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August 22, 2023

Darktrace’s Detection of Unattributed Ransomware

Leveraging anomaly-based detection, we successfully identified an ongoing ransomware attack on the network of a customer and the activity that preceded it.
Inside the SOC
Darktrace cyber analysts are world-class experts in threat intelligence, threat hunting and incident response, and provide 24/7 SOC support to thousands of Darktrace customers around the globe. Inside the SOC is exclusively authored by these experts, providing analysis of cyber incidents and threat trends, based on real-world experience in the field.
Written by
Natalia Sánchez Rocafort
Cyber Security Analyst
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22
Aug 2023

In the current threat landscape, much of the conversation around ransomware focusses on high-profile strains and notorious threat groups. While organizations and their security teams are justified in these concerns, it is important not to underestimate the danger posed by smaller scale, unattributed ransomware attacks.

Unlike attributed ransomware strains, there are often no playbooks or lists of previously observed indicators of compromise (IoCs) that security teams can consult to help them shore up their cyber defenses. As such, anomaly detection is critical to ensure that emerging threats can be detected based on their abnormality on the network, rather than relying heavily on threat intelligence.

In mid-March 2023, a Darktrace customer requested analytical support from the Darktrace Security Operations Center (SOC) after they had been hit by a ransomware attack a few hours earlier. Darktrace was able to uncover a myriad of malicious activity that preceded the eventual ransomware deployment, ultimately assisting the customer to identify compromised devices and contain the ransomware attack.

Attack Overview

While there were a small number of endpoints that had been flagged as malicious by open-source intelligence (OSINT), Darktrace DETECT™ focused on the unusualness of the activity surrounding this emerging ransomware attack. This provided unparalleled visibility over this ransomware attack at every stage of the cyber kill chain, whilst also revealing the potential origins of the compromise which came months area.

Initial Compromise

Initial investigation revealed that several devices that Darktrace were observed performing suspicious activity had previously engaged in anomalous behavior several months before the ransomware event, indicating this could be a part of a repeated compromise or the result of initial access brokers.

Most notably, in late January 2023 there was a spike in unusual activity when some of the affected devices were observed performing activity indicative of network and device scanning.

Darktrace DETECT identified some of the devices establishing unusually high volumes of internal failed connections via TCP and UDP, and the SMB protocol. Various key ports, such as 135, 139, and 445, were also scanned.

Due to the number of affected devices, the exact initial attack vector is unclear; however, one likely scenario is associated with an internet-facing DNS server. Towards the end of January 2023, the server began to receive unusual TCP DNS requests from the rare external endpoint, 103.203.59[.]3, which had been flagged as potentially malicious by OSINT [4]. Based on a portion of the hostname of the device, dc01, we can assume that this server served as a gateway to the domain controller. If a domain controller is compromised, a malicious actor would gain access to usernames and passwords within a network allowing attackers to obtain administrative-level access to an organization’s digital estate.

Around the same time as the unusual TCP DNS requests, Darktrace DETECT observed the domain controller engaging in further suspicious activity. As demonstrated in Figure 1, Darktrace recognized that this server was not responding to common requests from multiple internal devices, as it would be expected to. Following this, the device was observed carrying out new or uncommon Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) activity. WMI is typically used by network administrators to manage remote and local Windows systems [3].

Figure 1: Device event log depicting the possible Initial attack vector.


Had Darktrace RESPOND™ been enabled in autonomous response mode, it would have to blocked connections originating from the compromised internal devices as soon as they were detected, while also limiting affected devices to their pre-established patterns of file to prevent them from carrying out any further malicious activity.

Darktrace subsequently observed multiple devices establishing various chains of connections that are indicative of lateral movement activity, such as unusual internal RDP and WMI requests. While there may be devices within an organization that do regularly partake these types of connections, Darktrace recognized that this activity was extremely unusual for these devices.

Darktrace’s Self-Learning AI allows for a deep understanding of customer networks and the devices within them. It’s anomaly-based threat detection capability enables it to recognize subtle deviations in a device’s normal patterns of behavior, without depending on known IoCs or signatures and rules to guide it.

Figure 2: Observed chain of possible lateral movement.


Persistence

Darktrace DETECT observed several affected devices communicating with rare external endpoints that had also been flagged as potentially malicious by OSINT tools. Multiple devices were observed performing activity indicative of NTLM brute-forcing activity, as seen in the Figure 3 which highlights the event log of the aforementioned domain controller. Said domain controller continuously engaged in anomalous behavior throughout the course of the attack. The same device was seen using a potentially compromise credential, ‘cvd’, which was observed via an SMB login event.

Figure 3: Continued unusual external connectivity.


Affected devices, including the domain controller, continued to engage in consistent communication with the endpoints prior to the actual ransomware attack. Darktrace identified that some of these malicious endpoints had likely been generated by Domain Generation Algorithms (DGA), a classic tactic utilized by threat actors. Subsequent OSINT investigation revealed that one such domain had been associated with malware such as TrojanDownloader:Win32/Upatre!rfn [5].

All external engagements were observed by Darktrace DETECT and would have been actioned on by Darktrace RESPOND, had it been configured in autonomous response mode. It would have blocked any suspicious outgoing connections originating from the compromised devices, thus preventing additional external engagement from taking place. Darktrace RESPOND works in tandem with DETECT to autonomously take action against suspicious activity based on its unusualness, rather than relying on static lists of ‘known-bads’ or malicious IoCs.

Reconnaissance

On March 14, 2023, a few days before the ransomware attack, Darktrace observed multiple internal devices failing to establish connections in a manner that suggests SMB, RDP and network scanning. Among these devices once more was the domain controller, which was seen performing potential SMB brute-forcing, representing yet another example of malicious activity carried out by this device.

Lateral Movement

Immediately prior to the attack, many compromised devices were observed mobilizing to conduct an array of high-severity lateral movement activity. Darktrace detected one device using two administrative credentials, namely ‘Administrator’ and ‘administrator’, while it also observed a notable spike in the volume of successful SMB connections from the device around the same time.

At this point, Darktrace DETECT was observing the progression of this attack along the cyber kill chain. What had started as internal recognisance, had escalated to exploitation and ensuing command-and-control activity. Following an SMB brute-force attempt, Darktrace DETECT identified a successful DCSync attack.

A DCSync attack occurs when a malicious actor impersonates a domain controller in an effort to gather sensitive information, such as user credentials and passwords hashes, by replicating directory services [1]. In this case, a device sent various successful DRSGetNCChanges operation requests to the DRSUAPI endpoint.

Data Exfiltration

Around the same time, Darktrace detected the compromised server transferring a high volume of data to rare external endpoints associated with Bublup, a third-party project management application used to save and share files. Although the actors attempted to avoid the detection of security tools by using a legitimate file storage service, Darktrace understood that this activity represented a deviation in this device’s expected pattern of life.

In one instance, around 8 GB of data was transferred, and in another, over 4 GB, indicating threat actors were employing a tactic known as ‘low and slow’ exfiltration whereby data is exfiltrated in small quantities via multiple connections, in an effort to mask their suspicious activity. While this tactic may have evaded the detection of traditional security measures, Darktrace’s anomaly-based detection allowed it to recognize that these two incidents represented a wider exfiltration event, rather than viewing the transfers in isolation.

Impact

Finally, Darktrace began to observe a large amount of suspicious SMB activity on the affected devices, most of which was SMB file encryption. DETECT observed the file extension ‘uw9nmvw’ being appended to many files across various internal shares and devices. In addition to this, a potential ransom note, ‘RECOVER-uw9nmvw-FILES.txt’, was detected on the network shortly after the start of the attack.

Figure 4: Depiction of the high-volume of suspicious SMB activity, including file encryption.


Conclusion

Ultimately, this incident show cases how Darktrace was able to successfully identify an emerging ransomware attack using its unrivalled anomaly-based detection capabilities, without having to rely on any previously established threat intelligence. Not only was Darktrace DETECT able to identify the ransomware at multiple stages of the kill chain, but it was also able to uncover the anomalous activity that took place in the buildup to the attack itself.

As the attack progressed along the cyber kill chain, escalating in severity at every juncture, DETECT was able to provide full visibility over the events. Through the successful identification of compromised devices, anomalous administrative credentials usage and encrypted files, Darktrace was able to greatly assist the customer, ensuring they were well-equipped to contain the incident and begin their incident management process.

Darktrace would have been able to aid the customer even further had they enabled its autonomous response technology on their network. Darktrace RESPOND would have taken targeted, mitigative action as soon as suspicious activity was detected, preventing the malicious actors from achieving their goals.

Credit to: Natalia Sánchez Rocafort, Cyber Security Analyst, Patrick Anjos, Senior Cyber Analyst.

MITRE Tactics/Techniques Mapping

RECONNAISSANCE

Scanning IP Blocks  (T1595.001)

RECONNAISSANCE

Vulnerability Scanning  (T1595.002)

IMPACT

Service Stop  (T1489)

LATERAL MOVEMENT

Taint Shared Content (T1080)

IMPACT

Data Encrypted for Impact (T1486)

INITIAL ACCESS

Replication Through Removable Media (T1200)

DEFENSE EVASION

Rogue Domain Controller (T1207)

COMMAND AND CONTROL

Domain Generation Algorithms (T1568.002)

EXECUTION

Windows Management Instrumentation (T1047)

INITIAL ACCESS

Phishing (T1190)

EXFILTRATION

Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041)

IoC Table

IoC ----------- TYPE ------------- DESCRIPTION + PROBABILITY

CVD --------- credentials -------- Possible compromised credential

.UW9NMVW - File extension ----- Possible appended file extension

RECOVER-UW9NMVW-FILES.TXT - Ransom note - Possible ransom note observed

84.32.188[.]186 - IP address ------ C2 Endpoint

AS.EXECSVCT[.]COM - Hostname - C2 Endpoint

ZX.EXECSVCT[.]COM - Hostname - C2 Endpoint

QW.EXECSVCT[.]COM - Hostname - C2 Endpoint

EXECSVCT[.]COM - Hostname ------ C2 Endpoint

15.197.130[.]221 --- IP address ------ C2 Endpoint

AS59642 UAB CHERRY SERVERS - ASN - Possible ASN associated with C2 Endpoints

108.156.28[.]43

108.156.28[.]22

52.84.93[.]26

52.217.131[.]241

54.231.193[.]89 - IP addresses - Possible IP addresses associated with data exfiltration

103.203.59[.]3 -IP address ---- Possible IP address associated with initial attack vector

References:

[1] https://blog.netwrix.com/2021/11/30/what-is-dcsync-an-introduction/

[2] https://www.easeus.com/computer-instruction/delete-system32.html#:~:text=System32%20is%20a%20folder%20on,DLL%20files%2C%20and%20EXE%20files.

[3] https://www.techtarget.com/searchwindowsserver/definition/Windows-Management-Instrumentation#:~:text=WMI%20provides%20users%20with%20information,operational%20environments%2C%20including%20remote%20systems.

[4] https://www.virustotal.com/gui/ip-address/103.203.59[.]3

[5] https://otx.alienvault.com/indicator/ip/15.197.130[.]221

Inside the SOC
Darktrace cyber analysts are world-class experts in threat intelligence, threat hunting and incident response, and provide 24/7 SOC support to thousands of Darktrace customers around the globe. Inside the SOC is exclusively authored by these experts, providing analysis of cyber incidents and threat trends, based on real-world experience in the field.
Written by
Natalia Sánchez Rocafort
Cyber Security Analyst

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September 15, 2025

SEO Poisoning and Fake PuTTY sites: Darktrace’s Investigation into the Oyster backdoor

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What is SEO poisoning?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the legitimate marketing technique of improving the visibility of websites in organic search engine results. Businesses, publishers, and organizations use SEO to ensure their content is easily discoverable by users. Techniques may include optimizing keywords, creating backlinks, or even ensuring mobile compatibility.

SEO poisoning occurs when attackers use these same techniques for malicious purposes. Instead of improving the visibility of legitimate content, threat actors use SEO to push harmful or deceptive websites to the top of search results. This method exploits the common assumption that top-ranking results are trustworthy, leading users to click on URLs without carefully inspecting them.

As part of SEO poisoning, the attacker will first register a typo-squatted domain, slightly misspelled or otherwise deceptive versions of real software sites, such as putty[.]run or puttyy[.]org. These sites are optimized for SEO and often even backed by malicious Google ads, increasing the visibility when users search for download links. To achieve that, threat actors may embed pages with strategically chosen, high-value keywords or replicate content from reputable sources to elevate the domain’s perceived authority in search engine algorithms [4]. In more advanced operations, these tactics are reinforced with paid promotion, such as Google ads, enabling malicious domains to appear above organic search results as sponsored links. This placement not only accelerates visibility but also impacts an unwarranted sense of legitimacy to unsuspected users.

Once a user lands on one of these fake pages, they are presented with what looks like a legitimate software download option. Upon clicking the download indicator, the user will be redirected to another separate domain that actually hosts the payload. This hosting domain is usually unrelated to the nominally referenced software. These third-party sites can involve recently registered domains but may also include legitimate websites that have been recently compromised. By hosting malware on a variety of infrastructure, attackers can prolong the availability of distribution methods for these malicious files before they are taken down.

What is the Oyster backdoor?

Oyster, also known as Broomstick or CleanUpLoader, is a C++ based backdoor malware first identified in July 2023. It enables remote access to infected systems, offering features such as command-line interaction and file transfers.

Oyster has been widely adopted by various threat actors, often as an entry point for ransomware attacks. Notable examples include Vanilla Tempest and Rhysida ransomware groups, both of which have been observed leveraging the Oyster backdoor to enhance their attack capabilities. Vanilla Tempest is known for using Oyster’s stealth persistence to maintain long-term access within targeted networks, often aligning their operations with ransomware deployment [5]. Rhysida has taken this further by deploying Oyster as an initial access tool in ransomware campaigns, using it to conduct reconnaissance and move laterally before executing encryption activities [6].

Once installed, the backdoor gathers basic system information before communicating with a command-and-control (C2) server. The malware largely relies on a ‘cmd.exe’ instance to execute commands and launch other files [1].

In previous SEO poisoning cases, the file downloaded from the fake pages is not just PuTTY, but a trojanized version that includes the stealthy Oyster backdoor. PuTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator for Windows that allows users to connect to remote servers and devices using protocols like SSH and Telnet. In the recent campaign, once a user visits the fake software download site, ranked highly through SEO poisoning, the malicious payload is downloaded through direct user interaction and subsequently installed on the local device, initiating the compromise. The malware then performs two actions simultaneously: it installs a fully functional version of PuTTY to avoid user suspicion, while silently deploying the Oyster backdoor. Given PuTTY’s nature, it is prominently used by IT administrators with highly privileged account as opposed to standard users in a business, possibly narrowing the scope of the targets.

Oyster’s persistence mechanism involves creating a Windows Scheduled Task that runs every few minutes. Notably, the infection uses Dynamic Link Library (DLL) side loading, where a malicious DLL, often named ‘twain_96.dll’, is executed via the legitimate Windows utility ‘rundll32.exe’, which is commonly used to run DLLs [2]. This technique is frequently used by malicious actors to blend their activity with normal system operations.

Darktrace’s Coverage of the Oyster Backdoor

In June 2025, security analysts at Darktrace identified a campaign leveraging search engine manipulation to deliver malware masquerading as the popular SSH client, PuTTY. Darktrace / NETWORK’s anomaly-based detection identified signs of malicious activity, and when properly configured, its Autonomous Response capability swiftly shut down the threar before it could escalate into a more disruptive attack. Subsequent analysis by Darktrace’s Threat Research team revealed that the payload was a variant of the Oyster backdoor.

The first indicators of an emerging Oyster SEO campaign typically appeared when user devices navigated to a typosquatted domain, such as putty[.]run or putty app[.]naymin[.]com, via a TLS/SSL connection.

Figure 1: Darktrace’s detection of a device connecting to the typosquatted domain putty[.]run.

The device would then initiate a connection to a secondary domain that hosts the malicious installer, likely triggered by user interaction with redirect elements on the landing page. This secondary site may not have any immediate connection to PuTTY itself but is instead a hijacked blog, a file-sharing service, or a legitimate-looking content delivery subdomain.

Figure 2: Darktrace’s detection of the device making subsequent connections to the payload domain.

Following installation, multiple affected devices were observed attempting outbound connectivity to rare external IP addresses, specifically requesting the ‘/secure’ endpoint as noted within the declared URIs. After the initial callback, the malware continued communicating with additional infrastructure, maintaining its foothold and likely waiting for tasking instructions. Communication patterns included:

·       Endpoints with URIs /api/kcehc and /api/jgfnsfnuefcnegfnehjbfncejfh

·       Endpoints with URI /reg and user agent “WordPressAgent”, “FingerPrint” or “FingerPrintpersistent”

This tactic has been consistently linked to the Oyster backdoor, which has shown similar URI patterns across multiple campaigns [3].

Darktrace analysts also noted the sophisticated use of spoofed user agent strings across multiple investigated customer networks. These headers, which are typically used to identify the application making an HTTP request, are carefully crafted to appear benign or mimic legitimate software. One common example seen in the campaign is the user agent string “WordPressAgent”. While this string references a legitimate web application or plugin, it does not appear to correspond to any known WordPress services or APIs. Its inclusion is most likely designed to mimic background web traffic commonly associated with WordPress-based content management systems.

Figure 3: Cyber AI Analyst investigation linking the HTTP C2 activity.

Case-Specific Observations

While the previous section focused on tactics and techniques common across observed Oyster infections, a closer examination reveals notable variations and unique elements in specific cases. These distinct features offer valuable insights into the diverse operational approaches employed by threat actors. These distinct features, from unusual user agent strings to atypical network behavior, offer valuable insights into the diverse operational approaches employed by the threat actors. Crucially, the divergence in post-exploitation activity reflects a broader trend in the use of widely available malware families like Oyster as flexible entry points, rather than fixed tools with a single purpose. This modular use of the backdoor reflects the growing Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystem, where a single initial infection can be repurposed depending on the operator’s goals.

From Infection to Data Egress

In one observed incident, Darktrace observed an infected device downloading a ZIP file named ‘host[.]zip’ via curl from the URI path /333/host[.]zip, following the standard payload delivery chain. This file likely contained additional tools or payloads intended to expand the attacker’s capabilities within the compromised environment. Shortly afterwards, the device exhibited indicators of probable data exfiltration, with outbound HTTP POST requests featuring the URI pattern: /upload?dir=NAME_FOLDER/KEY_KEY_KEY/redacted/c/users/public.

This format suggests the malware was actively engaged in local host data staging and attempting to transmit files from the target machine. The affected device, identified as a laptop, aligns with the expected target profile in SEO poisoning scenarios, where unsuspecting end users download and execute trojanized software.

Irregular RDP Activity and Scanning Behavior

Several instances within the campaign revealed anomalous or unexpected Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions occurring shortly after DNS requests to fake PuTTY domains. Unusual RDP connections frequently followed communication with Oyster backdoor C2 servers. Additionally, Darktrace detected patterns of RDP scanning, suggesting the attackers were actively probing for accessible systems within the network. This behavior indicates a move beyond initial compromise toward lateral movement and privilege escalation, common objectives once persistence is established.

The presence of unauthorized and administrative RDP sessions following Oyster infections aligns with the malware’s historical role as a gateway for broader impact. In previous campaigns, Oyster has often been leveraged to enable credential theft, lateral movement, and ultimately ransomware deployment. The observed RDP activity in this case suggests a similar progression, where the backdoor is not the final objective but rather a means to expand access and establish control over the target environment.

Cryptic User Agent Strings?

In multiple investigated cases, the user agent string identified in these connections featured formatting that appeared nonsensical or cryptic. One such string containing seemingly random Chinese-language characters translated into an unusual phrase: “Weihe river is where the water and river flow.” Legitimate software would not typically use such wording, suggesting that the string was intended as a symbolic marker rather than a technical necessity. Whether meant as a calling card or deliberately crafted to frame attribution, its presence highlights how subtle linguistic cues can complicate analysis.

Figure 4: Darktrace’s detection of malicious connections using a user agent with randomized Chinese-language formatting.

Strategic Implications

What makes this campaign particularly noteworthy is not simply the use of Oyster, but its delivery mechanism. SEO poisoning has traditionally been associated with cybercriminal operations focused on opportunistic gains, such as credential theft and fraud. Its strength lies in casting a wide net, luring unsuspecting users searching for popular software and tricking them into downloading malicious binaries. Unlike other campaigns, SEO poisoning is inherently indiscriminate, given that the attacker cannot control exactly who lands on their poisoned search results. However, in this case, the use of PuTTY as the luring mechanism possibly indicates a narrowed scope - targeting IT administrators and accounts with high privileges due to the nature of PuTTY’s functionalities.

This raises important implications when considered alongside Oyster. As a backdoor often linked to ransomware operations and persistent access frameworks, Oyster is far more valuable as an entry point into corporate or government networks than small-scale cybercrime. The presence of this malware in an SEO-driven delivery chain suggests a potential convergence between traditional cybercriminal delivery tactics and objectives often associated with more sophisticated attackers. If actors with state-sponsored or strategic objectives are indeed experimenting with SEO poisoning, it could signal a broadening of their targeting approaches. This trend aligns with the growing prominence of MaaS and the role of initial access brokers in today’s cybercrime ecosystem.

Whether the operators seek financial extortion through ransomware or longer-term espionage campaigns, the use of such techniques blurs the traditional distinctions. What looks like a mass-market infection vector might, in practice, be seeding footholds for high-value strategic intrusions.

Credit to Christina Kreza (Cyber Analyst) and Adam Potter (Senior Cyber Analyst)

Appendices

MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

·       T1071.001 – Command and Control – Web Protocols

·       T1008 – Command and Control – Fallback Channels

·       T0885 – Command and Control – Commonly Used Port

·       T1571 – Command and Control – Non-Standard Port

·       T1176 – Persistence – Browser Extensions

·       T1189 – Initial Access – Drive-by Compromise

·       T1566.002 – Initial Access – Spearphishing Link

·       T1574.001 – Persistence – DLL

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

·       85.239.52[.]99 – IP address

·       194.213.18[.]89/reg – IP address / URI

·       185.28.119[.]113/secure – IP address / URI

·       185.196.8[.]217 – IP address

·       185.208.158[.]119 – IP address

·       putty[.]run – Endpoint

·       putty-app[.]naymin[.]com – Endpoint

·       /api/jgfnsfnuefcnegfnehjbfncejfh

·       /api/kcehc

Darktrace Model Detections

·       Anomalous Connection / New User Agent to IP Without Hostname

·       Anomalous Connection / Posting HTTP to IP Without Hostname

·       Compromise / HTTP Beaconing to Rare Destination

·       Compromise / Large Number of Suspicious Failed Connections

·       Compromise / Beaconing Activity to External Rare

·       Compromise / Quick and Regular Windows HTTP Beaconing

·       Device / Large Number of Model Alerts

·       Device / Initial Attack Chain Activity

·       Device / Suspicious Domain

·       Device / New User Agent

·       Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Breaches Over Time Block

·       Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Suspicious Activity Block

·       Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Significant Anomaly from Client Block

References

[1] https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.broomstick

[2] https://arcticwolf.com/resources/blog/malvertising-campaign-delivers-oyster-broomstick-backdoor-via-seo-poisoning-trojanized-tools/

[3] https://hunt.io/blog/oysters-trail-resurgence-infrastructure-ransomware-cybercrime

[4] https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/cybersecurity-101/social-engineering/seo-poisoning/

[5] https://blackpointcyber.com/blog/vanilla-tempest-oyster-backdoor-netsupport-unknown-infostealers-soc-incidents-blackpoint-apg/

[6] https://areteir.com/article/rhysida-using-oyster-backdoor-in-attacks/

The content provided in this blog is published by Darktrace for general informational purposes only and reflects our understanding of cybersecurity topics, trends, incidents, and developments at the time of publication. While we strive to ensure accuracy and relevance, the information is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Darktrace makes no guarantees regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information presented and expressly disclaims all warranties.

Nothing in this blog constitutes legal, technical, or professional advice, and readers should consult qualified professionals before acting on any information contained herein. Any references to third-party organizations, technologies, threat actors, or incidents are for informational purposes only and do not imply affiliation, endorsement, or recommendation.

Darktrace, its affiliates, employees, or agents shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, or harm arising from the use of or reliance on the information in this blog.

The cybersecurity landscape evolves rapidly, and blog content may become outdated or superseded. We reserve the right to update, modify, or remove any content without notice.

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Christina Kreza
Cyber Analyst

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September 9, 2025

The benefits of bringing together network and email security

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In many organizations, network and email security operate in isolation. Each solution is tasked with defending its respective environment, even though both are facing the same advanced, multi-domain threats.  

This siloed approach overlooks a critical reality: email remains the most common vector for initiating cyber-attacks, while the network is the primary stage on which those attacks progress. Without direct integration between these two domains, organizations risk leaving blind spots that adversaries can exploit.  

A modern security strategy needs to unify email and network defenses, not just in name, but in how they share intelligence, conduct investigations, and coordinate response actions. Let’s take a look at how this joined-up approach delivers measurable technical, operational, and commercial benefits.

Technical advantages

Pre-alert intelligence: Gathering data before the threat strikes

Most security tools start working when something goes wrong – an unusual login, a flagged attachment, a confirmed compromise. But by then, attackers may already be a step ahead.

By unifying network and email security under a single AI platform (like the Darktrace Active AI Security Platform), you can analyze patterns across both environments in real time, even when there are no alerts. This ongoing monitoring builds a behavioral understanding of every user, device, and domain in your ecosystem.

That means when an email arrives from a suspicious domain, the system already knows whether that domain has appeared on your network before – and whether its behavior has been unusual. Likewise, when new network activity involves a domain first spotted in an email, it’s instantly placed in the right context.

This intelligence isn’t built on signatures or after-the-fact compromise indicators – it’s built on live behavioral baselines, giving your defenses the ability to flag threats before damage is done.

Alert-related intelligence: Connecting the dots in real time

Once an alert does fire, speed and context matter. The Darktrace Cyber AI Analyst can automatically investigate across both environments, piecing together network and email evidence into a single, cohesive incident.

Instead of leaving analysts to sift through fragmented logs, the AI links events like a phishing email to suspicious lateral movement on the recipient’s device, keeping the full attack chain intact. Investigations that might take hours – or even days – can be completed in minutes, with far fewer false positives to wade through.

This is more than a time-saver. It ensures defenders maintain visibility after the first sign of compromise, following the attacker as they pivot into network infrastructure, cloud services, or other targets. That cross-environment continuity is impossible to achieve with disconnected point solutions or siloed workflows.

Operational advantages

Streamlining SecOps across teams

In many organizations, email security is managed by IT, while network defense belongs to the SOC. The result? Critical information is scattered between tools and teams, creating blind spots just when you need clarity.

When email and network data flow into a single platform, everyone is working from the same source of truth. SOC analysts gain immediate visibility into email threats without opening another console or sending a request to another department. The IT team benefits from the SOC’s deeper investigative context.

The outcome is more than convenience: it’s faster, more informed decision-making across the board.

Reducing time-to-meaning and enabling faster response

A unified platform removes the need to manually correlate alerts between tools, reducing time-to-meaning for every incident. Built-in AI correlation instantly ties together related events, guiding analysts toward coordinated responses with higher confidence.

Instead of relying on manual SIEM rules or pre-built SOAR playbooks, the platform connects the dots in real time, and can even trigger autonomous response actions across both environments simultaneously. This ensures attacks are stopped before they can escalate, regardless of where they begin.

Commercial advantages

While purchasing “best-of-breed" for all your different tools might sound appealing, it often leads to a patchwork of solutions with overlapping costs and gaps in coverage. However good a “best-in-breed" email security solution might be in the email realm, it won't be truly effective without visibility across domains and an AI analyst piecing intelligence together. That’s why we think “best-in-suite" is the only “best-in-breed" approach that works – choosing a high-quality platform ensures that every new capability strengthens the whole system.  

On top of that, security budgets are under constant pressure. Managing separate vendors for email and network defense means juggling multiple contracts, negotiating different SLAs, and stitching together different support models.

With a single provider for both, procurement and vendor management become far simpler. You deal with one account team, one support channel, and one unified strategy for both environments. If you choose to layer on managed services, you get consistent expertise across your whole security footprint.

Even more importantly, an integrated AI platform sets the stage for growth. Once email and network are under the same roof, adding coverage for other attack surfaces – like cloud or identity – is straightforward. You’re building on the same architecture, not bolting on new point solutions that create more complexity.

Check out the white paper, The Modern Security Stack: Why Your NDR and Email Security Solutions Need to Work Together, to explore these benefits in more depth, with real-world examples and practical steps for unifying your defenses.

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Mikey Anderson
Product Marketing Manager, Network Detection & Response
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