Why do traditional cybersecurity solutions fall short against modern, sophisticated cyberattacks?

It’s no secret that nation-state attacks, ransomware gangs, and hacktivist operations are evolving at a much faster pace than traditional defenses. The ‘good enough’ approach to cybersecurity is simply no longer good enough for modern threats. One of the examples is advanced phishing attacks bypassing conventional email filters, which compromise even fortified networks. 

A survey by eSecurity Planet revealed that Mandiant (a Google-acquired cybersecurity firm) observed at least four ransomware gangs that exploited zero-day vulnerabilities. One of the primary reasons why such attacks are successful is that traditional cybersecurity solutions lack the agility to counter advanced emerging threats. What’s even scarier is the realization that the gap between highly resilient large organizations and smaller entities struggling to maintain basic defenses is widening, exacerbating systemic vulnerabilities.

Traditional cybersecurity solutions lack speed and visibility

As per CrowdStrike’s Global Threat Report 2024, the speed and ferocity of cyberattacks are accelerating as threat actors have started using technologies that compress the time between initial entry, lateral movement, and breach. This year, the average breakout time for eCrime intrusions dropped from 84 minutes in 2022 to 62 minutes in 2023. The fastest breakout was just 2 minutes and 7 seconds.

Adversaries are now moving to the ‘login’ approach rather than the ‘break-in’ approach, and traditional security systems are more effective in stopping the latter. They are adopting sophisticated measures, such as bypassing multi-factor authentication through session hijacking, SIM swapping, or exploiting flaws in MFA implementation. 

Malware such as Lumma Stealer and Danabot are often deployed to silently collect credentials stored in browsers or email clients. These tools are efficient, hard to detect, and can exfiltrate data over encrypted channels​.

EPP and EDR solutions fail to address the complexity of modern cyber threats

While Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions are one of the key components of cybersecurity, they often fall short due to the following limitations-

1. Sophisticated threat tactics

These days, threat actors are using fileless malware and attempting identity-based attacks. With such techniques, they easily bypass traditional security filters and detection methods. Since such attacks operate without the use of an executable file, they get invisible and untraceable inside the system. Traditional security measures are only capable of scanning what’s visible in the system.

2. Lack of contextual awareness

Conventional EPP and EDR solutions are designed to focus narrowly on endpoint-specific data. This makes them overlook the wide-angled context of threats that span networks, cloud environments, and other infrastructure elements. This siloed approach leaves organizations and systems vulnerable to multi-vector attacks. 

3. Reactive approach

These platforms typically rely on predefined threat patterns or post-incident analysis, making them less effective against zero-day vulnerabilities and new threat methodologies that evolve faster than detection systems can adapt​.

Social engineering skills are the latest attack vector looming over our heads

Until the last couple of years, a single kind of malware or antivirus was used against hundreds of systems, organizations, or individuals. The story has changed; now, threat actors are leveraging artificial intelligence, ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), malware-as-a-service (MaaS), and other technologies to design custom malicious programs targeted at specific people and organizations. 

They are combining this with social engineering to make the victims believe that they are talking to legitimate people representing legitimate businesses. This way, threat actors manipulate victims into taking a desired action. Mastering social engineering skills and implementing robust cybersecurity protocols like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are essential for safeguarding email communications and preventing phishing attacks.

Cyberattacks sometimes involve downloading malware or visiting compromised websites, but attackers often use highly sophisticated methods like social engineering. Instead of exploiting technology, scammers manipulate victims by impersonating trusted individuals to extract sensitive information. This tactic hinges on building trust without relying on technical exploits. To counter these threats, organizations need robust staff-training programs to educate employees about such schemes, as human error often remains the weakest point in cybersecurity defenses.

Solutions offering unified visibility and response are in demand

We have talked about what is not working and falling short against modern cyberthreats, but then what exactly will combat them? Well, it’s time to upgrade to tools and technologies that consolidate operations, break down siloes, and give a broader view of the attack surface so that security experts respond promptly and with precision. 

Unified data and workflows will help individuals and companies stay ahead of adversaries as conventional fragmented tools won’t prompt any delays. If security personnel get equipped with ‘exactly’ what’s wrong, they can be more decisive and confident in their approach. Moreover, it gets easier to record malicious incidents if things are zeroed-in on the exact vulnerability that opened avenues for cyber actors.

With a unified visibility approach, there is no need for multiple-point solutions. This significantly reduces costs, including spending hefty amounts on cyber insurance premiums. 

Unified security isn’t just about tackling today’s threats—it’s about preparing to withstand the challenges of tomorrow.