The SOAR benefits: simplifying investigation and response

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The growing impact of cyber threats, on private or corporate operating systems, leads more and more users to use third-party applications to protect work information. Fortunately, the implementation of new technologies improves this condition. Among the most interesting solutions, aimed at protecting corporate systems, is the SOAR technology with its benefits. What are the potential and the advantages that a company can derive from this system?

SOAR: what is it?

Before analyzing the concrete benefits that SOAR technology can guarantee, it is essential to understand what it is and what it means.

With SOAR, acronym for Security Orchestration, Automation and Response , we identify a tool capable of supporting IT security staff. SOAR model technologies allow for a triple approach : vulnerability and risk management, incident response and ultimately the automation of security operations . In their English terminology respectively: Threat and Vulnerability Management, Incident Response and Security Operations Automation .

The functioning of the SOAR-systems

Through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, a system with SOAR implementation is capable of correlating three sectors usually distant from each other. Specifically, a SOAR technology combines: SAO, TIP and SIRP . Respectively Security Orchestration and Automation , Threat Intelligence platform and Security Incident Response Platform .

These platforms are designed to store data and information on the behavior of viruses, hacker attacks, malware and other potential cyber threats. Companies using a SOAR system are much safer, as they can benefit from a multipurpose system, which not only aims to cure the threat, but also its potential emergence .

Difference between orchestration and automation

SOAR technology combines both automation and orchestration systems for cybersecurity, but what’s the difference? When using a system based on orchestration activities, you have an approach in which different security tools and systems are connected to optimize processes .

In the case of a system aimed at automation, we refer to the ability to automate the operations of corporate environments. Automation is based on activities, while orchestration is based on processes. By exploiting SOAR technology, it is possible to obtain the orchestration of processes for the execution of automated activities .

The benefits of SOAR

In order to have a more concrete idea of the applications of a SOAR technology and the consequent benefits, it is essential to examine its advantages in detail.

Incorporate automation and orchestration features

Using features related to machine learning and artificial intelligence, a SOAR system significantly increases corporate cybersecurity. The processes and activities examined by the automation and orchestration systems ensure the company is responsive to cyber threats without generating post-attack tickets. An example is the implementation of SIEM and UEBA in the security orchestration.

Usually a traditional system generates an alert, then the IT technicians provide for the manual resolution of the problem. With an automated system, is the software itself that detects, solves, and archives the problem. This benefit should not be underestimated if there are no IT technicians within the company context.

Centralization of threats

A standard computer system hardly has a centralized view of threats. This condition forces the system itself to intervene in a marked way after it has been compromised. Unfortunately, canonical systems have different levels of security, where everyone intervenes in specific alert conditions.

Larger companies divide the detection of threats according to the reference area, be this NOC, IT or DevOPS, this greatly limits the cybersecurity of the system.

Thanks to its automation and orchestration capabilities, SOAR technology combines the entire threat centralization phase, ensuring maximum protection even in different contexts.

Time optimization

One of the most significant benefits of using SOAR technology is time savings. When you suffer a cyber attack, be it minor or major, it requires the intervention of IT technicians. In the time lapse between the alert sent by the company and the resolution of the problem, the work activity must stop.

Thanks to a dedicated software, with SOAR implementation, it is possible to optimize the intervention times and in many cases eliminate them completely.

Playbook

Getting a playbook in as much detail as possible is essential to understanding the attacks. A SOAR system, in a completely intuitive way, allows you to chain several playbooks to face complex actions.

For example, in the event that there is an alert combined with a specific tracking system, capable of isolating the traffic of a specific suspicious IP address; the SOAR software at that time will analyze the information useful to identify the IP addresses and evaluate if there are compromised accounts.

Optimal integration with the infrastructure

One benefit that has made SOAR technology particularly useful is its integration capability. SOAR software can integrate seamlessly into any corporate infrastructure , collecting information and providing IT security in an automated way, even on non-modern systems.

Team efficiency

Minimizing interactions with the company system, for solving IT problems, allows the company to optimize working times. All the time lost for solving the technical problem can be recovered and used for other more useful work activities .

Even less skilled IT operations teams can use hardware and software without fear of threats. One of the most relevant issues in business contexts is the inefficiency of IT technicians to recognize cyber threats.

The presence of phishing in e-mail or the exchange of files between one area and another leads in many cases to cyber attacks. With a SOAR system, you can minimize these issues by helping IT assistants to focus only on their work.

Annual cost

An advantage not to be overlooked is the cost of continuous interventions for the resolution of cyber attacks. IT technicians who have to intervene after an alert produced by the system have a cost, the latter being significant if prolonged over time. SOAR technology from this point of view protects companies that do not want to spend more money on periodic interventions.

Secure Online Desktop: smart and fast solution

The potential of a SOAR system is evident, but it is important to rely on a quality service to obtain the maximum yield. We at SOD have been committed to providing IT security solutions for years .

The SOCaaS service with dedicated SOAR allows you to implement in your company software capable of automating and orchestrating in the way activities and work processes as best as possible.

This condition is particularly useful for companies that need to protect their corporate IT infrastructure. The ease of use and the enormous benefits make SOAR technology indispensable for those who want to reduce the costs of IT interventions and at the same time improve IT security.

If you have any questions about how our services can be useful for your business, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to answer.

Useful links:

• HTTP / 3, everything you need to know about the latest version protocol
• Control Panel
• SOAR: what it is and how it can be useful for companies
• SOAR: coordination for cyber security