Nation-States and Advanced
Persistent Threats
Why Nation-States Are The New Benchmark In Cyber Security
The line between cybercrime and cyber warfare is blurring. Cyber-criminal groups increasingly borrow tactics from advanced persistent threats (APTs). Meanwhile, state-sponsored threat actors are adopting the speed and opportunism of traditional cybercrime.
Nation-states set the benchmark because their operations are highly targeted, well-funded, and persistent. Defending against APTs is much more difficult, raising the bar for European organisations to safeguard business continuity and public safety.
Want deeper insights into these threats and how to defend against them? You can find them in our latest Global Threat Landscape Report.
What is an APT and Why It Matters Now
Traditional cyber security tools stop most routine attacks but cannot counter APTs or nation-state operations. These highly targeted, stealthy campaigns are driven by well-funded, organised actors seeking disruption, espionage, and strategic advantage. As these tactics spread beyond governments to cybercriminal groups, Europe’s small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs.
Key Characteristics of APTs
1. Advanced
Attackers use sophisticated techniques to infiltrate a network. These can include zero‑day exploits, custom malware, spear‑phishing, and privilege escalation.
2. Persistent
Once inside, the threat actors maintain access over weeks, months, or even years. They avoid detection by moving slowly, disguising their activity, and continuously updating their tools.
3. Threat
The term usually applies to human‑driven, organised groups–often state‑sponsored or criminal syndicates–not automated attacks.
See MITRE ATT&CK® for more on adversary tactics and techniques.
How Nation-State Tactics Show Up in Day-to-Day Attacks
Nation-state activity doesn’t only target governments or critical infrastructure. Its influence shows up in the ordinary vulnerabilities organisations deal with every day. These attack surfaces become the pathways attackers use to establish stealthy, long-term access.
Supply Chain Exposures
- Third-party vendors may introduce vulnerabilities through compromised software or hardware.
- Attackers exploit trusted relationships to insert malicious code into updates or components.
- Lack of visibility into supplier security practices increases risk.
- Nation-state actors often target global supply chains for stealthy, long-term access.
Get our free guide to hardening internal controls for a more secure supply chain
Network Edge Device Weak Points
- Firewalls, VPNs, and routers often run outdated firmware with exploitable flaws.
- Misconfigured edge devices can provide direct entry points into internal networks.
- Remote access solutions are prime targets for credential theft and brute-force attacks.
- Edge devices are frequently overlooked in patching cycles, making them persistent weak spots.
Learn how threat actors exploit network edge device vulnerabilities
Collateral Damage Risks
- Attacks aimed at strategic targets can spill over to partners, customers, and critical infrastructure.
- Malware propagation may disrupt essential services beyond the intended victim.
- Economic and reputational harm can cascade across sectors and borders.
- Defensive actions (e.g., network shutdowns) may unintentionally impact legitimate operations.
Find out the most effective ways to communicate during a cyber crisis
Who is being targeted in Europe?
As nation-state tactics blend with cybercriminal opportunism, attackers now exploit any organisation that can be used for leverage, intelligence, or lateral movement.
This shift means even well-secured organisations depend on the security posture of every partner connected to their environment. State-aligned groups increasingly compromise smaller or less-protected entities to reach the organisations they truly want to influence. In practice, this means attackers pursue:
- Technological acquisition and economic intelligence to strengthen national industries.
- Geopolitical positioning through espionage and disinformation.
- Hybrid warfare aimed at destabilising critical infrastructure and Western democracies.
- Stealth operations that quietly prepare for future sabotage.
Critical sectors remain the preferred hunting grounds for state-aligned groups.
Banking and Finance
Business Services and IT Providers
Water, Energy, and GreenTech
Communications and Media
Life Sciences and Healthcare
Manufacturing
Public institutions and NGOs with sensitive data
Logistics and transportation
Defence and Military Industrial Base
How to Defend Against Nation-State and APT Cyberattacks
Nation-state threat actors are well-funded, patient, and increasingly enhanced by AI-driven tooling. Defending against them requires a continuous, intelligence-led approach that strengthens governance, technology, and human readiness. The steps below outline a complete defence model and the services that support each phase.
Understand Your Exposure
Before you can defend against APTs, you need visibility into which tactics and supply-chain pathways pose the greatest risk to your organisation.
What to do:
- Map your real exposure to nation-state techniques.
- Identify unmonitored or high-value assets.
- Track evolving threats through credible intelligence sources.
How Northwave helps:
- State of Security Assessment – A comprehensive review of exposure, vulnerabilities, and APT-relevant risks.
- Cyber Threat Intelligence reports – Europe-focused insight into attacker behaviour and geopolitical drivers.
Strengthen the Foundation
Most APT intrusions succeed because of weaknesses in fundamental security controls, not exotic exploits.
What to do:
- Enforce MFA consistently.
- Maintain disciplined patching, especially on endpoints and internet-facing systems.
- Reduce attack surface with strong identity and device governance.
How Northwave helps:
- Managed Security & Privacy Office (MSO) – Continuous guidance and governance to maintain security fundamentals.
- Managed Detection & Response (MDR) – 24/7 monitoring informed by live incident data and adversary research.
Secure the Edge and Detect Lateral Movement Early
Unpatched VPNs, firewalls, and remote-access systems remain the most common entry points for APTs.
What to do:
- Monitor all internet-facing devices for misconfiguration or outdated firmware.
- Detect privilege escalation and unusual internal reconnaissance early.
How Northwave helps:
- MDR for real-time detection.
- CERT Cyber Forensics to investigate potential footholds and assess silent compromise.
Build Human and Organisational Resilience
Sophisticated attackers exploit uncertainty, communication gaps, and human behaviour just as much as technical flaws.
What to do:
- Train leadership and operational teams in crisis response.
- Prepare communication plans tailored to nation-state-level incidents.
- Reduce human risk with data-driven behavioural insights.
How Northwave helps:
- Cyber Crisis Readiness Workshops – Based on real crises and communication best practices.
- Human Risk Management – Understand behavioural patterns and reduce high-risk actions across the workforce.
Harden Your Supply Chain
APTs increasingly target vendors, service providers, and trusted integrations to reach their real target.
What to do:
- Assess supplier security practices and their potential impact on your environment.
- Establish joint crisis plans and enforce secure update, access, and integration processes.
How Northwave helps:
- State of Security Assessment includes third-party and dependency risk.
- Supply-chain Security that ensures stronger defences and compliance through hardening measures and resilience training.
Validate and Improve Your Ability to Withstand APT Techniques
Simulation and testing are essential for discovering detection gaps long before an actual adversary does.
What to do:
- Use targeted scenarios to test monitoring, detection rules, and response playbooks.
- Validate whether tools behave as expected against real adversary techniques.
How Northwave helps:
- Advanced Red Team Exercise – Simulates real-world threat actor techniques.
- Adversary emulation – Uses actual APT malware behaviours to verify whether controls and SIEM alerts trigger as intended.
Get Expert Support Before the Next Attack
Cyber threats evolve faster than most organisations can respond alone. An integrated partnership turns APT preparation from reactive to proactive.
Northwave services at a glance:
- MSPO – Strategic, tactical, and operational governance with 24/7 protection.
- MDR – Always-on detection across your environment.
- CERT – Rapid, expert incident response when every minute matters.
- Red Teaming & Adversary Emulation – Identify and close high-impact gaps.
- Crisis Communication & Readiness – Manage impact when stakes are highest, especially under nation-state pressure.
Not sure where to begin?
Start with a free consultation to understand which APT-relevant risks apply most to your organisation.
Answers to Common APT Questions
APTs and nation-state attacks are complex, persistent, and evolving fast. Our FAQ breaks down what you need to know: how they work, why they matter, and what steps you can take to stay secure.
What is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)?
An APT is a highly targeted, long-term cyberattack carried out by organised, well-funded threat actors, often nation-states or advanced criminal groups. Their goal is to infiltrate networks, remain undetected, and steal sensitive data or disrupt operations.
Why are APTs a growing concern for European organisations?
Nation-state tactics are increasingly used by cybercriminals, putting not only governments but also businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—at risk of espionage, disruption, and financial loss.
How do APTs typically gain access to systems?
Common entry points include phishing emails, exploiting software vulnerabilities, and compromising supply chains. Attackers often use stealthy techniques to maintain persistence and avoid detection.
What makes APTs different from everyday cyberattacks?
Unlike opportunistic attacks, APTs are strategic, customised, and persistent. They aim for long-term access and high-value targets, often involving months or years of undetected activity.
What can organisations do to defend against APTs?
What role does cyber resilience play in mitigating these threats?
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