Speed is the ultimate differentiator in modern cybersecurity. So when security analysts respond to potentially malicious activity by manually clicking through disparate tools to make sense of incoming alerts, they create a clear advantage for their adversaries. Put simply, manually addressing every alert takes too much time.
To close the gap between threat and response, organizations are now adopting SOAR integration. It is a strategy that connects Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response capabilities directly to an organization’s operational ecosystem. DarkOwl, a leading SOAR integration provider, says it works extremely well.
Threat Actors Hate It – Here’s Why
Threat actors hate when organizations deploy SOAR integration. They know that SOAR integration connects all an organization’s internal security tools. This includes firewalls, threat intelligence feeds, EDRs, and so on. The result is a centralized, automated orchestration engine that eliminates the chaos of trying to use every tool in a silo.
Practically speaking, security analysts no longer need to manually pivot between multiple screens. They do not have to gather their own context and implement individual containment steps. Instead, they let SOAR run pre-configured playbooks that automatically execute the same steps human analysts would take – but at machine speed.
SOAR integration puts threat actors at a severe disadvantage through three distinct mechanisms:
- Dwell Time Elimination – SOAR eliminate dwell time by isolating compromised endpoints, revoking credentials, and updating firewall rules the very second a threat is detected. Threat actors have very little time to break in.
- Lateral Disruption – When a threat actor gains initial network access, he typically wants to expand that access by moving laterally across the network. But automated SOAR playbooks prevent that movement by severing network access before the threat actor can move to adjacent servers.
- Relentless Execution – Because SOAR is machine-driven and automated, it is relentless in its execution. Threat actors are faced with an adversary that doesn’t suffer from alert fatigue or distraction. They gain no advantage from human errors that have ceased to exist.
Proper SOAR integration neutralizes threat actors with speed and accuracy. It is no wonder they hate it so much. And know this: if your organization has not yet adopted SOAR, threat actors are hoping you never do.
Implementing SOAR in SMBs
Enterprise security operations centers (SOCs) have long utilized SOAR. Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have been slower to get on board. Their reluctance is often because of concerns that SOAR integration is too expensive and complicated. Yet SMBs can implement a stable and affordable SOAR strategy by adhering to the following roadmap:
- Audit – Start by auditing all existing tools and API capabilities. List each of the current security stack components. Make sure existing tools are optimized for smooth data exchange.
- Define Use Cases – The first automated processes could not be the complex, high-risk processes security teams tend to focus on. Start small with high-volume, low-complexity use cases that usually require significant human intervention.
- Create Playbooks – As use cases are defined, analysts create and deploy playbooks that can be activated with a single click. Allow the SOAR platform to automatically gather and analyze data but still require analyst approval for execution. You can gradually remove single-click approval as automated systems prove themselves.
- Deploy Pre-Built Connectors – Smaller enterprises should look for cloud-native SOAR platforms that offer pre-built API integrations alongside drag-and-drop playbooks. Doing so minimizes custom script maintenance, which otherwise chews up valuable time.
There are plenty of organizations, like DarkOwl, that work with clients on making SOAR integration a reality. Whether your company works with such an organization or handles everything in-house, do not ignore the one tool threat actors hate most: SOAR.
Carol Brown