First Time Using Huntress? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Turning on Huntress for the first time is like flipping on the lights in the attic after many years. You’ll find some clutter and dust (and maybe a bug infestation), but now that we can see it, we can clean it. And once it’s clean, it’ll stay clean.

As cyberattacks evolve and become more advanced, defending against them requires an adaptable approach that can keep up.

The Huntress managed detection and response (MDR) tool and our services to manage and respond to threats previously were an optional add-on to our managed services.

Starting in 2024, we made it mandatory for all new clients. Moving forward, we will be making it a mandatory add-on for all grandfathered clients, as well.

It’s vital in helping us stop phishing attacks and other threats against our clients, allowing us to limit the damage an attacker can do once they’ve gained access.

When we enable Huntress for the first time, there are a couple of things you should know:

1. We’ll probably find some previously invisible threats, which is normal.
   1. If we find something that looks dangerous, we will isolate or shut down a user or computer, possibly even for the whole day.
   2. If we find any active threats, we’ll talk to you immediately after any immediate danger is contained.
2. We also usually find signs of previous attacks or potentially malicious applications, which we won’t call you about individually. We’ll list our key findings and discuss them with you at the end of the onboarding review meeting.

Let’s talk about Huntress and the types of threats it will identify when first enabled.

What is Huntress?

You can visit our Huntress page for an in-depth overview, but we’ll provide a brief explanation here.

Huntress is a 24/7/365 detect and respond security tool that helps us limit the damage an attacker can do when they’ve broken through your organization’s defenses. It’s like installing fire alarms and security cameras, and hiring a security team to monitor your house.

Not only does Huntress safeguard your network, but it also monitors your Microsoft 365 environments. So, even if most of your operations run from an on-premises server, you likely use cloud services for email and file storage, where a significant amount of sensitive data is stored.

And while security tools like antivirus software can only stop viruses it has seen before, Huntress’ tools can detect new and emerging attacks, watching for signs that something could be malicious, even if it’s never been seen before.

So, what kinds of threats can you expect Huntress to find when you use it for the first time?

What Will Huntress Find?

The following is a list of some of the things Huntress will find once it is enabled.

• Persistence Mechanisms: These are ways attackers stay in your system, even after reboots, logoffs or other interruptions.
• Suspicious Software or Tools: This could include remote access tools or malware that were installed without approval.
• Misconfigurations or Vulnerabilities: These aren’t active threats but could be exploited if left unaddressed.
• Indicators of Compromise: These are signs that a system may have been previously breached or attacked, such as known malicious files or registry changes.

It’s important to note that not every threat Huntress finds is a five-alarm emergency. It’ll also find low-level threats and even things that aren’t threatening but look suspicious.

But don’t worry: We’ll be there to look over the report and fill you in on the key findings.

Just like when your doctor sends you blood test results, we discuss the Huntress reports with you so you understand what the results mean.

Protect Your Organization

If you have any questions about Huntress, please call us at (616) 949-4020 or email us at support@hungerford.tech.

If you want to use Huntress to secure your organization, contact us today to schedule a consultation. Let’s secure your business before the next threat hits. Don’t wait until a data breach or cyberattack to improve your organization’s security posture.

Stay updated! Get tips and insights delivered to your inbox weekly by subscribing to our newsletter.