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7 Steps to Take After a Credential-Based Attack. These days, hackers don't break in — they log in. Using valid credentials, cybercriminals bypass security systems while appearing legitimate to monitoring tools. And the problem is widespread; Google Cloud reports that weak or nonexistent credential protection facilitates 47% of cloud breaches, while IBM X-Force attributes nearly one-third of global cyberattacks to account compromises.  So what does this mean for your organization’s defenses? Here’s what you need to know about how to protect your systems from credential-based attacks, what to do when prevention fails, and why scanning your Active Directory for compromised passwords should be a part of your security strategy.  Why credential-based attacks are hackers' preferred method Cybercriminals favor credential-based attacks for several reasons: Why organizations become targets Could your organization be an attractive target for credential-based hackers? If you have any of these security gaps, your systems may be more vulnerable than you think. Here’s what makes organizations prime targets: Secure your Active Directory passwords with Specops Password Policy Verizon’s Data Breach Investigation Report found stolen credentials are involved in 44.7% of breaches.    Effortlessly secure Active Directory with compliant password policies, blocking 4+ billion compromised passwords, boosting security, and slashing support hassles! When credentials are compromised: A response scenario If your organization has been the target of a credential-based attack, you know how devastating the aftermath can be. But if you're one of the lucky few that has so far escaped the sights of hackers, here's what it's like: It's 2:37 AM when your phone rings. Your security team has detected unusual login patterns from IP addresses in Eastern Europe — during your company's off-hours. By the time you've logged in remotely, the attacker has accessed multiple sensitive customer files and moved laterally through your network, compromising additional systems. The sinking feeling hits: your organization is experiencing a credential-based attack in real-time. What do you do now? Immediate response steps When credentials fall into the wrong hands and hackers breach your systems, every minute counts — but having a well-rehearsed incident response plan will allow you to minimize damage and recovery time. Here are the typical steps organizations follow when responding to an attack:  Scan your Active Directory to prevent future attacks While it’s important to quickly respond to credential-based attacks, it’s even more important (and cost-effective) to prevent them altogether. By implementing multi-factor authentication, enforcing strong password policies, training your staff regularly, auditing you Active Directory frequently and properly segmenting your network, you’ll reduce your organization's vulnerability. But these measures aren’t enough if credentials have been compromised in previous breaches. That’s why it’s important to include scanning your Active Directory for compromised passwords in your prevention strategy.  Specops Password Policy continuously scans your Active Directory against a database of over four billion unique compromised passwords. When it identifies employees with breached passwords, the platform immediately prompts them to create new, secure credentials — eliminating a major vulnerability before attackers can exploit it. By combining traditional security measures with active credential monitoring, your organization can shield itself from credential-based attacks. Don't wait until after a breach to secure your systems — identify and remediate password vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Try Specops Password Policy for free. Sponsored and written by Specops Software.