A key weapon in the arsenal of a Security Operations Analyst is Entity Behavior Analytics (EBA). This advanced threat detection mechanism can identify unusual behavior patterns in users and entities in an IT environment, casting light on potential security issues before they escalate into more sizable problems. In this context, we will consider this subject’s relevance with regard to the SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst exam.
To start with, let’s explore what Entity Behavior Analytics is.
EBA is a sub-set of User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA). While UEBA analyzes both user and entity behavior, EBA focuses solely on entities within an IT network – device activity, system activity as well as interactions between them. It leverages machine learning algorithms and statistical analyses to detect anomalies and deviations from established behavior patterns of entities.
Let’s explore an example.
Imagine that a specific server in your network typically communicates with only a small set of internal IP addresses. Suddenly, it begins to communicate with an unknown external IP address. EBA would detect this change in behavior as potentially suspicious and flag it for further investigation. Such activity could indicate a breach or an advanced persistent threat (APT).
The SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analytics exam puts strong emphasis on advanced detection capabilities. Being proficient at using EBA to identify potential threats puts a professional in a better position to pass the exam, and it also renders him or her more effective at safeguarding an organization from cyber threats.
Microsoft 365 Defender is one tool that leverages the benefits of EBA.
It offers a wealth of information, providing a snapshot of an organization’s threat landscape at any given moment. With this comprehensive insight, Security Operations Analysts can locate, investigate, and remediate potential threats more efficiently. Specifically, the service offers direct visibility into various entities such as user accounts, devices, mailboxes, emails, and more, that can be used for EBA.
In practice, let’s consider performing an investigation with Microsoft 365 Defender:
As part of this service, analysts can access the Action Center for entity information and action history, and use Advanced hunting for in-depth investigations.
//To query logged in user information, an analyst might use a Kusto query like this:
DeviceLogonEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(7d)
| summarize arg_max(Timestamp, *) by DeviceId
The analyst could then compare this to the established behavioral baseline and draw potential conclusions about the security posture of the environment.
In conclusion, proper understanding and application of Entity Behavior Analytics can significantly augment an organization’s security posture by promptly detecting nuances in behavioral patterns.
For those preparing for the SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst exam, proficiency in using tools like Microsoft 365 Defender for EBA will not only go a long way in helping you excel in the exam but also set the ground for a successful career in cybersecurity.
Practice Test
True/False: Entity Behavior Analytics identifies advanced threats by analysing IP addresses and URLs.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Entity Behavior Analytics identifies advanced threats by analyzing user behavior, not just IP addresses or URLs.
The primary focus of Entity Behavior Analytics is to detect:
- A. Malware infections
- B. Advanced Persistent Threats
- C. Exploitable Vulnerabilities
- D. Insider threats
Answer: B. Advanced Persistent Threats
Explanation: Entity Behavior Analytics primarily focusses on detecting Advanced Persistent Threats by analyzing deviations from normal behavior patterns.
True/False: The more data that Entity Behavior Analytics (EBA) has access to, the better its detection capabilities are.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: EBA needs large volumes of data to perform accurate behavior pattern analysis and efficiently identify advanced threats.
Which of the following is not a common feature of an Entity Behavior Analytics system?
- A. Behavioral profiling
- B. Anomaly detection
- C. Data loss prevention
- D. Machine learning and AI capabilities
Answer: C. Data loss prevention
Explanation: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) focuses more on the protection of sensitive data rather than the behavioral analysis that EBA systems perform.
True/False: Entity Behavior Analytics requires real-time threat intelligence feeds to function.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Though real-time threat intelligence feeds can enhance the performance of an EBA system, they aren’t necessary for its functioning.
An essential component to an Entity Behavior Analytics system is:
- A. IPS/IDS
- B. Machine Learning
- C. Firewall
- D. VPN
Answer: B. Machine Learning
Explanation: Machine Learning is essential as it enables an EBA system to adapt to changing behavioral patterns and identify advanced threats.
If a user starts to download a high volume of files during non-working hours, this would be classified as:
- A. Threat prevention
- B. Anomalies
- C. Asset security
- D. Firewall security
Answer: B. Anomalies
Explanation: This behavior would be considered an anomaly, as it deviates from regular user behaviors and can be a potential threat.
True/False: In Entity Behavior Analytics, scoring systems are often used to rate anomalies based on their potential threat factor.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Scoring systems help prioritize potential threats by assigning each anomaly a threat score based on various parameters.
Which amongst the following is an important factor for effective implementation of Entity Behavior Analytics?
- A. Reliable connectivity
- B. User training
- C. High-quality data
- D. Computer speed
Answer: C. High-quality data
Explanation: High-quality data is needed for accurate pattern analysis and threat detection.
True/False: Entity Behavior Analytics is a passive monitoring tool used only to detect advanced threats and not to prevent them.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While EBA is used primarily to detect advanced threats, it also contributes to establishing proactive prevention measures by identifying risky behavior.
Entity Behavior Analytics is primarily used in which domain?
- A. Network forensics
- B. Cloud security
- C. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
- D. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Answer: C. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
Explanation: While EBA is used in various security domains, it’s primarily a part of UEBA.
True/False: Open source software cannot be used for Entity Behavior Analytics.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Several open-source EBA tools exist, though proprietary EBA solutions may offer more features.
Which is a key step in an Entity Behavior Analytics workflow?
- A. Establishing a baseline of normal behavior
- B. Prioritizing all alerts
- C. Ensuring high-speed connectivity
- D. Installing updated antivirus software
Answer: A. Establishing a baseline of normal behavior
Explanation: Baseline behaviour is essential to be defined in EBA for identifying anomalies.
True/False: Entity Behavior Analytics can help detect threats that have bypassed traditional security infrastructure.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: By analyzing behaviors, EBA can detect advanced threats that managed to penetrate traditional defense layers.
Manual intervention is needed in Entity Behavior Analytics for:
- A. Detecting anomalies
- B. Setting up threat intelligence feeds
- C. Responding to threats
- D. Determining the risk level of identified anomalies
Answer: C. Responding to threats
Explanation: Although EBA can automate detection and risk assessment, a human response is needed to address identified threats.
Interview Questions
What is Entity Behavior Analytics?
Entity Behavior Analytics (EBA) is a data analysis method used in cybersecurity. It’s focused on detecting anomalies or deviations from established patterns that indicate potential security threats such as insider threats, external attacks, and advanced persistent threats.
How does Entity Behavior Analytics help in identifying advanced threats?
EBA uses AI and machine learning techniques to learn the normal behavior of users, endpoints, networks, and applications and identify any abnormal behaviors. These deviations from normal behavior patterns might highlight advanced threats that traditional security measures fail to detect.
What is the role of Entity Behavior Analytics within the SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst exam?
EBA is one of the key technical knowledge areas covered in the SC-200 exam. Candidates need to understand how to use EBA to identify advanced threats and apply this understanding to assess and mitigate risks using Microsoft 365 Defender and Azure Defender.
What types of data does Entity Behavior Analytics typically analyze?
EBA typically analyzes log and event data, user and entity behaviors, and other relevant cybersecurity data. This may include data from user activity, network traffic, application usage patterns, and more.
What are the main benefits of Entity Behavior Analytics in threat detection?
The main benefits of EBA are its ability to identify low and slow attacks that other security measures might miss, its ability to detect insider threats, and its ability to automate threat detection, thereby reducing the workload on security teams.
Can Entity Behavior Analytics detect zero-day exploits?
Yes, EBA can help detect zero-day exploits by identifying the anomalous behavior that usually comes with these exploits, such as unusual network traffic, unexpected software installations, or abnormal file modifications.
In Microsoft Security Operations, how do you turn on Entity Behavior Analytics?
In Microsoft Security Operations, you do not need to turn on EBA separately. It is integrated into Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and operates continuously without requiring manual activation.
What is User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) and how does it relate to Entity Behavior Analytics?
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) is an extension of EBA that also analyzes user behavior, along with other entities in the network. Like EBA, UEBA uses machine learning to identify anomalous or suspicious behavior.
What is the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Entity Behavior Analytics?
AI and machine learning are critical in EBA. They enable the system to learn what constitutes normal behavior for different entities within a network and to identify anomalies or deviations from this norm, which could suggest potential threats.
Can Entity Behavior Analytics be used in a cloud environment?
Yes, Entity Behavior Analytics can be used in a cloud environment. In fact, many EBA tools, including Microsoft Azure’s solutions, are cloud-based which allows them to effectively scale and manage large amounts of data.
When using Entity Behavior Analytics, what kind of activities can indicate a potential threat?
Activities like unusual logins, abnormal file access patterns, unexpected system changes, and deviations from typical network traffic patterns could all indicate a potential threat when analyzed through EBA.
How does Entity Behavior Analytics help in risk mitigation?
By detecting advanced threats early, EBA allows security teams to rapidly respond and contain the threat, which can mitigate the risk of a serious breach. Furthermore, EBA’s insights can guide proactive measures to strengthen the security posture.
How does Microsoft 365 Defender incorporate Entity Behavior Analytics?
Microsoft 365 Defender utilizes EBA as part of its threat protection suite. It continuously analyzes entity behaviors such as logins, file and network activities to detect potential security threats, thereby enhancing overall protection.
What kind of reports can you generate using Entity Behavior Analytics?
With EBA, you can generate a variety of reports, including risk assessment reports, suspicious activity reports, incident reports, and threat intelligence reports, among others.
What entities does EBA monitor?
EBA can monitor a variety of entities, including users, endpoints, network traffic, databases, applications, file servers, and cloud services, among others. The specific entities monitored may vary depending on the specific EBA tool used.
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