In this hyperconnected digital world, a staggering number of devices are transiting to the cloud, delivering the scale, speed and connectivity expected in this modern age. In a recent survey by Flexera, 27% of leaders mentioned a significant increase in cloud spending as the attack surface of companies has increased. Hence, there is a dire need to integrate AI and Automation in cyber security strategies that could empower organisations to drive improved insights, productivity, and economies of scale.

 A shortage of skilled security professionals and a lack of standardisation in security implementations have added to the challenge of organisations already engaged in combating complex cyberattacks.

With the odds overwhelmingly stacked against the organisation, the only way to level the playing field is to automate cybersecurity and intelligence by design.

AI and automation improve security posture

It is not enough to rely on automated tools and consider your organisation secure. While automation makes managing cybersecurity more efficient with increased visibility and faster response, AI will keep the company two steps ahead of malicious threats and clever hackers. Organisations must implement multiple security solutions to strengthen security posture, use various technologies and strategies, and establish strong internal processes incorporating security best practices. Integrated with cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, modern cybersecurity practices can forge a robust defence.

According to a Harvard Business Review report, 52% of company executives believe automation to be crucial to their security operations. There is a plethora of automated cybersecurity tools, frameworks, services, software, and solutions designed to serve a specific function. However, since cybersecurity is a multi-pronged approach, finding the right solutions tailored to specific organisational circumstances is critical for a strong security posture. Adding AI to the mix offers integrated risk management and optimises security efforts. With the shortage of expert cybersecurity professionals, AI can help fill the gap.

Tailoring automated solutions to security posture requirements

To stand firm against automated attacks, companies need fast-paced, automated security solutions, and they need to streamline tasks between people and tools.

Platforms like Security Orchestration Automation Response (SOAR)) provide a solid base - they use custom integrations and APIs to link up internal and external cybersecurity tools, improving collaboration and adding valuable context while detecting threats. SOAR platforms can standardise and automate manual tasks such as vulnerability scanning and log analysis while automatically carrying out threat response and post-incident activities.

Many organisations couple SOAR with the MITRE ATT&CK framework that allows Security Operations Center (SOC) (teams to be more proactive. This integration enables organisations to proactively fight security issues on multiple frontiers at a micro and macro level. MITRE ATT&CK (adversarial tactics, techniques, and common knowledge) provides information about malicious behaviours that advanced threat groups use in real-world cyberattacks, which becomes the foundation for organisations to develop their customised threat models. E.g., It helps in understanding a possible logical sequence followed in an attack. The first step includes gathering relevant information in planning an attack, followed by developing resources needed for the attack and the rest. This information helps collect data, detect attacks, and evaluate current defences. Apart from automating processes, it also improves the efficiency of security operations in areas such as adversary emulation and cyber threat intelligence analysis.

Integrating Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and SOAR is another standard collaboration of security solutions that helps compensate for the shortage of skilled IT security personnel. SIEM is an arrangement of services and tools that allows SOC (teams to collect and analyse security data to facilitate policy design. While SOAR does the real-time monitoring and alerts system administrators, SIEM manages security information and security events combined. Their joint capabilities save time and money by minimising human intervention, while automation enhances incident response and eliminates discrepancies. 

Technologies like Configuration Management database (CMDB) automate the asset management process for organisations with dashboards, access controls, IT service mapping and federated data sets. CMDB can also benefit from integrating AI and automation solutions like SOAR to streamline and analyse data more efficiently and identify and pre-empt risks earlier.

Automating cybersecurity will help organisations keep pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape.

The World Economic Forum estimates that in the coming decade, 70% of the value generated in the global economy will be based on digitally enabled business models. As per IBM, 90% of the data in the world today was generated in the last two years alone. Hence, a digital future is not optional, so organisations cannot ignore the need for robust cybersecurity systems, which means investing in automation and security intelligence.

Adding the power of AI and ML to automation is an accepted way for businesses to realise their potential fully - cybersecurity is no different. Organisations that have invested in automating cybersecurity show much lower costs related to data breaches. Stepping away from traditional silos and reactive cybersecurity practices in favour of a more proactive, predictive, integrated approach is long overdue. It is now or never.

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