Cybersecurity companies are not immune to the threats they defend against, reports CyberScoop. A new report from SentinelOne’s SentinelLabs highlights how cybercriminals and nation-state actors are increasingly targeting security vendors themselves. The report outlines various real-world intrusion attempts, demonstrating that cybersecurity firms sit at a critical point where access to protected environments makes them attractive to attackers.
Among the threats identified are ransomware operations, Chinese state-sponsored hackers, and North Korean IT workers posing as job seekers. SentinelOne tracked around 360 fake personas and 1,000 suspicious job applications, many linked to efforts by North Korean groups to infiltrate security companies. The findings emphasize how even routine corporate activities like hiring can become a vector for cyber threats.
Ransomware groups, including those linked to Russian nationals, are also setting their sights on cybersecurity firms. Their goal often goes beyond typical financial gain, seeking insider access to security tools and enterprise environments. Gaining access to a cybersecurity vendor could enable threat actors to better understand how various client environments are defended, widening the potential impact of an intrusion.
Chinese-backed groups were also noted in the report, specifically those known for targeting critical infrastructure sectors like telecommunications and government systems. The risks underline the importance of internal vigilance and cross-team collaboration inside cybersecurity companies — not just between security operations teams, but also recruiters, HR, and other business units who might be first to detect suspicious activity.
