Zero-Day Attack Prevention and Reduction
While a zero day attack, by its very definition, is impossible to patch, there are methods that allow organizations to ensure zero-day attack prevention and how to reduce these attacks.
How to Protect Against Zero Day Attacks?
Vulnerability scanning
Solutions that scan for vulnerabilities can simulate attacks on software code, review code for errors, and attempt to find new issues that have been introduced in a software update. However, this approach will not detect all zero-day exploits, and scanning alone is not enough. Businesses need to act quickly on the results of a scan and review code to prevent an exploit.
Patch management
Patch management: Deploying software patches as soon as possible after discovering a software vulnerability can reduce the risk of an attack. However, it cannot prevent an attack if the hacker creates their exploit quicker than the patch is deployed. The longer the patch process takes, the higher the risk of a zero-day attack occurring.
Input validation
Input validation: Input validation, or data validation, is the proper testing of any input supplied by an application or user to prevent improperly formed data from entering a system. It protects organizations through the vulnerability scanning and patch management process and enables them to respond to new threats in real time. One of the best ways to prevent zero-day attacks is to deploy a web application firewall (WAF) on the network edge to review incoming traffic and filter out malicious inputs that could target security vulnerabilities.
Zero day initiative
The zero day initiative is a program that rewards security researchers for disclosing vulnerabilities rather than selling them on the black market. Its aim is to create a community of vulnerability researchers who discover software problems before hackers do. In addition, organizations also offer bug bounty programs that compensate individuals for reporting vulnerabilities to them.
How to Reduce Zero-Day Vulnerability
To remain vigilant against the threat of zero day attacks, businesses must have a strategy in place.
Stay informed
Being proactive and staying informed on the latest risks in the threat landscape is a vital first step in preventing zero day attacks. This includes deploying comprehensive security software that will block known and unknown threats. It also includes employees practicing safe and secure online habits and configuring security settings for their browsers and systems. The Fortinet FortiGuard Labs team is committed to discovering new and emerging threats and delivering instant protection to Fortinet solutions before such threats pose a security problem for organizations.
Perform system updates
Ensuring systems are up to date is crucial to protecting a business from the risk of zero day attacks. This includes having the latest features installed, removing outdated or defunct features, updating drivers, fixing bugs, and filling potential holes in security.
Use a next-generation firewall
Traditional antivirus software cannot effectively protect businesses from zero day threats. Instead, businesses need to look for solutions that block unknown zero-day malware. The Fortinet next-generation firewalldoes this by combining deeper inspection capabilities that identify advanced attacks, malware, and threats. It not only blocks malware but also provides the flexibility to evolve with the threat landscape and keep organizations’ networks secure as new threats emerge.
