Advanced Threat Hunting and Its Importance for Your Company

Traditional security tools often miss advanced and hidden threats—especially as attackers evolve their methods using AI. Today, artificial intelligence doesn’t just aid defenders; it also helps cybercriminals craft smarter, more convincing attacks. In fact, 60% of recipients fall victim to AI-generated phishing emails, a rate comparable to traditional phishing, according to Harvard Business Review.

Advanced threat hunting helps your company stay ahead by actively searching for threats that evade automated defenses. It’s a proactive way to detect and stop cyberattacks before they cause serious damage.

In this blog, we’ll explain what cyber threat hunting is, how it works, and how your business can use it to improve security and reduce risk.

What Is Advanced Threat Hunting?

Threat hunting is a proactive cybersecurity method where experts actively search for threats that may already be inside your network—often without triggering any alerts. Unlike traditional security tools that wait for known attack patterns, advanced threat hunting looks for unusual behavior and signs of hidden threats that standard systems might miss.

It combines human expertise with technologies like artificial intelligence and behavioral analytics to find threats early.

For example, a threat hunter might spot unusual login activity from a server that's rarely used. While automated tools might ignore it, a closer look could reveal that a hacker is quietly moving through the network—something only cyber threat hunting would catch before it’s too late.

Difference Between Threat Hunting and Threat Detection

Threat detection and threat hunting serve different roles in cybersecurity.

• Threat detection uses automated tools like SIEMs to identify known threats based on rules and patterns.
• Threat hunting is a manual, proactive process that looks for unknown threats or suspicious behavior that detection tools might miss.

Together, they create a stronger defense—especially when supported by solutions like Threat Intelligence and Incident Responder.

Why Does Your Company Need Advanced Threat Hunting?

Traditional security tools like firewalls, antivirus software, and SIEM systems can only detect known threats. However, cybercriminals are constantly developing new tactics to bypass these defenses, often remaining undetected for weeks or even months.

Advanced threat hunting fills this gap by actively looking for hidden threats that automated tools miss. It helps identify silent breaches, reveals weaknesses in your security setup, and stops attacks before they cause real harm.

When combined with Security Awareness Training, it strengthens your defense by addressing both technical and human vulnerabilities—ensuring that while threat hunters look for signs of intrusion, employees are also trained to avoid falling for social engineering attacks like phishing or vishing.

Common Cyber Threats Companies Face

Companies today face increasingly complex threats that traditional defenses often fail to catch. Some of the most pressing risks include:

• Phishing and Quishing attacks: Cybercriminals now use tactics like QR code phishing and voice-based scams to bypass email filters and trick employees. These newer methods are harder to detect and increasingly effective.
• Ransomware: Attackers encrypt company data and demand large sums for its release. In many cases, ransom demands have exceeded $1 million, significantly disrupting operations. Explore ransomware threats.
• Insider threats: Employees—whether through negligence or malicious intent—remain a major risk factor. According to the 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon, the human element was involved in 68% of breaches, showing how critical it is to address user behavior.

These evolving threats show why managed threat hunting is vital. It enables organizations to uncover and respond to hidden risks before they cause damage, complementing other defensive strategies.

How Threat Hunting Minimizes Business Risks

Threat hunting helps reduce business risk by identifying and stopping threats that traditional tools often miss. Instead of waiting for alerts, it actively looks for signs of compromise—allowing your team to respond faster and limit potential damage.

Here’s how it reduces risk:

• Early detection: Threat hunters can spot unusual behavior or hidden threats before they escalate. This prevents attackers from staying undetected and causing long-term harm.
• Faster incident response: With deeper visibility into your network, your security team gets actionable information, allowing them to investigate and contain threats quickly.
• Reduced costs: Identifying threats early means avoiding the high expenses of data loss, downtime, and recovery. Preventing a breach is always less costly than fixing one.

To evaluate how well your organization handles advanced phishing attempts, you can use the Email Threat Simulator to identify and fix gaps in your defenses.

How Advanced Threat Hunting Works

Advanced threat hunting follows a structured process to find threats that traditional tools often overlook. It starts with forming a hypothesis—based on threat intelligence or unusual network behavior—and then investigates to confirm or rule out a threat.

The process typically includes:

1. Hypothesis creation: Security analysts use data, threat intel, or patterns to identify potential risks worth investigating.
2. Data collection and analysis: Tools and sensors across endpoints, servers, and networks are used to gather and analyze activity.
3. Threat identification: Suspicious behavior is flagged and investigated to confirm whether it’s a real threat.
4. Response and mitigation: If a threat is found, the team acts quickly to contain and eliminate it and adjust defenses to prevent future incidents.

By actively searching for hidden risks, cyber threat hunting gives organizations a stronger chance to detect threats early and stop them before they escalate.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Threat Hunting

Artificial intelligence (AI) enhances threat hunting by helping security teams detect hidden threats faster and more accurately. It processes vast amounts of data in real time, revealing patterns that humans might miss.

Here’s how AI supports threat hunting:

• Behavior analysis: AI monitors user and system activity to detect unusual behavior—like abnormal login times or access to sensitive data—often signaling a potential threat.
• Data correlation: It connects dots across multiple sources—such as system logs, threat intelligence, and endpoint data—to provide a full picture of suspicious activity.
• Threat prioritization: AI scores potential threats based on risk, helping analysts focus on what matters most instead of wasting time on false positives.

By automating the heavy lifting, AI allows cyber threat hunting teams to be faster, more efficient, and more accurate in identifying threats that traditional tools might overlook.

Benefits of Advanced Threat Hunting for Your Company

Implementing advanced threat hunting gives your company a major advantage by improving detection, response, and overall security outcomes. Key benefits include:

• Earlier threat detection: Hunting helps you find threats before they trigger alerts or cause damage.
• Shorter dwell time: It reduces the time attackers stay hidden in your systems, minimizing both exposure and potential damage. Learn more about phishing dwell time in this Keepnet article.
• Cost savings: Preventing an attack is far less expensive than recovering from one—saving time, money, and reputation.
• Regulatory readiness: Many regulations now expect proactive security measures. Threat hunting helps demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

Advanced Threat Hunting Strategies for Modern Businesses

Modern businesses face increasingly targeted attacks that often bypass traditional defenses. To detect these threats early, organizations need to apply focused threat hunting strategies backed by the right tools.

Here’s what works:

• Start with high-risk areas: Prioritize threat hunts around critical systems like email, finance platforms, and executive accounts. Use the Email Threat Simulator to test how these systems respond to phishing-based intrusions.
• Leverage threat intelligence: Use updated attacker data to shape hunting hypotheses. Keepnet’s Threat Intelligence integrates real-time insights to help your team predict and focus on the most relevant threats.
• Monitor user and network behavior: Identify red flags like off-hours access, repeated failed logins, or unusual file transfers. Tools like Smishing Simulator and Vishing Protection help simulate and analyze human interaction risks across communication channels.
• Automate analysis with AI: Behavioral analytics and AI-driven tools reduce noise and surface real threats faster. Keepnet’s Human Risk Management Platform uses behavior-based scoring to highlight risky user actions that may require immediate investigation.

Applying these strategies with the right tools helps you detect threats earlier, focus your efforts, and act before attackers gain a foothold.

Proactive vs. Reactive Threat Management

Reactive security waits for alerts from known threats and responds after detection. In contrast, proactive threat hunting assumes attackers may already be inside the network and takes action before damage is done.

Proactive threat hunting cyber security involves:

• Investigating unusual activity even when no alerts are triggered.
• Using shared threat data from platforms like Threat Sharing to stay ahead of known attacker tactics.
• Identifying new or stealthy threats before they reach critical systems.

By shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach, your team gains control and reduces the chances of being caught off guard.

Continuous Monitoring and Assessment

Threat hunting isn’t a one-time task—it requires constant attention. Continuous monitoring helps detect threats as they emerge, not after damage is done.

Key components include:

• Regular assessments: Routinely review logs, user activity, and system behavior to identify unusual patterns.
• Behavioral analytics: Use tools that detect deviations from normal activity, such as unexpected access times or file movements.
• Human oversight: Analysts validate suspicious behavior and investigate further to confirm threats.

Maintaining this ongoing process ensures your organization stays alert and ready to respond at the earliest sign of compromise.

Threat Hunting Best Practices for Your Company

To make your threat hunting efforts effective, focus on practical, results-driven actions that align with your company’s risks and systems.

• Hunt based on real threats: Use threat intelligence from recent attacks in your industry—like phishing or credential theft—to guide each hunt.
• Target risky areas: Focus on high-risk systems such as remote access platforms, cloud storage, or privileged accounts.
• Establish clear hypotheses: Start each hunt with a specific question, like “Has there been unauthorized access to finance servers in the past 7 days?”
• Analyze user behavior, not just logs: Look for patterns like failed logins outside business hours or sudden spikes in data transfers.
• Track and share outcomes: Document what you find, even if it’s clean. This builds insight over time and improves coordination across teams.

By narrowing your focus and aligning hunts with real business risks, cyber threat hunting becomes a valuable, ongoing part of your security operations.

To strengthen your defenses even further, explore how Keepnet's Adaptive Security Awareness Training Software uses AI to deliver personalized and effective employee training that reduces human risk.

Regularly Updating Threat Intelligence

Up-to-date threat intelligence is critical for effective threat hunting. It ensures your team is focusing on real, current risks—not outdated threats.

Here’s how to keep it current:

• Use trusted threat intelligence sources: Rely on feeds that reflect the latest attacker tools, tactics, and behaviors.
• Collaborate with peers and industry groups: Sharing findings improves visibility into active threats targeting your sector.
• Integrate intel into your hunting process: Apply threat data directly to your hunts—filter logs, spot patterns, and build better hypotheses.

For a deeper understanding of how collaboration strengthens your defenses, read Keepnet’s guide on Threat Intelligence.

Aligning Threat Hunting with Business Objectives

Threat hunting should directly support your organization’s most important goals. To make it impactful, align your efforts with what matters most to the business.

Here’s how to do that:

• Focus on high-value assets: Prioritize systems and data that are critical to operations—like customer records, financial systems, or intellectual property.
• Support compliance requirements: Tailor hunts to identify threats that could lead to regulatory violations or data breaches.
• Communicate results clearly: Share findings and progress with leadership to show how threat hunting reduces risk and protects key business functions.

When aligned properly, threat hunting becomes not just a technical task—but a strategic part of your company’s risk management.

Challenges in Implementing Advanced Threat Hunting

While advanced threat hunting brings clear benefits, it also presents several challenges organizations need to address:

• Skill gaps: Many security teams lack professionals with the expertise to proactively hunt for threats. Investing in training or bringing in specialized talent is often necessary.
• Data overload: Large volumes of logs and telemetry can overwhelm teams. Without effective filtering and analytics, real threats can be missed.
• Limited time and resources: Threat hunting requires dedicated time and focus. Without proper planning, it risks becoming secondary to reactive security tasks.
• Workflow integration: Aligning hunting activities with existing tools, teams, and reporting structures takes coordination and effort.

Tackling these challenges upfront ensures that cyber threat hunting becomes a reliable and scalable part of your defense strategy.

For a related approach to strengthening human resilience in your security strategy, explore Keepnet’s AI-Powered Hyper-Personalized Security Awareness Program—a strategic guide to tailoring training based on real risk.

Overcoming Skill Shortages in Cybersecurity

Many security teams lack the expertise and time needed for deep threat hunting, making the cybersecurity skills gap a major obstacle.

To address this challenge:

• Use managed threat hunting services: External experts can monitor and analyze threats without stretching your internal team.
• Upskill your team: Provide targeted training on attacker techniques, analysis skills, and threat detection. You can start with Keepnet’s Free Security Awareness Training to build foundational knowledge.
• Automate where possible: Use AI and analytics tools to reduce manual workloads and help analysts focus on real threats.

This combined approach helps build stronger internal capabilities while maintaining consistent protection.

Balancing Costs and Benefits

Threat hunting requires investment—skilled professionals, advanced tools, and dedicated time. However, the cost of ignoring proactive defense is far greater. According to Statista, cybercrime is projected to cost businesses up to $15.63 trillion by 2029, underscoring the urgent need for strategies that can detect and stop threats early.

By reducing the risk of breaches and minimizing response costs, advanced threat hunting helps protect both your operations and your bottom line. Tools like the Phishing Risk Score help measure your security performance and demonstrate real return on investment.