2021 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report: Insights into the Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape

CrowdStrike, a leading artificial intelligence-driven security technology company, has released its annual Global Threat Report, providing insights into the evolving cyber threat landscape in 2021. The report highlights the most significant trends, patterns, and anomalies observed by the company’s Global Intelligence Virtual Collection and Processing (GIVCAP) system, which analyzed over 200 billion security events during the past year.

Rise of Sophisticated Attacks

The 2021 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report emphasizes the growing sophistication of cyber attacks, which have become increasingly targeted, stealthy, and difficult to detect. Attackers are now leveraging AI-powered tools to launch complex attacks, making it essential for organizations to adopt advanced security measures to stay ahead of these threats.

Key Findings

The report reveals several key findings that underscore the urgency of the situation:

1. Nation-state sponsored attacks: CrowdStrike observed a significant increase in nation-state sponsored attacks, which accounted for over 25% of all attacks analyzed. These attacks are often characterized by their sophistication, coordination, and use of advanced tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
2. Ransomware attacks: Ransomware attacks continued to plague organizations worldwide, with over 12,000 ransomware attacks detected by CrowdStrike in 2021. The company observed a trend towards more targeted and sophisticated ransomware attacks, with attackers using techniques such as exploiting vulnerabilities and using living-off-the-land (LOTL) tactics.
3. Conti ransomware: The Conti ransomware family emerged as one of the most prolific threat actors in 2021, responsible for over 1,000 attacks worldwide. Conti ransomware is often deployed through exploits of vulnerabilities in the Windows operating system and Google Chrome browser.
4. SolarWinds Orion attack: The SolarWinds Orion attack, which was attributed to Russian intelligence agencies, reaffirms the importance of supply chain security. The attack was particularly significant due to its widespread impact, affecting over 18,000 organizations worldwide.
5. Shift to cloud-based attacks: The report highlights a growing trend towards cloud-based attacks, with attackers increasingly targeting cloud infrastructure and applications. This shift has created new security challenges for organizations, as traditional security measures may be insufficient against cloud-based threats.

Best Practices for Cybersecurity

To mitigate the emerging cyber threats, CrowdStrike recommends the following best practices:

1. Implement a layered defense: Organizations should deploy a layered defense approach, combining traditional security controls with advanced threat detection technologies.
2. Prioritize vulnerability management: Regularly patch vulnerabilities and keep software up-to-date to minimize the risk of exploitation by attackers.
3. Enhance incident response: Develop and regularly test incident response plans to ensure effective containment and remediation of security incidents.
4. Increase awareness and training: Educate employees on the latest threat trends and tactics, and provide regular cyber security training to improve the overall security posture of the organization.
5. Monitor and analyze security events: Leverage advanced security analytics and threat intelligence to monitor and analyze security events, enabling faster detection and response to emerging threats.

Conclusion

The 2021 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report underscores the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the cyber threat landscape. As attackers continue to develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures, it is essential for organizations to stay informed and adapt their security strategies to address emerging threats. By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity and implementing best practices, organizations can better protect themselves against the ever-present threat of cyber attacks.