5.6 Security awareness
📘CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
In cybersecurity, anomalous behavior means any action by a user, system, or device that is unusual, unexpected, or risky. Detecting these behaviors is important because they often indicate a security problem, such as an insider threat, malware, or a human mistake that could lead to data loss.
Anomalous behavior is generally classified into three main types:
1. Risky Behavior
Definition: Actions that increase the chance of a security incident or breach. These behaviors are intentional but unsafe.
Examples in IT:
- Clicking links in emails from unknown senders (phishing risk).
- Sharing passwords or credentials with others.
- Downloading unverified software from the internet.
- Using weak or default passwords for sensitive accounts.
Why it matters:
Risky behavior can open the door for attackers. Even a single risky action can compromise an entire system or network.
2. Unexpected Behavior
Definition: Actions that are unusual for a user, system, or device. This may indicate a security incident or a misconfigured system.
Examples in IT:
- A user suddenly accessing files they normally never touch (could indicate insider threat or compromised account).
- A server suddenly sending large amounts of data outside the network (possible data exfiltration).
- A device starting to communicate with an unknown external IP address (possible malware or hacker activity).
Why it matters:
Unexpected behavior can help detect attacks early. Security systems often use monitoring tools and alerts to flag these anomalies.
3. Unintentional Behavior
Definition: Actions that cause a security problem, but without malicious intent. These are usually mistakes by users.
Examples in IT:
- Accidentally sending an internal document to the wrong external email address.
- Misconfiguring firewall rules or cloud storage permissions.
- Storing sensitive files in a public folder.
- Forgetting to update software or apply security patches.
Why it matters:
Even unintentional behavior can lead to data breaches, system downtime, or regulatory violations.
How Organizations Detect Anomalous Behavior
To protect systems, IT teams use various tools to detect anomalous behaviors:
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems – collect logs and alert unusual activity.
- User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) – track user or device behavior patterns and flag deviations.
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) – monitors devices for unusual or risky activity.
Example:
If a user normally accesses their email and a few project folders, but suddenly downloads hundreds of files at 2 a.m., the system may flag this as anomalous behavior.
Key Takeaways for the Exam
- Anomalous behavior can be risky, unexpected, or unintentional.
- All three types can indicate a security threat or mistake.
- Detecting these behaviors is critical to preventing breaches.
- Tools like SIEM, UEBA, and EDR are commonly used to monitor and respond.
- Security awareness training can reduce risky and unintentional behaviors.
Simple Summary
Think of anomalous behavior as “something is off.” It could be:
- Risky → user is doing something unsafe on purpose.
- Unexpected → something unusual is happening.
- Unintentional → a mistake caused a potential security issue.
By teaching employees to recognize risky actions and using monitoring tools for unexpected events, organizations can reduce security incidents significantly.
