Content
UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics) is a security solution that uses technologies and methods to monitor and analyze the behavior of users, applications, and devices within a network to detect abnormal activity.
How does UEBA work?
UEBA works by continuously monitoring and analyzing the behavior of users, devices, and other entities on the network and comparing it to “normal” behavior to detect anomalies.
Data aggregation and collection
UEBA collects a wide range of data from various sources on the network, such as:
- Log data (from applications, firewalls, operating systems)
- Network activity (connection attempts, data transfers)
- Login information (login data, access to databases)
- Behavioral data (use of system resources, file activity)
- Sensors and endpoints (activity of IoT devices, servers)
Behavioral analysis and profiling
After collecting data, UEBA creates behavioral profiles for each user and entity (such as applications or devices). These profiles are created by collecting and analyzing normal activity patterns over time.
Machine learning and baseline creation
UEBA uses machine learning and AI to understand these behavior patterns and define a baseline (reference value for normal behavior) as a comparison for future activity. The systems adapt dynamically and are constantly learning as behavior patterns change.
Anomaly detection
Once the baseline is created, UEBA begins comparing activities to it. Deviations from normal behavior (anomalies) are flagged as potential threats. Examples of abnormal behavior include:
- Logins at unusual times or from unusual locations
- Unexpected changes to access rights
- Sudden data exfiltration or large data transfers
- Use of apps or devices that the user does not normally use
Risk assessment
Anomalies are not immediately treated as threats. UEBA assesses the risks by taking into account several factors, such as the severity and frequency of the abnormal behavior. This risk assessment helps to reduce false positives and prioritize actual threats.
Alerting and response
When a suspicious anomaly is detected, UEBA generates alerts that are forwarded to security teams. UEBA can be integrated with systems to trigger automated responses, such as:
- Disabling user accounts
- Restricting network access
- Initiating further analysis
Continuous adaptation and improvement
The system adapts over time through continuous learning. This helps to improve the accuracy of threat detection and to integrate new behavioral patterns that arise from new attacks or technologies.
What anomalies can User and Entity Behavior Analytics identify?
UEBA detects a wide range of security anomalies by continuously monitoring the behavior of users and devices. This includes unusual login patterns, such as logins at atypical times or from unfamiliar geographic locations. Sudden changes in data access, such as the download of large amounts of data or access to sensitive data that is not normally within a user’s remit, are also detected. UEBA also monitors device and application behavior and sounds the alarm if, for example, it detects unusually high use of system resources or the use of suspicious applications.
Another focus is on detecting insider threats. If administrators or users with elevated rights suddenly perform unusual activities, such as changing security settings or deleting log data, this is considered a potential risk. Unauthorized elevation of user rights or access attempts to protected data are also detected.
User and Entity Behavior Analytics can detect anomalies in network traffic. One example is the sudden establishment of many connections to external servers, which can indicate potential data exfiltration. The system also monitors the use of cloud services and detects when users suddenly upload or download large amounts of data or access resources from multiple IP addresses.
UEBA is also able to identify threats from malware or ransomware. Activities such as the sudden encryption of files or the execution of unknown scripts on a device can indicate a ransomware attack, enabling a quick response.
Contact our experts and find out how your business can be protected with an automated security solution.
UBA vs. UEBA
UBA (User Behavior Analytics) and UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics) differ mainly in the scope of their analyses. UBA focuses exclusively on the behavior of users to detect insider threats and unauthorized activities. It is designed to identify unusual user activities such as atypical logins or data access.
UEBA takes this approach further by also monitoring the behavior of entities such as devices, applications, and networks. This enables UEBA to not only detect user anomalies but also suspicious activity by machines, such as unusual network connections or high resource usage. This makes UEBA more comprehensive and effective at detecting complex threats that involve both users and devices.
What are the use cases for UEBA?
UEBA is used in many specific situations to detect and prevent threats at an early stage. An important area of application is the detection of insider threats. It detects unusual behavior by employees who may be intentionally or inadvertently compromising sensitive data. For example, an alarm is sounded when an employee suddenly accesses confidential data that is not part of their usual area of responsibility.
UEBA is also helpful for protecting against account takeovers (Account Takeover). If unauthorized login attempts from unusual geographic locations or unknown devices are detected, this can be considered a potential attack. User and Entity Behavior Analytics is also crucial for detecting data exfiltration. If a user suddenly downloads large amounts of data or exports sensitive data, this is treated as an anomaly, indicating a possible attack or misuse.
Another use case is detecting ransomware. UEBA monitors device and application behavior and can detect early signs such as sudden file encryption, which indicates a ransomware attack. In addition, UEBA monitors suspicious network activity by identifying unusual data flows or connections to potentially dangerous servers, such as command and control servers, which are often used in malware attacks.
In cloud environments, UEBA helps to detect unauthorized activity, such as a user suddenly uploading or downloading an unusually large amount of data, or accessing the same resources from different IP addresses at the same time. Finally, UEBA can also monitor the abuse of administrator rights. If administrators perform suspicious actions, such as deleting logs or changing security settings, this is recognized as a potential insider threat.
Share this post
