Lateral Movement

Definition ∞ Lateral movement describes the technique used by attackers to move deeper into a network after gaining initial access to one system. Once inside, adversaries seek to expand their control by compromising additional machines or accounts. This process often involves exploiting credentials, misconfigurations, or software vulnerabilities. It allows attackers to reach high-value targets and maintain persistence within an environment.
Context ∞ Lateral movement is a common element in cybersecurity incident reports, particularly in cases of sophisticated attacks targeting corporate networks or digital asset custodians. The key discussion involves implementing network segmentation, privileged access management, and advanced endpoint detection and response solutions to restrict an attacker’s ability to move within a system. Future developments will include more intelligent threat hunting tools and automated response mechanisms to detect and disrupt lateral movement attempts swiftly.