In a strategic move to underpin its future, technology giant Cisco has announced the acquisition of cybersecurity vendor Splunk in $28 billion all-cash deal, 30% over yesterday’s market close. This nose-bleed valuation is still 50% off Splunk’s all-time high. Buying Splunk positions Cisco as a leading cybersecurity player, and could bring tremendous synergies between enterprise network management and data analytics technologies.

Despite wrapping its $28bn cash acquisition  of Splunk in the term du jour “AI”, Cisco is really acquiring the SEIM analytics that players like Cyber Threat Intelligence vendor Kaduu have long recognized to be essential to understanding dark web monitoring data.

Darknet monitoring (this term is interchangeable with dark web monitoring) has two distinct aspects: Discovery (finding “known unknowns”) and Understanding (filtering the actionable intelligence from the noise). Of the billions of records available in the darknet, just a tiny fraction are of immediate value, and a further small percentage of the rest has “big picture” value. The rest is dross. Splunk’s technology, used worldwide by over 15,000 customers, could be the key to unlocking advanced darknet monitoring capabilities, allowing customers of the combined entity to proactively identify and mitigate cyber threats originating from the dark web.

Pattern Recognition: Cisco Making Sense of the Darknet Threatscape

The dark web, a hidden part of the internet accessible only through specialized software, is a breeding ground for cybercrime, expected to cost victims an aggregate $8 trillion in 2023. From the sale of stolen data to the distribution of malware and illicit goods, the dark web poses a significant threat to organizations worldwide. CISOs need to know who amongst their co-workers, contractors and 3^rd parties exhibits patterns of risky behavior when clicking links, re-using passwords, using weak passwords. Pattern Recognition – recognizing and understanding the context of such patterns, requires insight derived from continuous dark web monitoring, and this is where Splunk’s AI-aided analytics is vital.

One of the key strengths of Splunk’s technology is its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns indicative of potential security threats. By leveraging Splunk’s AI technology, Cisco can revolutionize organizations’ dark web monitoring strategies by automatically detecting, prioritizing and reporting on cyberthreats, enabling them to respond swiftly and effectively. Integrating Cisco’s newly-acquired SEIM capabilities will significantly reduce the time and effort required for manual threat detection whilst enhancing the overall security posture of organizations globally.

Why Dark Web Monitoring Is Vital.

Only 4% of “the web” is visible to all. The rest is either Deep or Dark. Often confused with The Deep web, The Dark web is intentionally hidden and requires specific tools, such as Tor, to access. Unlike the surface web, which is indexed and searchable, the dark web operates within encrypted networks, offering anonymity to its users. This anonymity makes it an attractive platform for criminals to carry out illegal activities, including hacking, identity theft, and the sale of drugs and weapons.

Dark web monitoring – actively searching for and identifying any mentions of an organization’s sensitive information, such as employee credentials or customer data, on dark web marketplaces, forums, or other hidden platforms – has thus become an essential component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. By proactively monitoring the dark web, organizations can detect potential security breaches and take immediate action to mitigate the risks.

Best Practices for Implementing Darknet Monitoring

To maximize the effectiveness of dark web monitoring, organizations should follow best practices, including:

• Partnering with Cybersecurity Experts, MSSPs and MSPs: Collaborating with experienced cybersecurity providers ensures access to solutions such as Kaduu and leveraging their “big picture” expertise in dark web monitoring. Not every darknet exposure is a major risk.
• Establishing Clear Policies and Procedures: Organizations should define clear policies and procedures for dark web monitoring, including incident response plans and data breach notification protocols.
• Regularly Updating Security Measures: Dark web monitoring should be part of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes regular security assessments, software updates, and employee security awareness training to stay ahead of emerging threats.

Cisco’s Acquisition of Splunk – In a Nutshell

Dark web monitoring is a critical component of modern cybersecurity strategies. With risk experts at McKinsey forecasting that the total Cybersecurity could be worth up to $2trillion annually, CISCO’s acquisition of Splunk makes them a serious player in this growing market at a time of great economic and social uncertainty.  Advanced dark web monitoring solutions that combine powerful analytics from Splunk with real-time threat intelligence will be a major component in the struggle against cyber crime. By proactively monitoring the dark web, organizations can detect and mitigate potential security threats, protecting their sensitive data and maintaining the trust of their stakeholders. As technology evolves, dark web monitoring will continue to evolve, providing organizations with the tools they need to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals and safeguard their futures.