Automated threat hunting

Abstract

Embodiments perform automated threat hunting in computing environments. A threat hunt plan is obtained to guide collection of candidate evidence items from evidence sources. Portions of candidate evidence items are discarded based on relevance scores, and evidence items are determined from non-discarded portions. Threat indicators associated with the evidence items are identified based on criteria in the threat hunt plan. Threat profiles are obtained based on the evidence items and threat indicators such that threat profiles include threat assessment metrics and are included in a report. Collection agents may interface with system logs, network traffic captures, endpoints, databases, email services, or user activity records to gather evidence items based on time ranges, filtering criteria, or sampling rates.