A while back, I sat down with a company that had just paid six figures to recover from a ransomware attack. They lost data, customers, and a lot of trust.
The worst part? It was completely preventable.
They had all the right tools—EDR, SIEM, etc. But no one was actually checking the alerts or testing their defenses.
Cybersecurity isn’t just about buying tools—it’s about using them effectively.
Here’s what that company wished they had done sooner:
🔹 Regular purple teaming (offense + defense working together)
🔹 Proactive threat hunting instead of relying on alerts
🔹 Hardening Active Directory before it was too late
🔹 Security that’s baked into the business—not just an IT checkbox
🔹 Endpoint visibility beyond just installing an EDR
🔹 Backups that were actually tested
If you’re waiting until after the breach to take security seriously, you’re already losing.
Are your tools actually protecting you, or are they just giving a false sense of security?
Practice Verified Codes and Commands:
1. Purple Teaming Simulation:
<h1>Example of a simple purple teaming exercise using Atomic Red Team</h1> git clone https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team.git cd atomic-red-team ./atomic-red-team.sh -t T1059.003
2. Proactive Threat Hunting with YARA:
<h1>Example YARA rule to detect suspicious PowerShell scripts</h1>
rule Suspicious_PowerShell {
meta:
description = "Detects suspicious PowerShell scripts"
strings:
$ps1 = "powershell.exe" nocase
$suspicious = /Invoke-Expression|iex|Start-Process|Out-Null/
condition:
$ps1 and $suspicious
}
3. Hardening Active Directory:
<h1>Example PowerShell command to disable insecure protocols</h1> Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\SSL 2.0\Server" -Name Enabled -Value 0
4. Endpoint Visibility with Sysmon:
<h1>Install Sysmon for enhanced endpoint visibility</h1> sysmon -accepteula -i sysmonconfig.xml
5. Testing Backups:
<h1>Example command to verify backup integrity</h1> tar -tf backup.tar.gz | wc -l
What Undercode Say:
Cybersecurity is a continuous process that requires more than just the right tools. It demands a proactive approach, regular testing, and a culture of security awareness. The commands and practices outlined above are just the beginning. Regular purple teaming exercises, proactive threat hunting, and hardening of critical systems like Active Directory are essential. Endpoint visibility tools like Sysmon can provide deeper insights into potential threats, while regular backup testing ensures data recovery is possible when needed.
In addition to these practices, consider implementing the following Linux and Windows commands to further enhance your security posture:
- Linux:
</li> </ul> <h1>Check for open ports</h1> netstat -tuln <h1>Monitor system logs</h1> tail -f /var/log/syslog <h1>Check for rootkits</h1> chkrootkit
- Windows:
</li> </ul> <h1>Check for open ports</h1> netstat -an <h1>Monitor event logs</h1> Get-EventLog -LogName Security -Newest 10 <h1>Check for malware</h1> Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan
Remember, cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. Regularly update your tools, train your staff, and stay informed about the latest threats. By doing so, you can significantly reduce the risk of a devastating breach.
For further reading, consider these resources:
References:
Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI
- Windows:
