State-sponsored actors, better known as the friends you don’t want

This Cisco Talos report highlights the significant differences in responding to state-sponsored cyber threats compared to conventional attacks like ransomware. It emphasizes that these actors operate within an organization's trust boundary, using legitimate tools and credentials for extended periods, often with objectives beyond immediate disruption. The report advocates for a ‘zero trust’ architecture and a shift in incident response strategies to account for the patient, precise, and covert nature of these sophisticated adversaries.