Dell SecureWorks has announced availability of a new suite of what it calls Targeted Threat Intelligence Services that are designed to detect and anticipate so-called Advanced Persistent Threats before they do significant damage to a targeted institution.

APTs – unleashed by cyber criminals whom Col. (Retired) Barry Hensley, executive director of Dell SecureWorks' Counter Threat Unit, described in an interview as “well resourced, extremely patient and good enough” to mount highly sophisticated attacks that may take many weeks to come together – is a typical method used to penetrate institutions with good perimeter security such as credit unions and banks.

“In Advanced Persistent Threat attacks, hackers create custom attacks and infrastructure to target one or a handful of organizations,” elaborated Jon Ramsey, Dell SecureWorks chief technology officer, in a prepared statement. “However, even with APT attacks, the attackers do use common tactics such as spear phishing and other social engineering ploys. With our Targeted Threat Intelligence services, we are looking to provide insight into the specific attacks, infrastructure and tactics, as it relates to the organizations being targeted.”