Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (commonly acronymized as SOAR) is an umbrella term that refers to a stack of software programs that work together to collect data about and respond to cyber security threats with little to no human assistance. SOAR platforms can contain a variety of different tools that help unify and strengthen an organization’s security posture by helping manage threats and incidents with increased efficiency. These security outcomes are obviously beneficial for any business. So, how does the comprehensive SOAR approach actually work, and why specifically should companies invest in such a strategy?
The three elements of SOAR - security orchestration, security automation, and security response - are all top priorities for any security operations center (SOC) team. Orchestration refers to the connection and integration of disparate tools, integrations, and interfaces, such as firewalls, security information and event management (SIEM) platforms, and endpoint security software. Automation includes analyzing data via automated, standardized processes with artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to prioritize threats and recommend future action. Finally, Response indicates a single comprehensive view for security analysts to use in determining next steps.
SOAR solutions automate repetitive tasks, centralize operations, and reduce the common problem of alert fatigue. They can additionally bolster threat detection and response capabilities (such as EDR or XDR) and allow for rapid response, intelligent analysis, and preemptive hunting of future threats. Finally, SOAR tools significantly improve any organization’s security posture, in no small part because of the automated and cohesive orchestration of security technologies, all within strict regulatory compliance. The paragraphs below detail three of the core ways in which SOAR can immediately benefit your enterprise.
One major advantage of SOAR security operations is the ability to automate mundane and repetitive security tasks. Security teams can easily spend large amounts of time completing routine data collection, log analysis, and initial threat triage. Security analysts can spend their valuable time on more complex tasks and leave the rote day-to-day (but still essential) security activities to the machines. Cyber security automation with SOAR reduces the likelihood of human error and increases consistency in execution.
SOAR orchestration also offers a centralized hub for managing security operations. Managed SOC teams need the shortest possible mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR), and this is achievable only through rapid response, which in turn is only possible via a consolidated location in which to communicate and collaborate. Increased visibility and control over security incidents makes it easier for security teams to ensure all relevant information is available to the right people at the right time.
Of course, one of the primary sources of burnout among security teams is alert fatigue. Dealing with a high volume of potentially false positives or low-priority issues can wear even a very robust manual security team thin. Important alerts can accidentally get overlooked or outright ignored, and security breaches can slip through the cracks. Thankfully, SOAR automation tools help alleviate alert fatigue by filtering out the noise and the less urgent matters, ensuring that the entire security scheme is laser-focused only on the most critical issues.
As with anything, be it art, engineering, or security systems, the secret recipe for success is for structure to match function, for form to match content. If the structure of SOAR systems is one of efficiency and streamlined security orchestration, its content is composed of the security measures themselves, which are decidedly strong. SOAR security operations begin with rapid incident response. In the event of a security incident, time is of the essence, and the faster your organization can detect, investigate, and respond to a threat, the less likely it is to cause significant damage. Implementing containment measures and beginning remediation efforts can only happen after quickly identifying the nature and scope of an incident.
Next comes intelligent analysis and investigation. Threat actors almost always have discernible attack behavior and motives, and sussing those out enables security teams to predict future targets and plan improvements. SOAR platforms leverage advanced analytics and AI to provide smart insights into security threats, capable of analyzing vast amounts of data from disparate sources and identifying both patterns and anomalies. Moreover, the actionable security intelligence derived therefrom helps uncover hidden threats that otherwise would have remained unseen.
Finally, the proactive approach is key, namely through effective threat hunting. Machine speeds allow analysts the bandwidth to gather evidence and relevant context in advance, tracking down both insider and emerging threats with more ease. By removing the need for manual intervention in the case of most short-term security incidents, your security team can dedicate themselves to long-term security strategies that will dramatically improve your overall security posture.
It is clear by now that SOAR tools contribute to overall security posture by providing comprehensive visibility into an organization’s security landscape. Another vital concern for organizations using SOAR is regulatory compliance. Misconfigurations and other human errors are some of the ways in which companies can run afoul of any number of regulations. The promise of SOAR involves detailed audit trails and documentation, as well as the rule-bound collection, analysis, and reporting of security data, all of which enable you to avoid potential penalties.
What might be lesser-known is how the automated, regulated, orchestrated security can support cloud security posture management (CSPM). If the cloud is part of your organization’s digital framework – if you use the cloud for data storage, network communications, computing, or anything else – then that dimension needs security just like any other. CSPM is specifically defined as the process of securing multi-cloud environments with (among other things) improved visibility, misconfiguration identification, and compliance protocols. Sound familiar? SOAR and CSPM overlap in their primary objectives so cleanly that they ought to be packaged in tandem for every company using cloud technology.
The truth is that SOAR tools can offer the same protections as CSPM, just under a different name and with different adaptable specifications. Implementing a SOAR tool can lead to immediate improvements in productivity, resilience, and orientation towards the future of cyber security. They are the glue that holds diffuse programs together, enabling them to work in concert to achieve a common goal, maximizing the return on investment for security infrastructure. To learn more about how Compuquip can use SOAR to keep your organization ahead of the pack when it comes to cyber security, contact us here.