Talos Takes

Follow the motive: Rethinking defense against Initial Access Groups

Cisco Talos

In this episode, Hazel welcomes Talos researcher Ashley Shen to discuss the evolution of initial access brokers (IABs) and the importance of distinguishing between different types of IABs. We talk about the need for a new taxonomy to categorize IABs into three types: financially motivated (FIA), state-sponsored (SIA), and opportunistic (OIA) initial access groups. This taxonomy aims to improve threat modeling and defense strategies by providing a clearer understanding of the motivations and behaviors of different IABs. 

For more details, check out the blog that Ashley co-authored with other Talos researchers https://blog.talosintelligence.com/redefining-initial-access-brokers/

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