts or incidents that have already been detected. Instead, it involves actively seeking out potential threats that may not have triggered any alarms or that could be camouflaged within regular network traffic.

Cyber threat hunters use various techniques and tools to uncover anomalies, signs of compromise, and indicators of potential attacks that have not yet been identified by traditional security measures. This proactive stance helps organizations to not only mitigate current threats but also prevent future attacks by understanding and addressing vulnerabilities.

While there are important aspects to responding to identified threats, analyzing past incidents, and ensuring compliance with regulations, these activities are generally reactive or supportive in nature. Cyber threat hunting specifically emphasizes a forward-looking approach that seeks to identify and neutralize threats before they can escalate into serious incidents. This underscores the importance of a proactive security posture in today's evolving threat landscape.