Intro to Automating Security

Automating security removes the need to manually perform many cybersecurity-related tasks. As the volume and intensity of cybersecurity threats continue to grow, the effort required to manually resolve security incidents can easily overwhelm even the most well-provisioned cybersecurity teams. By automating incident responses, security experts can focus on higher-level, value-added tasks that enhance the long-term security posture of the organization. Read on to learn how automating security can help businesses accelerate their cybersecurity defenses with cloud solutions.

How Automating Security Improves Cybersecurity Posture

Automating security removes the need for human intervention to complete many cybersecurity tasks, including identifying security incidents and launching an appropriate response in a matter of seconds. Security automation does not replace human cybersecurity experts. Instead, it frees them to complete more-complex tasks by removing the need to manually respond to an avalanche of alerts and other distractors. Here are five ways organizations are automating security operations:

Speeds threat detection and response

Even the most experienced security analysts are able to investigate only a small percentage of the total volume of security alerts received. Allowing threats to linger while they wait to be manually addressed gives malicious actors the time they need to accomplish their objective. Security automation programs work in the background, filtering through alerts as they arrive and executing planned responses based on a set of predetermined parameters. Response lag time exposes organizations to compliance issues and attacks that can result in compromised data, network downtime, loss of public trust, and financial consequences. Automating security responses makes it possible to identify, validate, and escalate threats as they occur, all without waiting for manual action. 

Reduces human error

Manually managing security and compliance for large, complex digital infrastructure and networks leaves significant room for human error. Mistakes in resource configuration and an inconsistent application of security policies can leave an organization exposed to compliance issues and system compromise.

Frees security experts to focus on higher-value projects

Automating security frees security analysts to focus on what they do best: high-level work such as threat hunting, strategic planning initiatives, and deeper investigations. Delegating manual tasks to a security automation program allows you to take full advantage of your security team’s skills. Additionally, eliminating the need to focus on low-level work can significantly improve job satisfaction, improving an organization’s ability to retain top talent.

Become more efficient with customized playbooks

A cybersecurity playbook is a blueprint for a planned response that details the specific steps to be taken when a security event occurs. If an incident occurs, a response is automatically launched, following a series of predetermined steps spelled out in the playbook. Cybersecurity automation allows you to become more efficient while tailoring playbooks to the unique security and response requirements of your organization. 

Integrate easily with other security systems

Security automation products are designed to easily integrate with your existing security tools such as firewalls, endpoint products, directory services, security data lakes, and SIEMs. This enables security teams to continue benefiting from existing cybersecurity investments with the added value of viewing the entire security infrastructure from a single interface. 

Snowflake for Cybersecurity

Snowflake for Cybersecurity puts data at the center of your cybersecurity strategy. The Snowflake Data Cloud allows you to establish a modern security data lake to enable powerful analytics, accelerated detections, and speedy investigations. Snowflake empowers cybersecurity teams to gain near-unlimited visibility across high-volume log sources, automate manual processes, and accelerate threat detection and response.

See Snowflake’s capabilities for yourself. To give it a test drive, sign up for a free trial.