IT security teams fight against cyber threats using a continuous, multi-layered strategy that combines proactive defense, 24/7 monitoring and detection, a structured incident response process, and active threat hunting.
As of September 9, 2025, the job of an IT security team, whether at a tech company here in Rawalpindi or a major bank in Karachi, is no longer just about setting up a firewall. It is a dynamic, around-the-clock battle against a persistent and intelligent adversary. This fight is a continuous cycle of preparation, detection, response, and learning.
1. The Proactive Defense: Building the Walls
The first part of the fight is a proactive one. The security team is responsible for designing and implementing a “defense-in-depth” architecture to make the organization as difficult to breach as possible.
- Implementing Foundational Controls: This is about locking the digital doors and windows. The team will:
- Harden Systems: Change all default passwords and disable unnecessary services on servers and network devices.
- Manage Patches: Run a rigorous program to ensure all software is updated with the latest security patches.
- Control Access: Implement a Zero Trust framework, ensuring that employees have only the minimum level of access they need to do their jobs (Principle of Least Privilege).
- Deploying Security Technology: They are responsible for the entire security technology stack, from Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) at the perimeter to Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) on every employee’s laptop.
2. The 24/7 Watch: The Security Operations Center (SOC)
At the heart of any modern defense is the Security Operations Center (SOC). This is the central command center, staffed by security analysts who monitor the organization’s network 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- The SIEM: The Central Nervous System: The SOC is powered by a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system. The SIEM collects and aggregates log data from thousands of sources across the company and uses a correlation engine, often powered by AI, to connect the dots between seemingly unrelated events and detect the signs of an attack.
- Alert Triage: The SOC analysts are the first responders. They receive the alerts generated by the SIEM, investigate them to determine if they are a genuine threat or a false positive, and escalate any real incidents.
3. The Emergency Response: The Incident Response Process
When a genuine attack is detected, the fight shifts into an emergency response mode, guided by a pre-defined Incident Response (IR) Plan.
- Containment: The team’s first priority is to stop the attack from spreading. This involves isolating the compromised machines from the rest of the network.
- Eradication: Once contained, the team will methodically remove every trace of the attacker and their malware from the systems.
- Recovery: The team will then safely restore the affected systems from clean backups and bring them back online.
- Lessons Learned: After the crisis is over, the team will conduct a post-mortem to understand the root cause of the attack and to improve the company’s defenses to prevent it from happening again.
4. The Counter-Offensive: Threat Hunting and Intelligence
The most advanced IT security teams do not just wait for alerts; they actively hunt for their adversaries.
- Proactive Threat Hunting: “Threat hunters” are elite analysts who assume that the network has already been breached by a stealthy attacker. They proactively search through their network data, looking for the subtle, anomalous behaviors that might indicate the presence of an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) that has bypassed the automated defenses.
- Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI): Security teams subscribe to and analyze threat intelligence feeds. This gives them crucial, up-to-date information on the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) being used by the criminal gangs and state-sponsored groups that are likely to target their industry in Pakistan and globally. This intelligence allows them to tune their defenses and know what to look for.