SOAR (Security Orchestration Automation and Response)

Today, it is an undeniable fact that AI-powered cyberattacks move faster than security teams. In such cases, traditional methods based on manpower may be insufficient. So how can security teams cope with manual processes in such an intense threat environment?

In this context, SOAR, which stands for orchestration automation and response, is a system for managing security incidents on a single platform. More specifically, SOAR is where alarms triggered from SIEM products or other security products are integrated and consolidated into a single environment. This platform is designed to make it faster and more efficient for security operations centers (SOCs) to categorize, analyze and respond to threats.

Three Key Components of SOAR

Orchestration: Integrates different security tools under a single roof. It provides communication between systems such as SIEM, firewalls, antivirus, IDS/IPS.

Automation: Automates repetitive processes. For example, when a suspicious IP is detected, it can be automatically blacklisted without requiring manual review.

Response and Intervention: With rapid response mechanisms, teams can ensure the automatic implementation of predetermined actions based on the threat level. The set of steps that includes these predetermined actions is called a playbook. Thanks to the playbook, many operations are carried out systematically without the need for manual intervention.

How does it work?

• SOAR collects security events from different security tools and sources.

  
  

• It evaluates threats, filters false positives and prioritizes events in order of importance.

  
  

• It automatically takes action through predefined playbooks based on the threat level.

  
  

• It records how the incident was managed, enabling a better response to similar threats in the future.

SOAR and SIEM Relationship

Many people think of SOAR and SIEM as similar products. However, although both products detect security incidents, there are differences. SOAR and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) are two complementary technologies. While SIEM collects and analyzes security events, SOAR automatically responds, categorizes and prioritizes them. In summary, SIEM detects events and SOAR responds to them.

Advantages

Fast and Efficient Incident Response: SOAR responds faster to threats by reducing the average time required for detection and remediation.

Time and Budget Savings: Reduces the operational burden of security analysts by automating repetitive tasks, allowing them to spend their time on more complex or effective tasks.

Accurate Detection: Accelerates response processes through more accurate data enrichment.

Efficient Collaboration: It strengthens harmony and cooperation between security teams by enabling incident management to be controlled from a single center. This makes communication and coordination more efficient and simplifies management.