Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) is a mouthful, to say the least. It is also a meaningless concept to anyone not intimately familiar with cybersecurity. But within the cybersecurity space, SOAR is a crucial component in keeping cyber threats at bay.
The first part of SOAR is the orchestration and framework integration component. This component is where it all begins. Achieving its core purpose is what makes the automation and response components workable.
SOAR Integration at Its Core
Orchestration and framework integration are at the very core of the SOAR concept. Their main purpose is a combination of unification and interoperability. To lay the groundwork, consider a security environment consisting of a dozen different tools and frameworks, each governed by its own policies and driven by separate datasets. What would you have? Chaos.
SOAR’s orchestration and integration components seek to unify multiple disparate security technologies into a single, cohesive ecosystem. Examples of such technologies include:
- Threat intelligence platforms
- Sandbox environments
- Ticketing systems
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems
- Security information and event management (SIEM) systems
With unification and cohesiveness comes the opportunity to leverage all the tools within an ecosystem to actually do something of value. Interoperability is another benefit of unification. Every tool in the ecosystem can exchange information bidirectionally. Tools can operate in concert with one another rather than in competing silos that only reduce effectiveness.
The Key Components
Just as orchestration and framework integration are key components of SOAR, it comprises its own key components. There are seven of them:
- Connectors and APIs – Connectors link SOAR platforms to external security tools. They can leverage APIs to facilitate data ingestion, execute commands, and send alerts.
- Data Aggregation and Normalization – The orchestration process facilitates data aggregation from multiple sources. The platform then normalizes and correlates data to standardize it. This creates unified visibility across the ecosystem.
- Centralized Workflow – A SOAR platform creates a centralized workflow capable of choreographing automated workflows throughout the ecosystem. It can execute playbooks, facilitate cross-tool actions, update tickets, and even enrich security alerts.
- Event Management – Orchestration consolidates events and alerts from multiple systems to create a more manageable system. Automated triage can streamline event management.
- Case and Incident Management – Orchestration facilitates interfacing with ITSM systems to improve support ticket creation, updating, life cycle tracking, and auditing.
- Intelligence and Enrichment – Orchestration integrates threat intelligence data with internal and external sources for enrichment purposes. Automated IOC referencing, reputation checks, and historical data enrichment make data even more useful.
- Human Controls – SOAR platforms keep human analysts in the loop for tight control over automated actions and mechanisms. Ultimately, human analysts make the decisions that prevent unintended disruptions.
DarkOwl is an industry-leading open-source intelligence provider. Their SOAR platform is one of the best in the industry. When implemented properly, SOAR integration transforms a chaotic cybersecurity ecosystem into a cohesive unit that properly identifies threats, prioritizes them, and stops them in their tracks.
The Benefits Are Obvious
To anyone who normally works with SOAR platforms, the benefits of orchestration and framework integration should be obvious. They include:
- Streamlined operations
- Reduced response times
- Enhanced visibility
- Scalability
Without orchestration, the rest of the SOAR concept would be of very little value. Without framework integration, orchestration would also be limited in its contributions. But with both deployed in a meaningful way, the automation and response components make SOAR a valuable tool in the fight against cybercrime.
Organizations not yet using SOAR platforms should seriously consider investing in one. SOAR is one of the most important cybersecurity strategies of our time.
