What is cybersecurity threat mitigation?

Stages in threat mitigation

We can break threat mitigation down into a series of stages that work together in the threat mitigation lifecycle:

1. Prevention

Ideally, security teams make harmful cyber-attacks impossible by designing watertight security measures to prevent attacks. Prevention techniques assess and fix vulnerabilities, taking into account specific network threats. Experts shrink the threat surface, cutting the risk of successful attacks.

2. Detection

Some cyber threats will get through, even with the best prevention strategy. The second stage in threat mitigation strategies monitors network activity and traffic. Security teams look for new and ongoing threats, identifying cases for investigation and incident responses.

3. Remediation

The third threat mitigation stage resolves cyber-attacks when they are detected. Security teams respond promptly and decisively to contain attackers, sandbox affected assets, and remove malicious agents.

Why is threat mitigation important?

Threat mitigation is important because it responds to ever-growing cyber-attack threats. According to IBM, the average data breach costs $4.88 million. There are 20-25 ransomware attacks every day, while DDoS attacks rose 46% in the first half of 2024.

Any organization is vulnerable to cyber-attacks. 39% of small businesses in the USA reported a cyber-attack in 2024, while even the largest companies fall victim to data breaches. Threat mitigation enables companies to prevent, detect, and resolve attacks before data loss happens.

Threat mitigation has other benefits beyond cutting the risk of cybercrime. Mitigation strategies protect sensitive data. Companies can meet compliance standards and avoid the reputational damage caused by unauthorized data exposure.

Streamlined threat mitigation strategies also ensure business continuity during cyber incidents. Security teams can minimize the spread of attacks, isolate affected assets, and quickly resolve incidents. This cuts downtime related to cyber-attacks and saves money.

Cybersecurity threat mitigation also helps you maintain an internal security culture. Mitigation strategies monitor for insider threats. They include training programs to boost security knowledge and minimize the risk of accidental data exposure.

There is also a strong business case for investing in threat mitigation strategies. Companies that detect and remove threats efficiently gain a competitive advantage over peers with a poor security reputation and a history of constant breaches.

Critical threat mitigation strategies

Before we look in detail at mitigation tools and techniques, it's important to understand the strategic concepts that underpin threat mitigation. An effective threat mitigation system must meet three strategic requirements:

Incident response and recovery

Security teams need a clear playbook to eradicate threats and recover critical systems during ransomware or DDoS attacks.

Digital recovery requires continuity planning. For instance, companies may adopt encrypted backup storage—preferably in secure external locations. Communication is also vital. Security teams should know which stakeholders to contact and when to inform regulators, executives, and customers.

Real-time threat detection

Threat mitigation should be continuous. You cannot leave gaps without threat detection or alerts. Security teams should adopt proactive threat mitigation strategies—constantly monitoring endpoints and traffic for suspicious activity.

Companies typically use threat protection services to ensure ongoing coverage. This includes Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions. These tools should deliver relevant and timely data for ongoing analysis, allowing security teams to decide when to escalate alerts.

Proactive reputation protection

The third strategic essential involves protecting the company's brand reputation. Data breaches inevitably compromise customer trust, leading to lost revenue.

Threat mitigation strategies use tools like encryption, segmentation, and access controls to cut local data breach risks and prevent exposure. Global threat intelligence also detects data extraction and profiles potential threats.

Threat mitigation best practices

Mitigating cyber threats is not easy. Threat actors constantly discover new techniques and ways to breach network defenses, and achieving visibility across a complex threat landscape is challenging.

However, following the best practices below will help achieve strategic threat mitigation goals:

Carry out a cybersecurity risk assessment

Organizations must base cybersecurity strategies on risk analysis. Your threat mitigation risk assessment should define risks that the organization currently faces. Security professionals should assign a probability and severity score for each risk, and prioritize threats with the highest risk scores.

Risk assessment is an essential building block in cybersecurity threat mitigation. It uncovers existing security vulnerabilities and mitigation capabilities, providing guidance about areas of improvement.

For example, the risk assessment might consider cyber threats like ransomware attacks, brute-forcing, browser attacks, insider attacks, DDoS attacks, and phishing. Each threat carries a different risk level, which varies between industries and companies.

Implement robust access controls

Protect network endpoints and critical assets with multi-factor authentication (MFA). Additional authentication factors make it harder to mount credential-stuffing attacks or leverage stolen data to gain network access.

Enforce strong passwords

Password hygiene is another threat mitigation fundamental. Security policies should require strong passwords (featuring combinations of letters, numbers, and other characters). Require regular password changes and prohibit password sharing between accounts and users.

Assign minimal privileges to network users

Users should have access to the resources they need and nothing more. Enforcing the principle of least privilege (PoLP) minimizes the freedom of attackers to move within networks—even if they obtain legitimate access credentials.

Another prevention best practice is continuously monitoring privilege escalations (assigning administrative powers for temporary periods). Attackers look for over-privileged accounts, so downgrade user privileges when escalation is not required.

Consider supply chain attack risks

Most companies rely on third parties to supply cloud services, maintain systems, and provide specialist software. However, supply chain attacks target corporate vendors. Attacks on third parties can cascade to clients, putting your confidential data at risk.

Guard against supply chain cyber threats by thoroughly vetting vendors according to security standards. Extend access controls and the PoLP to third-party accounts, and integrate third-party collaboration in incident response plans (where applicable).

Regularly update applications and devices

Vulnerability management is a core component of threat mitigation strategies. Criminals use application exploits to gain wider network access, and exploits can affect all internet-facing applications (or device firmware).

Create a patch management strategy covering all endpoints and exposed applications. A threat intelligence platform can help by delivering timely updates about new exploits and active attack groups.

Use advanced threat mitigation tools

Companies should use external security services and tools to enhance their security posture. Examples of threat mitigation solutions include:

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Endpoints are common entry points for malware and data thieves. EDR secures these network weak points by looking for suspicious data transfers, unknown devices, and anomalous user behavior. EDR also leverages threat intelligence platform services to monitor exploits and look for advanced persistent threats (APTs).
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): IDS tools monitor traffic for malware signatures and suspicious activity. Real-time monitoring provides almost instant security alerts for assessment by the security team and generates intelligence to inform mitigation processes.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM monitors traffic and behavior from many sources, collating this data in a single threat dashboard. Security teams can monitor logs in real time and gain essential context about security alerts. This provides a robust starting point for effective mitigation efforts.
• User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA): Monitors user behavior within the network. UEBA uses machine learning and AI to establish legitimate behavior patterns and detect suspicious anomalies. This data often provides an early warning about infiltration and insider threat attacks.
• Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs): NGFWs execute deep packet inspection of traffic entering and leaving the network, enabling security teams to detect advanced threats and analyze traffic patterns.

Create and update a robust incident response plan

Incident response plans are critically important because they guide the mitigation phase of your cybersecurity strategy. IR plans should provide clarity, allowing teams to understand threats and rapidly decide on suitable responses.

Components of incident response plans include:

• Communication guidelines: When to report incidents to stakeholders, customers, and colleagues. This includes information-sharing guidelines informed by compliance requirements.
• Critical network assets: What systems are essential to keep the business running? These systems should be a top priority when ensuring availability during cyber-attacks.
• Risk analysis: Security professionals should assess whether the current threat poses a risk to data security, business operations, finances, or compliance status.
• Team responsibilities: There should be no discussion about roles. Team members must know their place in the response team before alerts arrive.

Routinely audit your security posture

Remember that threat mitigation is a continuous process. The same applies to security measures. Threat mitigation teams should drive a continual improvement process, plugging security gaps and adding new functionality to mitigate emerging threats.

Schedule annual security audits that test the effectiveness of your threat mitigation techniques, investigating spikes in cybersecurity alerts, false positives, and user behavior. Use the findings to recommend improvements to threat mitigation systems.

Counter cyber-attacks with threat mitigation techniques

Threat mitigation is a cybersecurity model that combines threat prevention, detection, and mitigation. The model works well because it encourages companies to strengthen their defenses and put in place measures to handle attacks when they occur.

With cyber threats escalating—costing millions per breach and targeting businesses of all sizes—threat mitigation is essential for protecting sensitive data, ensuring compliance, maintaining business continuity, and safeguarding reputation.

Companies with sufficient resources can source threat mitigation strategies internally. However, partnering with threat protection experts provides an alternative way to secure data and network assets. Assess your budget and scope, and find a threat mitigation solution that defends your systems.