At CrowdStrike’s first user conference, Fal.Con Europe, in November 2024, the cybersecurity firm announced a significant move by acquiring Adaptive Shield, a specialist in identity-based security. This acquisition highlights CrowdStrike’s increased focus on bolstering its capabilities to address the rising threat of identity-based attacks, which have become more sophisticated and prevalent in today’s hybrid cloud environments. With the widespread adoption of SaaS applications, enterprises face new security challenges, prompting an urgent need for comprehensive protection solutions.
The integration of Adaptive Shield’s technology into CrowdStrike’s suite aims to provide robust defense mechanisms against identity threats across various platforms. These platforms range from on-premises Active Directory systems to cloud-based identity providers and SaaS applications. The growing complexity of modern hybrid environments and the increasing frequency of “malware-free” identity-based attacks have underscored the necessity for integrated security solutions. In fact, the rise in cloud exploitation was marked by a staggering 110% increase in 2023 alone, with 75% of identity-based attacks occurring without utilizing malware binaries.
Addressing the Complexity of Modern Hybrid Environments
Enterprises now operate in highly complex environments, where tracking access and detecting security threats can be daunting tasks. CrowdStrike’s acquisition of Adaptive Shield aims to simplify this oversight, providing tools for SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) that expose misconfigurations, assess privilege levels, and identify potentially exposed data across over 150 common SaaS applications. This comprehensive approach helps security teams manage the intricate web of dependencies and interactions within their systems, reducing the risk of security gaps that fragmented tools might leave open.
Adaptive Shield’s CEO emphasized the vulnerability inherent in the SaaS landscape, primarily due to shared responsibility models and fragmented security controls. The company’s technology is expected to enhance CrowdStrike’s threat protection capabilities, allowing for quicker detection and response to identity and access-related security issues. In an era where digital transformation means more businesses rely on cloud services and SaaS applications, the integration of Adaptive Shield’s capabilities into CrowdStrike’s offerings represents a proactive approach to closing potential security gaps and ensuring consistent protection across all platforms.
Enhancing Threat Detection and Response
One of the critical advantages of integrating Adaptive Shield into CrowdStrike’s ecosystem is the enhanced ability to enforce consistent security standards across the board. The integrated platform will provide GenAI application security controls designed to prevent data leakage and identify shadow AI applications, thereby managing evolving user risk profiles. This cohesive security strategy, which spans multiple domains including endpoints and applications, ensures a higher level of cyber resilience and improved security oversight.
CrowdStrike’s customers will benefit from more robust tools that facilitate efficient threat detection and response. The unified platform promises several enhancements, from faster detection times to streamlined management of identity and access-related security issues. By providing a consolidated view of an organization’s security posture, the integration of Adaptive Shield’s technology aims to mitigate risks associated with identity-based attacks, which are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated. This comprehensive protection strategy aims to empower security teams, allowing them to tackle modern cybersecurity challenges more effectively.
Conclusion
At CrowdStrike’s inaugural user conference, Fal.Con Europe, in November 2024, the cybersecurity company unveiled a key development by acquiring Adaptive Shield, a firm specializing in identity-based security. This acquisition underscores CrowdStrike’s commitment to enhancing its ability to combat the escalating threat of identity-based attacks, which have become increasingly sophisticated and common in today’s hybrid cloud environments. The widespread use of SaaS applications has introduced new security challenges, necessitating comprehensive protection solutions.
Integrating Adaptive Shield’s technology into CrowdStrike’s suite of services aims to deliver robust defenses against identity threats across a variety of platforms. These range from on-premises Active Directory systems to cloud-based identity providers and SaaS applications. The growing complexity of modern hybrid environments and the rising incidence of “malware-free” identity-based attacks have highlighted the need for integrated security solutions. The surge in cloud exploitation is evident by a notable 110% increase in 2023, with 75% of identity-based attacks occurring without using malware binaries.
