homepage
Open menu
Go one level top
  • Train and Certify
    • Overview
    • Get Started in Cyber
    • Courses
    • GIAC Certifications
    • Training Roadmap
    • OnDemand
    • Live Training
    • Summits
    • Cyber Ranges
    • College Degrees & Certificates
    • Scholarship Academies
    • NICE Framework
    • Specials
  • Manage Your Team
    • Overview
    • Group Purchasing
    • Why Work with SANS
    • Build Your Team
    • Hire Cyber Talent
    • Team Development
    • Private Training
    • Security Awareness Training
    • Leadership Training
    • Industries
  • Resources
    • Overview
    • Internet Storm Center
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Tools
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Posters & Cheat Sheets
    • Summit Presentations
    • Security Policy Project
  • Focus Areas
    • Cyber Defense
    • Cloud Security
    • Digital Forensics & Incident Response
    • Industrial Control Systems
    • Cyber Security Leadership
    • Offensive Operations
  • Get Involved
    • Overview
    • Join the Community
    • Work Study
    • Teach for SANS
    • CISO Network
    • Partnerships
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • About
    • About SANS
    • Our Founder
    • Instructors
    • Mission
    • Diversity
    • Awards
    • Contact
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Reviews
    • Press
  • SANS Sites
    • GIAC Security Certifications
    • Internet Storm Center
    • SANS Technology Institute
    • Security Awareness Training
  • Search
  • Log In
  • Join
    • Account Dashboard
    • Log Out
  1. Home >
  2. Blog >
  3. Nation State Threat Actors: From a Security Awareness Perspective
370x370_Lance-Spitzner.jpg
Lance Spitzner

Nation State Threat Actors: From a Security Awareness Perspective

What you should focus on teaching your workforce when defending against nation state threat actors.

February 15, 2022

A question I’m sometimes asked is “Lance, defending against cyber criminals is one thing, but what should we focus on teaching our workforce when defending against nation state threat actors, when actual countries are coming after us?”.

Nation state threats can be a legitimate concern for many organizations and the profile for the threat actors behind them differ from the typical cyber criminal for several reasons. These can include, but are not limited to:

  1. They tend to be highly trained, motivated and resourced – far more than most of their cyber-criminal counterparts.
  2. Nation state threat actors are very much mission focused, they don’t care how long they have to research, scan and probe their target. It may take weeks, months or even in some cases years to achieve their objective. They are very persistent.
  3. They are working within the legal guidelines of their own country. In other words, they don’t have to worry about going to jail for their actions.
  4. They tend to be very stealthy, they don’t want to be caught or identified. This can make nation state threat actors MUCH harder to detect (as opposed to Ransomware which informs you that your organization has been compromised).

With all these differences you would think that if you are targeted by a nation state threat actor, your organization is at greater risk. And in many cases you would be correct. You might also think what you teach your workforce would also be different, but in most cases that is not the case. Nation state, cyber criminals, hactivists and other threat actors share one thing in common, they are all human. And as humans, in most cases they will want to achieve their goal the simplest way possible. So, while there are many differences between cyber criminals and nation state threat actors, they often share many of the same TTPs (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures), which means in most cases the behaviors we teach our workforce are the same.

If you look at the recent joint Cybersecurity Advisory AA22-011A) authored by the US CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) concerning Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Threats, you will find similarities between cyber criminals and nation state. Table 1 of the report lists the most common TTPs leveraged by Russian Nation State actors. 

The two most common techniques that are workforce related and should be a focus of your awareness program?

Targeting people via phishing attacks or exploiting their weak or compromised passwords.

What were the two most common human risks identified by the 2021 Verizon DBIR (Data Breach Incident Report)?

Phishing and passwords.

What are the two most common Ransomware infection vectors?

Phishing and passwords.


While the identities and motivations of nation state threat actors may differ from their corporate cyber criminal counterparts, their TTPs are often very similar because they share a desire to follow the path of least resistance.

So, what should we be teaching from an awareness perspective? Focus on

Phishing

  1. Learner can explain what phishing is and what makes the attack so dangerous.
  2. Learner can explain and identify the most common indicators of a phishing attack.
    1. Any message that creates a tremendous sense of urgency
    2. Any message that pressures you to bypass or ignore our policies and procedures
    3. Any message that generates a tremendous sense of curiosity or seems too good to be true
    4. Any message that appears to come from a legitimate organization, vendor or co-worker, but is using a personal email address like @gmail.com or @hotmail.com
    5. Any message from someone you know or work with, but the wording or tone in the email does not sound like them or the signature is odd.
  3. Learner can explain and demonstrate how to report a suspected phishing email

Passwords

  1. Learner can explain the importance of and demonstrate how to create a strong password using passphrases (note: length, not complexity is key here)
  2. Learner can explain the importance of using a unique password for each account
  3. Learner can explain and demonstrate how to use a password manager
  4. Learner can explain the importance of and demonstrate how to use MFA

The key to managing Human Risk is making security simple for people. And the key to making it simple is focus on the fewest risks and behaviors that will have the greatest impact. Learn more on how to build, maintain and measure a mature awareness program at the SANS Security Awareness Summit held 3 / 4 August, 2022 in Austin, Tx.


Share:
TwitterLinkedInFacebook
Copy url Url was copied to clipboard
Subscribe to SANS Newsletters
Receive curated news, vulnerabilities, & security awareness tips
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Australia
India
Japan
Singapore
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard And McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kiribati
Korea, Republic Of
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Bartholemy
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St. Helena
St. Pierre And Miquelon
Suriname
Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad And Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks And Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands (British)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Wallis And Futuna Islands
Western Sahara
Yemen
Yugoslavia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Recommended Training

  • SEC401: Security Essentials - Network, Endpoint, and Cloud
  • AUD507: Auditing & Monitoring Networks, Perimeters & Systems
  • SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling

Tags:
  • Security Awareness

Related Content

Blog
SSA_Blog_Thumbnails_&_Social_Posts_May_22_PasswordDay_thumbnail.jpg
Security Awareness, Security Management, Legal, and Audit
May 5, 2022
World Password Day – Readying Your Workforce for MFA
Today is the perfect opportunity to talk about strong passwords.
370x370_Lance-Spitzner.jpg
Lance Spitzner
read more
Blog
Security Awareness
February 25, 2022
Russian Invasion of Ukraine - What to Communicate to Your Workforce
Focusing on cybersecurity fundamentals is key to protecting both yourself and your workforce at home and at work during these unprecedented times.
370x370_Lance-Spitzner.jpg
Lance Spitzner
read more
Blog
Security Awareness
February 14, 2022
The Annual SANS Security Awareness Report Survey is Now Open
Once a year, every year SANS surveys thousands of awareness professionals from around the world to create a snapshot of our industry.
370x370_Lance-Spitzner.jpg
Lance Spitzner
read more
  • Register to Learn
  • Courses
  • Certifications
  • Degree Programs
  • Cyber Ranges
  • Job Tools
  • Security Policy Project
  • Posters & Cheat Sheets
  • White Papers
  • Focus Areas
  • Cyber Defense
  • Cloud Security
  • Cyber Security Leadership
  • Digital Forensics
  • Industrial Control Systems
  • Offensive Operations
Subscribe to SANS Newsletters
Receive curated news, vulnerabilities, & security awareness tips
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Australia
India
Japan
Singapore
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard And McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Kiribati
Korea, Republic Of
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Bartholemy
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St. Helena
St. Pierre And Miquelon
Suriname
Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad And Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks And Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands (British)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Wallis And Futuna Islands
Western Sahara
Yemen
Yugoslavia
Zambia
Zimbabwe
  • © 2022 SANS™ Institute
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn