Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) are the most dangerous form of cyber attacks — long-term, targeted operations conducted by highly specialised groups (often state-sponsored).
Their goal is not quick profit, but information theft, sabotage, or industrial espionage.
What Are Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)?
APT are organised, multi-stage cyber operations that:
- use advanced techniques (zero-days, social engineering, lateral movement),
- aim to maintain unauthorised access for extended periods,
- are hard to detect and precisely targeted at specific objectives (e.g., industry, finance, critical infrastructure).
APT is not an incident — it’s a long-term campaign.
Key Characteristics of APT
- Targeted – attacks are planned with a specific strategic goal (e.g., technology theft, political influence).
- Persistent – attackers remain undetected in the system for weeks or months.
- Sophisticated – combining exploits, phishing, malware, and manual actions.
- Multi-layered – targeting people, processes, and technology simultaneously.
- Stealthy – attackers manipulate logs and artefacts to hinder forensic analysis.
How to Defend Against APT
- Integrated systems – use EDR/XDR, SIEM, and Threat Intelligence for comprehensive monitoring.
- Regular updates – patch software and systems to eliminate known vulnerabilities.
- Employee training – educate staff on phishing and social engineering methods.
- Network segmentation – isolate critical assets and monitor inter-segment traffic (Purdue model compliance).
The best defence against APT is a combination of technology, processes, and human awareness.
How to Detect and Respond to APT
- Network traffic analysis – detect anomalies and unauthorised connections.
- SIEM and data correlation – analyse logs from various sources (servers, endpoints, network).
- Threat Hunting – regularly hunt for threats in the IT/OT environment.
- Incident Response Plan (IR) – define procedures for isolation and neutralisation of threats.
Examples of Known APT Campaigns
| Group | Origin | Attack Goal | Notable Campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| APT28 (Fancy Bear) | Russia | Political espionage | DNC Hack, Olympic Destroyer |
| APT29 (Cozy Bear) | Russia | Diplomacy, IT sector | SolarWinds Orion |
| APT10 (Stone Panda) | China | IP theft | Cloud Hopper |
| Lazarus Group | North Korea | Financial attacks and sabotage | WannaCry, Sony Pictures |
How to Prepare Your Organisation for APT
- Develop detection and response strategies (NIST 800-61, ISO 27035).
- Implement SOC with SIEM and Threat Intelligence Feeds.
- Use memory and artefact analysis (DFIR) post-incident.
- Build cyber resilience through continuous monitoring, Red/Blue Team tests, and tabletop exercises.
Get in Touch
I help organisations implement APT early-warning systems, incident-response playbooks, and Threat Hunting processes aligned with NIST and MITRE ATT&CK best practices.
Email: biuro@wichran.pl
Phone: +48 515 601 621
Author: Piotr Wichrań – Court-appointed IT forensic expert, IT/OT cybersecurity specialist, licensed private investigator
@Informatyka.Sledcza