• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Cisco Umbrella

Enterprise network security

  • Contact Sales
  • Login
    • Umbrella Login
    • Cloudlock Login
  • Why Us
    • Why Cisco Umbrella
      • Why Try Umbrella
      • Why DNS Security
      • Why Umbrella SASE
      • Our Customers
      • Customer Stories
      • Why Cisco Secure
    • Fast Reliable Cloud
      • Global Cloud Architecture
      • Cloud Network Status
      • Global Cloud Network Activity
    • Unmatched Intelligence
      • A New Approach to Cybersecurity
      • Interactive Intelligence
      • Cyber Attack Prevention
      • Umbrella and Cisco Talos Threat Intelligence
    • Extensive Integrations
      • IT Security Integrations
      • Hardware Integrations
      • Meraki Integration
      • Cisco Umbrella and SecureX
  • Products
    • Cisco Umbrella Products
      • Cisco Umbrella Cloud Security Service
      • Recursive DNS Services
      • Cisco Umbrella SIG
      • Umbrella Investigate
      • What’s New
    • Product Packages
      • Cisco Umbrella Package Comparison
      • – DNS Security Essentials Package
      • – DNS Security Advantage Package
      • – SIG Essentials Package
      • – SIG Advantage Package
      • Umbrella Support Packages
    • Functionality
      • DNS-Layer Security
      • Secure Web Gateway
      • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
      • Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
      • Cloud-Delivered Firewall
      • Cloud Malware Protection
      • Remote Browser Isolation (RBI)
    • Man on a laptop with headphones on. He is attending a Cisco Umbrella Live Demo
  • Solutions
    • SASE & SSE Solutions
      • Cisco Umbrella SASE
      • Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
      • What is SASE
      • What is Security Service Edge (SSE)
    • Functionality Solutions
      • Web Content Filtering
      • Secure Direct Internet Access
      • Shadow IT Discovery & App Blocking
      • Fast Incident Response
      • Unified Threat Management
      • Protect Mobile Users
      • Securing Remote and Roaming Users
    • Network Solutions
      • Guest Wi-Fi Security
      • SD-WAN Security
      • Off-Network Endpoint Security
    • Industry Solutions
      • Government and Public Sector Cybersecurity
      • Financial Services Security
      • Cybersecurity for Manufacturing
      • Higher Education Security
      • K-12 Schools Security
      • Healthcare, Retail and Hospitality Security
      • Enterprise Cloud Security
      • Small Business Cybersecurity
  • Resources
    • Content Library
      • Top Resources
      • Cybersecurity Webinars
      • Events
      • Research Reports
      • Case Studies
      • Videos
      • Datasheets
      • eBooks
      • Solution Briefs
    • International Documents
      • Deutsch/German
      • Español/Spanish
      • Français/French
      • Italiano/Italian
      • 日本語/Japanese
    • For Customers
      • Support
      • Customer Success Webinars
      • Cisco Umbrella Studio
    • Get the 2022 Cloud Scurity Comparison Guide
  • Trends & Threats
    • Market Trends
      • Hybrid Workforce
      • Rise of Remote Workers
      • Secure Internet Gateway (SIG)
    • Security Threats
      • How to Stop Phishing Attacks
      • Malware Detection and Protection
      • Ransomware is on the Rise
      • Cryptomining Malware Protection
      • Cybersecurity Threat Landscape
      • Global Cyber Threat Intelligence
      • Cyber Threat Categories and Definitions
    •  
    • Woman connecting confidently to any device anywhere
  • Partners
    • Channel Partners
      • Partner Program
      • Become a Partner
    • Service Providers
      • Secure Connectivity
      • Managed Security for MSSPs
      • Managed IT for MSPs
    •  
    • Person looking down at laptop. They are connecting and working securely
  • Blog
    • News & Product Posts
      • Latest Posts
      • Products & Services
      • Customer Focus
      • Feature Spotlight
    • Cybersecurity Posts
      • Security
      • Threats
      • Cybersecurity Threat Spotlight
      • Research
    •  
    • Register for a webinar - with illustration of connecting securely to the cloud
  • Contact Us
  • Umbrella Login
  • Cloudlock Login
  • Free Trial
Spotlight

NSA TAO Chief Talks Nation State Hacks At Usenix Enigma Conference

By Kara Drapala
Posted on February 3, 2016
Updated on August 3, 2020

Share

FacebookTweetLinkedIn

Last week, San Francisco played host to the inaugural Usenix Enigma Conference. The event featured talks on several hot-button security topics, including vulnerabilities in medical devices and vehicles, competitive hacking, and trustworthy computing. However, the conference organizers clearly saved the best — and most controversial — for last. Closing the event was Rob Joyce, chief of Tailored Access Operations for the NSA.
Tailored Access Operations, or TAO, essentially operates as the NSA’s hacking squad. The organization’s responsibility is to monitor and gather intelligence on computer systems used by foreign entities. Given the contentious reaction of NSA activities since the Snowden revelations, to hear from the Chief of this office at an industry event was a rare treat, especially given the topic of his presentation: disrupting nation state hackers.
Conference attendees took note, and many came to a similar conclusion: one might call the NSA nation state hackers. This turned Joyce’s presentation into a unique look at not only NSA operations, but how to combat tactics used by highly sophisticated bad actors.
“If you really want to protect your network you have to know your network, including all the devices and technology in it,” Joyce said. “In many cases we know networks better than the people who designed and run them.”
As the Register pointed out, Joyce outlined the six-point strategy used by the NSA to infiltrate a target: “reconnaissance, initial exploitation, establish persistence, install tools, move laterally, and then collect, exfiltrate, and exploit the data.”
Similar to criminal and nation state sponsored hackers, Joyce said, “we need that first crack and we’ll look and look to find it. There’s a reason it’s called an advanced persistent threat; we’ll poke and poke and wait and wait until we get in.”
When the talk turned to defense, Joyce outlined several best practices for companies and security professionals alike:

  • Watching out for favorite attack vectors: malicious email attachments, injection attacks from websites, and removable media
  • Making sure all systems are patched and updated
  • Locking systems down: allowlisting apps, strict permissions, and using reputation management

As for zero-days, the attacks that usually come up in any conversation involving “APT”, Joyce had this to say: “A lot of people think that nation states are running their operations on zero-days, but it’s not that common. For big corporate networks, persistence and focus will get you in without a zero day. There are so many more vectors that are easier, less risky, and more productive.”

You can, and should, watch the full presentation on YouTube:

Previous Post:

Previous Article

Next Post:

Next Article

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer Sections

What we make

  • Cloud Security Service
  • DNS-Layer Network Security
  • Secure Web Gateway
  • Security Packages

Who we are

  • Global Cloud Architecture
  • Cloud Network Status
  • Cloud Network Activity
  • OpenDNS is now Umbrella
  • Cisco Umbrella Blog

Learn more

  • Webinars
  • Careers
  • Support
  • Cisco Umbrella Live Demo
  • Contact Sales
Umbrella by Cisco
208.67.222.222+208.67.220.220
2620:119:35::35+2620:119:53::53
Sign up for a Free Trial
  • Cisco Online Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Sitemap

© 2023 Cisco Umbrella