9 Variables to Consider if you Need a Dark Web Monitoring Platform

The dark web has developed a general reputation as a shadowy underworld full of threats and criminal activity. While the reputation might be somewhat sensationalized, the dark web does hide a very real danger: cyberthreats. As cyberthreats evolve, staying ahead of potential dangers is imperative. The right dark web monitoring solution can help identify vulnerabilities, track data breaches, and keep your organization one step ahead of malicious actors. 

So, what questions should you ask yourself when deciding if a dark web monitoring platform is the next investment you’re going to make?

Here are nine reasons why a dark web monitoring platform is essential for your organization:

1. Does the information you are receiving from your existing platforms feel incomplete or as if it’s missing attacker context?

1. Traditional cybersecurity tools tell you that an emergency is happening without providing context. Firewalls and endpoint detection systems react when triggered by malicious activity, but don’t tell you all of the information you need to fully understand the threat and neutralize it.  
2. Dark web monitoring platforms not only find potential risks on the dark web but show you the context in which the risk to your brand is mentioned. You can read the thread to find out who is selling credentials to your network and where. Take a proactive approach by scanning the dark web for sensitive data leaks, compromised credentials, and other potential threats before they can be exploited. 

2. Are you looking for ways to reduce the mean time to identify and contain the effects of a data breach at your company?

1. Companies utilizing threat intelligence have a significant advantage. They identify breaches an average of 28 days sooner than those without. Additionally, two-thirds of all breaches go undetected by internal security teams or tools (IBM). A dark web monitoring platform helps to fill the gaps your current toolset isn’t seeing.

3. Do you feel like you are chasing your tail when it comes to cyber threats and you can’t get ahead?

1. It could be because you’re only getting a partial picture of attacker activity, or, even worse you’re not getting any picture at all. Cybercriminals are constantly adjusting their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) to adjust to the defensive measures we put in place so they can stay ahead of us. With a dark web monitoring tool, you can regain your edge by listening in on their conversations so you stop chasing your tail and stop attacks before they turn critical.

4. Do you feel you or your clients have compromised credentials being sold?

1. Credentials are a frequent target on the dark web. A dark web monitoring solution can scour the dark web and identify when employee or customer credentials have been compromised. Make sure the solution you select actively searches for leaked usernames, passwords, or other sensitive data linked to your organization. This helps ensure your organization remains aware of potential leaks and, in some cases, provides you with the information you need to identify the source. 

5. Does it seem like you are at risk but don’t understand where that risk is coming from or how to quantify it?

1. Cyber risk has so many facets to it, it is hard to quantify. It gets even harder to quantify when you are only looking at a partial picture, reported by agents who are internal to your network. Using a dark web monitoring platform allows your risk to take into account parameters from outside your network, giving you much clearer insight into the urgency associated with risk scores.
2. In-depth threat intelligence reporting is key. There is a big difference between knowing a threat and understanding it. In this respect, the best platforms provide detailed threat intelligence reports to help you understand the full picture. These reports specify certain risks, show trends, and add necessary context for you to decide on an action. It is not good enough to find out that there is a threat, you need to know how it will affect your business and also how to prevent it from escalating.

6. Is your team drowning in a sea of noise from false or misleading alerts? 

1. Alert fatigue is often driven by wasting time on the myriad number of alerts that never required investigation. Without a dark web monitoring platform, you have no way of associating your alerts with actual behaviors from cybercriminals or ATP groups on the dark web. Once you have integrated this data into your systems, you should be able to reduce the noise to focus on the alerts that matter.

7. Are you confident that your current cybersecurity system can effectively protect your organization’s sensitive data and assets as it continues to grow and evolve?

1. Mapping your network assets is crucial to defending them. Often, internal and external-facing assets can live in the realm of shadow IT, making them harder to track with internal agents for anomalous behavior. By adding the IP addresses associated with those endpoints to a dark web monitoring platform, you will be alerted if they come up in chatter across the deep and dark web, notifying you if they are indeed a target.

8. Do you know if you have unpatched flaws in your supply chain software but don’t know if anyone is taking advantage of it yet?

1. The supply chain is the soft underbelly of every network. You are not responsible for its protection but you are exposed to the risks caused by flaws on their end, especially CVEs. Compromised third-party vendors can expose sensitive data and disrupt operations. With a dark web monitoring platform, you become aware of the conversations around specific CVEs, even giving you the ability to track your specific vendors. 

9. Do you believe dark web monitoring is a part of your long term cyber strategy?

1. A dark web monitoring platform is more than just a stopgap solution—it’s a crucial part of a long-term cybersecurity strategy. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their behaviors, keeping an eye on the dark web becomes crucial. Using a dark web monitoring platform you can understand what tools and assets are available to cybercriminals, what data is being sold, and what is being discussed in the chatter across the deep and dark web. 

Incorporating a dark web monitoring platform into your cybersecurity strategy is a necessary step to protect your business from emerging threats. By understanding the key factors discussed here, you’ll be better equipped to determine if a Dark Web Monitoring platform is the  right solution for your organization’s needs. 

To explore how Lunar can enhance your organization’s cyber defense with tailored dark web monitoring solutions, reach out to one of our data experts today.