Cybersecurity Glossary
Threat Actor
The person or group behind an attack, and their motive.
What Threat Actor means
Threat actors range from opportunistic criminals running automated campaigns, through organised ransomware groups operating as businesses, to state aligned groups pursuing intelligence, and insiders acting from grievance. Motive shapes method, target selection and persistence.
Why Threat Actor matters for small businesses and nonprofits
Knowing who plausibly targets you keeps spending proportionate. A small nonprofit faces mostly opportunistic crime, so basic controls applied consistently deliver far more than expensive tooling aimed at sophisticated adversaries.
What to do about Threat Actor
- Describe your realistic adversary before choosing controls
- Assume opportunistic attacks are constant and automated
- Revisit the assessment if you take on higher profile clients or sensitive work
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