Security experts have observed that as organizations harden their endpoint defenses with tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), threat actors are turning their attention to neglected areas of IT infrastructure. While modern security strategies make external intrusions more difficult, adversaries such as the China-linked Salt Typhoon group are focusing on the network perimeter, where outdated or unsupported devices are frequently overlooked. This shift is fueling a rise in sophisticated, long-term espionage campaigns that exploit forgotten routers, VPNs, and firewalls.
Reports from the past year have consistently highlighted vulnerabilities in legacy hardware and network appliances, noting that attacks often leverage unpatched exploits and neglected device management practices. Coverage of incidents involving groups like Salt Typhoon and Russia’s Static Tundra previously stressed gaps in cyber hygiene and the critical need for timely patching. However, earlier reporting primarily emphasized patch deployment, whereas current analyses advocate for comprehensive asset management and proactive threat hunting as more effective responses to persistent threats.
Why Are Adversaries Shifting to the Network Perimeter?
Attackers are increasingly prepared to exploit technical debt and infrastructure that fall outside regular maintenance cycles. Old or unsupported devices frequently escape notice but offer attackers opportunities for easy network access and long-term persistence.
“These ‘forgotten’ devices may be out of sight for network administrators, but they are front and center for our adversaries,”
Nick Carroll, a cyber incident response manager at Nightwing, stated on the risks of neglecting legacy hardware.
How Do Espionage Groups Evade Detection?
Salt Typhoon and similar groups employ methods designed to remain undetected, such as “living off the land” techniques, which minimize unusual activity and blend with legitimate network behavior. This allows them to steal credentials and maintain access undisturbed. Current threat actors show a clear understanding of U.S. and allied defense measures, and as a result, they modify tactics to outmaneuver traditional security controls.
What Steps Can Organizations Take to Reduce Risk?
To address the expanding threat landscape, cybersecurity professionals recommend an emphasis on strong asset management, lifecycle oversight, and aggressive decommissioning of outdated devices. Proactive security measures based on frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework are considered necessary to identify unknown assets, enforce prompt patching, and centralize monitoring of network traffic. According to Carroll,
“Cyber resilience isn’t just a technology issue; it’s a team sport.”
Routine security assessments and collaborative efforts are suggested to outpace evolving adversarial techniques.
Since cyber hygiene alone is insufficient, organizations are encouraged to adopt proactive threat hunting practices, routinely searching for subtle indicators of compromise rather than relying solely on automated alerts. Both private sector and government networks face challenges from technical debt and nation-state-level threats, often requiring experienced partners to support robust defense and response operations. Overlooked devices remain highly attractive for attackers seeking stealthy entry points.
Current cybersecurity discourse emphasizes not only technology but also organizational processes and cross-sector collaboration. While improvements in endpoint protection have pushed adversaries toward less-defended network segments, comprehensive inventories, regular patching, and incident readiness are essential. Readers are urged to prioritize lifecycle management, ongoing vigilance, and a proactive posture to mitigate stealthy attacks that might otherwise go unnoticed.
