Glossary

Lateral Movement

Once hackers get into one computer on your network, they don't stop there. Lateral movement is how they jump from computer to computer, looking for the good stuff - your financial data, customer records, or admin passwords. One compromised laptop can lead to your entire network being owned.

What is Lateral Movement?

Techniques that attackers use to move through a network after gaining initial access, pivoting from one compromised system to others in search of valuable data or additional access.

Why Should You Care?

Understanding lateral movement is essential for building a strong security posture. This knowledge helps organizations identify threats early and respond appropriately.

Is your business exposed?

Real-World Example

Security teams regularly encounter lateral movement in their day-to-day operations. Recognizing and responding to these scenarios is a core security competency.

How to Protect Against Lateral Movement

  1. 1.

    Implement network segmentation

  2. 2.

    Use different passwords for different systems

  3. 3.

    Deploy endpoint detection and response

Related Terms

Privilege Escalation, Credential Stuffing, Network Segmentation

Is your business exposed?

Check if your company data is circulating on the dark web

Free scan • No credit card required

Privacy PolicyYour Privacy Choices