Cybersecurity teams need all the help they can get to defeat adversaries continually striving to hack their networks, deposit ransomware, steal credentials, etc. They can always enlist the aid of one of the many SOAR providers known for combining exciting new technologies with traditional cybersecurity concepts.
DarkOwl is one such provider. They offer a SOAR platform used by corporations, private businesses, law enforcement, and government. Along with other SOAR providers, DarkOwl is giving security teams the upper hand in the fight against aggressive threat actors.
What SOAR Offers
A good starting place for a discussion of this type is what SOAR actually offers security teams. ‘SOAR’ is an acronym that stands for ‘Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response’. SOAR providers like DarkOwl offer platforms that incorporate these three principles for better cybersecurity. Let’s look at each one.
1. Security Orchestration
Security orchestration is all about connecting multiple security tools and systems to create a unified ecosystem. Examples of such tools and systems include:
- Threat intelligence platforms
- Security information and event management (SIEM)
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
- Traditional tools like ticketing systems and firewalls
Creating a unified ecosystem facilitates seamless data sharing and coordinated actions regardless of how disparate tools might act if they remained independent. This sort of orchestration breaks down silos and forces security systems to work together.
2. Automation
Modern cybersecurity includes a litany of tasks that are both repeatable and handled manually. Examples include triage and incident documentation. Automation removes the manual aspect. Rather than requiring human security specialists to invest in repetitive tasks that don’t really require their effort, automation handles them while freeing personnel to focus on more important things.
3. Incident Response
SOAR platforms are equipped with structured incident response capabilities based on standardized and repeatable procedures. Everything operates on playbooks. When an alert is raised, a SOAR platform guides the security team from investigation to containment and eradication. If necessary, the platform also provides structured guidance for recovery and forensic analysis.
This all adds up to a more efficient cybersecurity ecosystem that reacts more quickly and addresses threats more effectively. Best of all, SOAR platforms empower human security teams to make better decisions.
How SOAR Providers Assist Security Teams
With a basic understanding of SOAR platforms and their capabilities, it’s time to address how SOAR providers actually assist security teams. Any such assistance is rendered through their platforms. DarkOwl points to five specific contributions:
- Data Enrichment – SOAR providers create tools that enrich data and add context. Enriched data offers security analysts actionable and prioritized insights for better decision making.
- Centralization – SOAR providers bring centralized case management and visibility to the forefront. Through dashboards and case management consoles, they encourage analysts to be collaborative. A centralized workflow keeps everyone on the same page.
- Efficiency and Scalability – SOAR platforms increase data efficiency and throughput. This makes them highly scalable. A good platform allows teams to handle larger volumes of alerts without having to increase staff. Likewise, prioritization reduces the risk of alert fatigue.
- Customization – Providers facilitate integration through APIs, connectors, and customized playbooks. Security teams can create a security environment tailored to their needs and tools.
- Intelligence – Threat intelligence is built into most SOAR platforms. And because providers like DarkOwl specialize in darknet intelligence, the data their platforms gather is invaluable to security teams.
No doubt security teams have their hands full keeping up with threat actors. Now more than ever, they need the assistance of SOAR providers and the technologically advanced platforms they provide. Security teams are engaged in a war that providers can help them win.
