Cyber security automation is a process that automates security tasks to reduce the time and effort needed to respond to threats. It involves integrating multiple technologies that can detect, prevent, contain, and recover from cyber attacks. Cyber security automation uses both hardware-based solutions (e.g., sensors) that monitor physical systems and software-based solutions that automate tasks using machine learning techniques.
The benefits of cyber security automation
When you’re busy and have a lot to do, it’s hard to stay on top of everything that needs to be done. The best way to make sure that you never miss something important is to automate as much as possible in your business. Cyber security automation makes life easier and offers the following benefits.
● Improves efficiency
When you’re in charge of a cyber security department that manages millions of user accounts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks you need to accomplish daily. But when you automate some of these activities, you can free up your time and focus efforts on other areas instead of manually performing tasks repeatedly every day. The reduced workload will also lower the cost of hiring security professionals, as they don’t need to monitor systems or perform manual analysis.
● Protects your business from cyber attacks
Cyber security automation can help prevent cyber attacks from happening in the first place by detecting and repulsing them before they escalate. Real-time network monitoring also makes it harder for attackers to penetrate your systems and steal or damage data. This keeps you protected for as long as the automated monitoring is active.
● Reduces human error
When humans manage your cyber security, there are many ways for them to make mistakes. For example, they may forget to update their passwords, or they could fail to update the software on their computer. Automation takes these things out of their hands so they don’t have to worry about them anymore.
● Provides threat intelligence and analysis
Automation lets you quickly identify emerging threats and protect against them before they affect your business. Automated cyber security systems store logs of their activities, giving you insights into how attacks are affecting your company. You can then use such crucial information to enhance your data security further.
Functions of cyber security automation
Here are some functions of cyber security automation that simplify the operations of a business.
● Detection and prevention
The most important function of cyber security automation is securing your business from attacks. It identifies potential threats and responds quickly by implementing automated solutions that prevent further damage. However, expecting automation to protect you fully is not a good idea.
Let’s say you want to mask your IP to make it harder for cyber attackers to find you. You’ll need to integrate the right choice of residential proxies into your automated cyber security system for total protection. The same goes for other areas of IT security: malware protection, email filtering, web application firewall (WAF), intrusion detection systems (IDSs), etcetera.
● Forensics and incident response
Gathering evidence to determine what has happened is called forensics, while an incident response is how one reacts to an incident. AI-powered machines play a vital role in helping companies understand how their systems were breached and what data was lost or stolen during an attack. Incident response ensures that you have a plan in place if there is an attack on your network and that your team knows what steps to take the next time things go wrong.
● Remediation
Automated remediation can help you fix problems faster. In the event of an attack, your security team will have to do a lot of manual work that’s time-consuming and error-prone. With automated remediation, your IT staff will arrest the situation quickly and shift their focus elsewhere. Besides being able to get back to work more rapidly after any incident, automated remediation also helps ensure that every step of the process proceeds correctly and efficiently.
No one will ever have to repeat a mistake because machines will detect it automatically. And suppose something goes wrong during a specific task like patching or updating software. In that case, an automated system will alert you immediately so that you know precisely what needs adjusting before proceeding with other tasks.
● Compliance
Information security compliance is a best practice. It’s how you show your commitment to security by demonstrating due diligence and taking action when necessary. Cyber security automation is a great way to enforce security policies and procedures. It shows your dedication to the safety of others, for example, when operating in regulated industries like healthcare or financial services.
If you’re worried about being held accountable for what happens on your network, then automation may be worth considering as part of your cyber security strategy.
Cyber security automation best practices
With automated processes, you’ll be able to scale your security team and ensure that you’re keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of cyber threats. Here are some best practices to help you stay on track:
- Have a security automation plan, and stick with it.
- Test your automated processes regularly to make sure they’re working as expected.
- Think about how automation can help you and what the potential drawbacks might be if you don’t use it.
- Roll out automation in phases, starting with the security threats that occur frequently.
- Integrate automation with your other systems.
- Use a centralized database to store your critical data; it will help you identify any problems quickly and easily.
- Use a third-party service provider to manage your security processes so that you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects of running an effective cyber defense program on your own.
- Train your staff. Educate your security team on how to use automated cyber security systems. Clarify the roles of humans and machines.
Get started with cyber security automation today!
Cyber security automation is a powerful tool that, when used correctly, can help improve your organization’s cyber security posture. It has several benefits and functions, including the ability to detect potential threats earlier than traditional security controls do, helping you prevent attacks before they occur, or limiting their damage when they happen. If you haven’t already considered cyber security automation in your organization, now is the time to do so!
For more from Anas Baig, see CyberTalk.org’s past coverage. Lastly, to receive cutting-edge cyber security news, insights, best practices and analyses in your inbox each week, sign up for the CyberTalk.org newsletter.
