Chapter 1, Introduction to the Threat Landscape, provides an overview of the cybersecurity threat landscape, including an analysis of the types of threats that organizations face, the different motivations and goals of threat actors, and the potential impact of cyber attacks on businesses, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences.

Chapter 2, Understanding the Attack Life Cycle, provides a comprehensive overview of the typical phases of a sophisticated cyber attack with Windows systems in scope. It provides a detailed account of the various stages involved in the attack, from initial reconnaissance and infiltration to data exfiltration and impact. Furthermore, it examines the tactics and techniques employed by threat actors at each stage of the attack, including their operator activities, malware, and dual-use tools used.

Chapter 3, Phases of an Efficient Incident Response on Windows Architecture, presents an overview of the various stages involved in an effective incident response process. It outlines a step-by-step approach to incident response, including preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication and recovery, and post-incident activity.

Chapter 4, Endpoint Forensic Evidence Collection, addresses the various methodologies employed for the acquisition of forensic evidence from Windows OS-driven endpoints within the context of an incident response investigation. It covers best practices for the preservation and analysis of the collected evidence, including the creation of forensic images, maintenance of a chain of custody, as well as utilization of specialized tools for analysis.

Chapter 5, Gaining Access to the Network, provides an overview of the initial access techniques and the investigation methods employed to identify any breaches. It also examines the external attack surface and the factors that may facilitate a threat actor’s ability to breach the infrastructure perimeter. Furthermore, it describes the forensic artifacts that may contain such evidence and the analytical approach typically employed to analyze them.

Chapter 6, Establishing a Foothold, provides guidance on the determination of the extent of the attacker’s activity on the system. It encompasses various methods employed by adversaries for the establishment of a foothold and provides the requisite tools and techniques for the investigation and response to these stages of attacks.

Chapter 7, Network and Key Assets Discovery, addresses the phase of the attack life cycle that occurs after the attacker’s successful establishment of a foothold within the target system. This section provides an overview of the techniques employed by adversaries to identify and map the Windows environment, including the discovery and mapping of active hosts, the construction of a network topology map, and the identification of key assets. Additionally, it provides guidance on the detection and investigation of discovery activities.

Chapter 8, Network Propagation, addresses the phase during which adversaries discovered the network and identified potential targets for lateral movement. This section provides an overview of the techniques employed by attackers to move laterally, execute their tools, maintain infrastructure-wide persistence, compromise new credentials, and prepare for the final stages of the attack. Additionally, readers will gain insights into the detection and response strategies that can be employed in this stage.

Chapter 9, Data Collection and Exfiltration, addresses the final phases of the attack life cycle, during which attackers attempt to gather sensitive data from the compromised system and exfiltrate it to a remote location. Readers will gain insights into the various techniques that attackers employ to collect and exfiltrate data from the victim environment. Additionally, the chapter will discuss the different types of data that adversaries target, including personally identifiable information, financial data, and intellectual property.

Chapter 10, Impact, is concerned with the final phase of the incident response process, during which responders must assess the damage caused by the attack and determine the extent of the impact on the affected systems and data. You will learn about the different types of impact that an attack can have, as well as various methods and metrics that can be employed to assess its extent.

Chapter 11, Threat Hunting and Analysis of TTPs, is devoted to the proactive techniques and tools that organizations can utilize to identify and prevent cyber attacks before they gain sufficient presence. This chapter covers a number of topics, including the application of threat intelligence, the use of anomaly detection, and the utilization of known threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to identify potential security threats.

Chapter 12, Incident Containment, Eradication, and Recovery, outlines the essential steps that must be taken once an incident has been identified and confirmed. It commences by emphasizing the importance of isolating the affected systems in order to prevent further damage and to halt the attacker’s progress. This chapter then presents various techniques for removing the attacker’s presence from the systems and returning the systems to normal operation while minimizing the risk of attack repetition.

Chapter 13, Incident Investigation Closure and Reporting, is dedicated to the significance of effective incident investigation and management, as well as the various aspects of the reporting process. You will gain insights into the importance of maintaining accurate and timely documentation throughout the incident response process, from initial identification of a potential security incident to final resolution and recovery.