SOC Automation: Streamlining Security Operations (+CISO’s Checklist)

Are you sure your SOC is invincible armor? How often do you hear about the burnout of in-house SOC analysts? I will not bore you with dry statistics proving that security operation centers (SOCs) are swamped with tasks, most of which do not require any actions yet missed out on critical. 

The solution is clear – AUTOMATION. It may sound like a tired refrain, but the reality is stark. Despite the constant buzz around cybersecurity automation, SOC teams are drowning in threat alerts, often missing the most critical ones. This is a situation that cannot be ignored. 

Here, we will discuss the key aspects of SOC automation, how it works, and what benefits this approach brings to any organization. Also, we will give you a checklist to check how automated SOC is. Of course, delicious complimentary will be our recommendations on maximally enhancing the SOC’s capabilities, enabling faster response times and more efficient threat detection without human analysts’ burden.

What is SOC Automation and How Does it Work?

Your SOC team is fighting a never-ending war of cyber threats. Without the right tools, they would be overwhelmed and under-resourced. Entering SOC automation platforms lets your security team focus on the actual battles. SOC automation solutions are masterly woven into your security routine, and they handle the mundane tasks of gathering, consolidating, and analyzing events and alerts. It’s like having a team of data analysts working 24/7 to find threats. With tedious tasks out of the way, your security analysts can be the real strategists, focusing on proactive security. 

The key areas that automation covers for your SOC are:

• Incidents & Security Tools Management

AI-driven SOC automation learns and adapts to new threats, possessing access to a range of data and allowing teams to query it using natural language. SOC automation and orchestration streamline SOC workflows, taking over tedious tasks like collecting security data from various sources, analyzing it, and sorting out potential risks from false positives. Advanced SOC automation reviews the incoming threat intelligence and determines the nature of the incident, providing detailed context to kill alert overload.

• Incident Response

SOC automation accelerates incident response by executing predefined response actions through automated playbooks. This ensures that threats are contained and mitigated quickly, reducing the time to respond and minimizing the potential damage from security incidents.

• Reporting

Automated reporting tools generate and deliver compliance reports, incident summaries, and other necessary documentation without manual intervention. This not only saves time but also ensures accuracy and consistency in reporting, making it easier to meet regulatory requirements and track SOC performance.

• SOC Flexibility and scalability

SOC automation allows security operations to scale efficiently with the growth of the organization. It can handle increased volumes of alerts and data without requiring a proportional increase in resources. Automation also adds flexibility by easily adapting to changes in the security environment, ensuring that the SOC can meet evolving threats and business demands.

SOC Automation Benefits

Gartner predicts the rise of SOC automation and that hyper-automation, which represents a strategic approach to comprehensively identifying, analyzing, and automating business processes, will transform the cybersecurity industry. 

SOC automation is more than a tool; it’s a strategic shift that transforms your security operations. By offloading the manual to automated systems, SOCs can achieve:

• Better Threat Detection: AI-driven analytics sifts through mountains of data, reducing alert fatigue by filtering out up to 90% of false positives. This means faster threat identification, improving detection rates by 30-40%, and allowing analysts to focus on the 10-20% of genuinely critical alerts. Improved context allows for more accurate threat detection and informed decision-making, decreasing the investigation time by up to 5 minutes.
• Faster Incident Response: Predefined playbooks automate routine incident response tasks, reducing the time to contain and mitigate threats. This means critical incidents can be contained and resolved in minutes instead of hours, significantly reducing potential damage. It’s like having a SWAT team on call 24/7.
• Integrated Communication Tools and Reporting: Automation often includes features that enhance team communication and collaboration, reducing incident resolution times by 40%. Automated task assignments and real-time updates ensure that all team members are aligned, improving overall incident response efficiency.
  All the needed reporting can be done in several clicks, so no manual work is required.
• More Productive Analysts: Automation frees analysts from repetitive tasks, leading to a 50-60% increase in productivity. Analysts can spend more time on strategic initiatives and complex threat analysis, greatly enhancing the overall effectiveness of the SOC. With automation, analysts can avoid the monotony of manual work, resulting in a 25-35% increase in job satisfaction. It leads to better retention rates and a more motivated, engaged SOC team, who can now focus on more rewarding aspects of their roles.
• Consistent Security Posture: Automated playbooks ensure every incident is handled consistently, reducing human error by up to 90%. It guarantees a reliable security posture where each threat is addressed according to best practices, maintaining high standards across the organization.
  It’s like having a security manual that’s always up to date and followed by the letter.
• Scalable Security: As your organization grows, SOC automation scales seamlessly with it, handling increases alert volume by up to 200-300% without requiring additional resources. It ensures that your security posture remains strong even as operations become more complex.
• Lower Operational Costs: By automating routine tasks, you can reduce the need for additional staffing and infrastructure, cutting operational costs by 30-50%. This efficiency not only saves money but also reallocates resources to more strategic areas of security.

Once again, SOC automation can change your security operations. By automating you can detect more threats, respond faster, be more productive, be consistent, scale your security, save costs, and make your security team happier.

Hold on! Isn’t SOC All About Automation?

Many SOCs have introduced some level of automation, especially in basic security monitoring. However, the real power of SOC automation is in the complex and unpredictable parts of security operations. Consider SOC automation like driving a car. Basic automation is akin to cruise control or automatic headlights. Advanced automation, on the other hand, is like true self-driving. It involves complex algorithms, advanced sensors, and the ability to adapt to unexpected situations.

Basic vs. Advanced SOC Automation

There’s a significant difference between basic automation and advanced, comprehensive SOC automation. Let’s break it down:

 Basic SOC Automation: The Essentials

• Automated Data Collection: Tools automatically gather logs and data from various sources.
• Initial Alert Generation: Systems detect anomalies and generate alerts based on predefined rules.
• Routine Task Automation: Simple, repetitive tasks such as log management and basic threat detection (reporting, vulnerability scanning..).

These elements are akin to a car’s cruise control or automatic headlights—helpful, but limited in scope.

Advanced SOC Automation: The Game-Changer

Basic SOC automation might involve automated data collection and analysis. Advanced automation is more than that. It includes automating security analysis and response, often requiring human judgment and decision-making. By automating these complex processes, SOCs can reap significant benefits. They can reduce human error, accelerate response times, and liberate analysts to concentrate on more strategic tasks. It’s akin to upgrading from a manual car to a self-driving one – a substantial leap in efficiency. Advanced automation is focused on:

• Contextual Alert Prioritization: Using AI to automatically enrich alerts with contextual information (e.g., asset criticality, threat intelligence, past incidents) and prioritize them based on potential impact, ensuring critical threats are addressed first.
• Complex Threat Analysis: Advanced algorithms sift through vast data sets to identify subtle, emerging threats that might elude basic systems.
• Adaptive Intelligence: Systems learn from past incidents to improve response strategies, akin to a car’s ability to adapt to different driving conditions.
• Behavioral Analytics and Anomaly Detection: Implementing machine learning algorithms that understand the baseline behavior of users and systems, automatically detecting and responding to deviations that may indicate insider threats or advanced persistent threats (APTs).
• Automated Incident Response: Predefined playbooks not only detect threats but also initiate containment and mitigation actions without human intervention.
• Proactive Threat Hunting: SOC automation integrates real-time threat intelligence, allowing proactive identification and response to emerging threats. This increases the SOC’s ability to neutralize potential attacks before they can cause any damage.
• Human-AI Collaboration: Automation supports analysts by providing real-time insights and recommendations, allowing them to make faster, more informed decisions.

This level of automation is like transitioning to a self-driving car—capable of handling complex, unpredictable situations with minimal human input.

What’s the Real Impact?

• Efficiency Leap: Moving from basic to advanced SOC automation is like upgrading from a manual car to a self-driving one—a profound improvement in operational efficiency.
• Strategic Advantage: With advanced automation, your SOC isn’t just reacting to threats; it’s proactively managing and mitigating risks, giving your organization a strategic edge.

So, if your SOC is truly automated, you’re not just automating the basics; you’re automating the extraordinary. You’re turning your security operations from a manual, labor-intensive process into a highly automated machine.

Erik Bloch, a leading authority on security operations and the author of the renowned ‘Security Operations Metrics Manifesto,’ has delved deep into the core functions of the SOC. As he puts it: 

“Start to think in terms of workflows that deliver an actionable outcome. The days of providing “visibility” are over. No one needs more visibility into their messes, they need help dealing with it.” 

SOC Automation Use Cases: How SOC Teams Use SOC Automation

When it comes to SOC automation, it’s not just about automating for automation’s sake. It’s about identifying where automation can deliver the most value. Start with the easy stuff and then work on the more complicated stuff.

AI, once a distant concept, has become increasingly accessible in recent years, both in terms of cost and implementation. Here are some key areas where SOCs can leverage AI and automated playbooks to enhance their operations:

1. Improve Incident management:
   
   
   • Decrease incidents fatigue
     Explanation: Automation helps filter out low-priority and false alerts, reducing the overwhelming volume of alerts that analysts need to review. This minimizes fatigue and allows analysts to focus on genuine threats.

     “Alert fatigue is a major issue, with 83% of SOC analysts affected. Automation takes the repetitive tasks off their plates, improving their job satisfaction and retention.”

     Anna Bondar, UnderDefense Tier 2 SOC Analyst

   • Decrease False Positive rate
     Explanation: By implementing advanced machine learning algorithms, automation can more accurately differentiate between real threats and benign activities, reducing the number of false positives and improving overall efficiency.
   • Speed up alert prioritization and triage – improve MTTA and MTTR metrics
     Explanation: Automation tools can quickly prioritize and triage alerts based on severity and context, significantly improving Mean Time to Acknowledge (MTTA) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), ensuring critical threats are addressed faster.
   • Increase visibility and context for incidents
     Explanation: Automated systems enrich alerts with contextual information from various data sources, providing analysts with a comprehensive view of the incident, which speeds up investigation and response times.
2. Improve tools management:
   
   
   • Improve software deployment processes
     Explanation: Automation streamlines the deployment of security patches and software updates across the organization, ensuring systems are protected against vulnerabilities faster and with less manual effort.
3. Improve Incident Response:
   
   
   • Improve post-incident processes
     Explanation: Automation can handle the collection and analysis of forensic data post-incident, generating detailed reports and recommendations for future prevention, which ensures continuous improvement in security posture.
   • Improve analysts’ collaboration during incidents via one console
     Explanation: By centralizing all incident response activities in a single, integrated console, automation facilitates real-time collaboration among analysts, improving coordination and speeding up the resolution process.
   • Completely automate all the reports for stakeholders, clients, management, and so on.
4. Improve reporting:
   
   
   • Completely automate all the reports for stakeholders, clients, management, and so on.
     Explanation: Automation can generate and distribute customized reports to various stakeholders, including clients and management, ensuring they receive timely, accurate, and relevant information without manual input from analysts.
5. Improve Threat Hunting:
   
   
   • Automate algorithms for proactive threat discovery
     Explanation: Automation enables continuous, proactive threat hunting by using algorithms that scan for suspicious patterns and activities, even before they become known threats, thereby improving the overall security posture.

“Automating alert triage reduces manual effort and accelerates threat prioritization, enabling faster response to critical incidents.”

Anna Bondar, UnderDefense Tier 2 SOC Analyst  

How to Choose a SOC Automation Tool 

When choosing a SOC automation solution consider the following:

Advanced AI Capabilities

• What to Look For: The tool should leverage advanced AI and machine learning, including generative AI, to adapt to new and evolving threats. This enables the system to continuously learn, identify, and respond to emerging threats with greater accuracy.
• Why It Matters: AI capabilities enhance the tool’s ability to manage complex security landscapes and stay ahead of sophisticated attacks.

Customizability

• What to Look For: Ensure the solution offers extensive customization options. It should allow you to tailor workflows, alerts, and reports to fit your specific security processes and policies.
• Why It Matters: Customizability ensures the tool integrates seamlessly with your existing infrastructure and meets your unique operational needs.

Transparency and Accountability

• What to Look For: The tool should provide clear visibility into its actions, including detailed logs and audit trails. This transparency is crucial for compliance and for understanding the rationale behind automated decisions.
• Why It Matters: Transparency supports compliance requirements and helps in verifying the integrity and effectiveness of automated actions.

Seamless Integration

• What to Look For: Choose a solution that integrates smoothly with your current security stack, such as SIEM, EDR, and network monitoring tools. It should facilitate easy data exchange and interaction between systems.
• Why It Matters: Effective integration reduces manual effort and complexity, enhancing overall efficiency and enabling a unified security approach.

Low Maintenance Requirements

• What to Look For: Opt for a tool that requires minimal ongoing maintenance and is user-friendly. Look for solutions that offer automated updates and straightforward management.
• Why It Matters: Low maintenance reduces the workload on your team, allowing them to focus on strategic tasks rather than routine upkeep.

Effortless Implementation

• What to Look For: The tool should have a straightforward implementation process, including easy onboarding and robust API support for integrating with existing systems.
• Why It Matters: Quick and painless implementation allows you to start benefiting from automation faster, minimizing downtime and operational disruption.

Scalability and Flexibility

• What to Look For: Ensure the tool can scale with your organization’s growth and adapt to changing security requirements. It should handle increasing volumes of data and evolving threats without compromising performance.
• Why It Matters: Scalability ensures that the solution remains effective as your organization expands and your security needs evolve.

User Experience and Support

• What to Look For: Consider tools that offer a user-friendly interface and robust customer support. Access to comprehensive training and responsive support teams can significantly impact the success of the tool.
• Why It Matters: A good user experience and support structure help your team get the most out of the tool and resolve issues quickly, ensuring smooth operations.

“The biggest challenge our customers face is integrating diverse security tools from different vendors—getting them to work together seamlessly is tough.”

Anna Bondar, UnderDefense Tier 2 SOC Analyst

What are the Top SOC Automation Tools?

A modern SOC is a complex system of many security solutions, each performing a specific job for the organization. Here’s a breakdown:

SIEM vs. SOC: Understanding the Key Difference

While often used together, SIEM and SOC are different. A SIEM technology collects and analyzes security events and gives you visibility into threats and incident response. A SOC is a broader concept that encompasses the entire security operations function, people, processes, and technology. A SIEM is just one part of a SOC strategy.

UnderDefense MAXI: When SOC Automation Done Right

Done swinging between the SOC tools and draining your security budgets?  I bet you are. UnderDefense MAXI consolidates your existing security tools into one platform. No more switching between multiple dashboards or trying to correlate data from different sources.

With UnderDefense MAXI you:

• Centralize Your Security: Integrate your existing tools and get a single security posture.
• Get Deeper Insights: Use advanced analytics to find hidden threats and understand your security better.
• Hunt for Threats: Our AI-powered threat hunting lets you stay ahead of emerging threats and proactively address potential vulnerabilities.
• Automate and Simplify: Reduce manual tasks, and increase efficiency by deploying and testing pre-built automation playbooks to let your security team focus on strategic initiatives.
• Comply: Our built-in compliance kits and expert guidance help you meet industry standards and avoid fines or penalties.

Managed SOC-as-a-Service

For organizations that want a full security solution, our Managed SOC service provides 24/7 coverage. 

Our Managed SOC Offers:

• Proactive Threat Monitoring: Our team continuously monitors your network for signs of threats and anomalies.
• Rapid Incident Response: We have the resources and expertise to respond quickly to security incidents and minimize damage.
• Compliance Support: Our experts can help you ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.
• Customizable Solutions: We tailor our services to meet your organization’s specific needs and risk profile.

By partnering with our Managed SOC, you can:

• Reduce the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
• Improve your organization’s security posture.
• Gain peace of mind knowing that your security is in the hands of experts.

To Wrap it Up

While setting up a SOC is a must for modernizing your security operations, it’s not enough to stand still. Whether you are a CISO, SOC manager, or SOC analyst, automation is the next step so your team can work more efficiently and effectively. Even without playbooks in place, automation can help you detect, respond to, and mitigate threats.

By automating tedious toil, your team can dedicate more time to crucial tasks like threat hunting, incident response planning, and compliance management. AI-powered automation can uncover hidden threats that would otherwise go unnoticed, giving you a competitive advantage. Streamlined workflows and automated responses can significantly reduce the time to contain and mitigate threats, minimizing business disruption. Automation helps your team work smarter, not harder, by eliminating manual tasks and reducing burnout.