Supporting Threat Hunting Teams: A Manager’s Guide

Threat hunting is an essential component of modern cybersecurity, involving the proactive search for threats and vulnerabilities within an organization’s network. As cyber threats evolve in complexity and frequency, the role of threat hunters has become increasingly critical. However, for these professionals to be effective, they require robust support from their managers and leadership teams. This article explores three key ways that managers, including Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), can best support their threat hunting teams: addressing workplace challenges, facilitating clear communication and continuous education, and fostering a positive, supportive environment.

This discussion is part of our ongoing “The Rise of the Threat Hunter” series. To learn more about the series, check out the introduction here or read last week’s entry on How threat hunters stay informed and collaborate.

Address Workplace Challenges

Tooling

One of the most significant challenges faced by threat hunters is the availability of effective tools. As a manager, you have a direct impact on ensuring that your team has access to the latest and most effective resources. Advanced threat detection software, forensic tools, and analytics platforms are essential for identifying and mitigating threats.

Investing in high-quality tools can make a substantial difference in your team’s ability to detect and respond to threats. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can automate routine tasks, identify patterns, and predict potential threats before they escalate. AI-powered tools analyze vast amounts of data quickly, providing threat hunters with actionable insights and allowing them to focus on more complex threats. Moreover, AI can help create dynamic defense strategies by learning from past incidents and adapting to new threat landscapes.

Once you have the right toolset in place, it’s crucial to keep all software and tools updated. Regular updates protect against new vulnerabilities and enhance functionality. Additionally, off-the-shelf tools may not meet all your threat hunters’ needs. Encourage your team to develop or customize solutions that better fit their unique requirements.

Collaboration

While tools are vital, collaboration is equally important. The threat hunting team needs support not just from you but from the larger organization. Encourage collaboration between the threat hunting team and other departments, such as IT, incident response, and legal. This not only builds relationships between teams but also deepens your security strategy by getting more teams invested in cybersecurity.

To facilitate collaboration, establish clear and efficient communication channels. Collaborative platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or other project management tools can keep information flowing and enhance teamwork.

Distractions

To protect threat hunters from distractions, you should act as a buffer. Here are some techniques to achieve this:

• Reduce Meeting Overload: Limit the number of mandatory meetings and ensure they are purposeful. Use asynchronous communication for updates that do not require real-time interaction.

• Schedule Focus Time: Designate specific blocks of time for team members to work uninterrupted. Ensure these blocks are respected by other departments.

• Prioritize Tasks: Help prevent your team from becoming overwhelmed by passing on non-essential tasks and external requests to other teams when possible.

• Gatekeeping Requests: Act as the first point of contact for external requests, filtering out non-critical issues and only passing on what truly requires the team’s attention.

Facilitate Clear Communication and Continuous Education

Getting threat hunters the right information at the right time is crucial for their effectiveness and professional growth. Here are some strategies to enhance communication and education:

Flexible Schedules

With teams often spread across different time zones, implementing flexible working hours can facilitate real-time collaboration. Additionally, ensure that there are clear and simple hand-off procedures between team members to maintain continuity and reduce the risk of miscommunication or delays.

Contact List

It’s essential for team members to know who manages what and the process for escalating issues. For internal teams, this often involves understanding the hierarchy and roles within the organization. For external teams, they must understand the client’s organizational structure and follow established protocols for reporting and escalation. Clear documentation and regular updates on contact information can streamline communication during active threats.

Training and Education

Investing in your team’s development is vital for staying ahead of the latest threats and technologies. Online courses, certifications, and training workshops are excellent ways to enhance skills. Encourage attendance at relevant cybersecurity conferences, which provide valuable networking opportunities and insights from industry experts. Establishing mentorship programs where experienced threat hunters guide junior team members can also facilitate knowledge transfer and skill development.

Foster a Positive, Supportive Environment

Threat hunting can be a stressful, high-stakes job. The better your team’s mood and morale, the more likely they are to work effectively. Here are some ways to foster a positive environment:

Mental Health and Well-Being

Promote a healthy work-life balance by encouraging regular breaks, time off, and providing mental health support. Ensure that your team is aware of available resources for stress management, such as counseling services or wellness programs.

Recognition and Growth

Regularly acknowledge and celebrate the successes and hard work of your threat hunting team. Recognition can be a powerful motivator and morale booster. Additionally, clear career development paths and opportunities for advancement can motivate team members. Support their professional growth by offering promotions, new responsibilities, and leadership roles.

Positive Environment

Foster an inclusive and supportive culture where every team member feels valued and respected. This encourages collaboration and innovation. Implementing a feedback mechanism allows team members to voice their concerns and suggestions, which can be acted upon to continually improve the working environment.

Adapt These Practices to Your Team

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to supporting your threat hunting team. It requires a multifaceted approach that addresses workplace and informational challenges while fostering a positive, inclusive environment. By providing the right tools, promoting continuous education, and caring for the mental well-being and career growth of your team, managers and leaders can create an environment where threat hunters thrive. This not only enhances the effectiveness of your cybersecurity efforts but also makes your organization a place where top talent wants to work.

Learn More About OpenText™ Cybersecurity

Ready to enable your threat hunting team with products, services, and training to protect your most valuable and sensitive information? Check out our cybersecurity portfolio for a modern suite of complementary security solutions that offer threat hunters and security analysts 360-degree visibility across endpoints and network traffic to proactively identify, triage, and investigate anomalous and malicious behavior.

By investing in your threat hunting team, you are not just enhancing your organization’s security posture; you are also fostering a culture of excellence that can withstand the evolving landscape of cyber threats.