Imagine a typical Security Operations Center– teams of analysts concentrated on screens, working to sort through countless alerts, struggling to stay ahead of potential threats. It is a race against time, where human limitations – fatigue, inefficiency, and information overload – often come into play. Looking at the present, a new player has entered the field, quietly yet powerfully reshaping the way SOCs operate: Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence has not only arrived; it’s here to stay, permeating even the most critical operations within SOCs. From enhancing alert accuracy to predicting threats before they materialise, AI-driven automation has transformed the way we manage security. One real-world example is the hyper automation of the managed response process, which streamlines a significant portion of response actions originating from EDR and other security solutions. This efficiency accelerates threat responses and frees up resources, allowing teams to focus on more complex, high-value tasks.

While AI is making significant strides, its capabilities remain somewhat limited. A recent survey revealed that AI tools currently help analysts save 10% to 20% of their time ^[1] by optimizing and automating routine processes. This indicates not only the value AI brings today but also the untapped potential for growth and further advancements as the technology matures.

With such promising possibilities, let’s explore some visionary AI applications that could elevate SOC operations, fortifying defences and making security frameworks more resilient than ever.

Practical Applications of AI in Automation: Revolutionising Processes

Interpreting Client Responses: AI as a Communicator. Consider this common scenario: a SOC analyst sends a report to a client, recommending action – perhaps to block a suspicious host. The client’s response could be as simple as “yes,” “go ahead,” or something more nuanced like “check this first, then proceed.” While the response may seem straightforward, ensuring clarity between the client’s intent and the analyst’s understanding is critical.
Here’s where AI could step in as the ultimate communicator. By interpreting the client’s replies, AI can translate responses into a clear-cut “yes” or “no” for immediate action. If there’s ambiguity, the system could send a notification to flag it for human review. Think of it as the digital equivalent of an interpreter who never gets lost in translation. While there may always be a small risk of misunderstanding – no different from a human analyst misinterpreting a message in a foreign language – AI’s speed and efficiency could drastically reduce these gaps, ensuring critical decisions are made without delay.

Dynamic Alert Analysis: Breathing Life Into Data. Alerts are the lifeblood of any SOC. Each alert requires analysis, and often, this process follows a set template, which over time can become repetitive. To avoid the mechanical nature of these reports, AI could enhance the SOC’s alert reporting by dynamically generating unique, human-like summaries for each analysis. Instead of simply following the same template, AI could create a final paragraph that reflects a deeper understanding of the situation – presenting the data in a fresh, engaging way every time. This added personalization not only provides clients with a more tailored experience but also keeps them engaged in the process, feeling that each alert is handled with care and attention.

Automated Outbound Calls: The New Frontier of Communication. In cybersecurity, speed is everything. When a high-priority incident occurs, every minute counts. Traditionally, when such an event happens, the SOC notifies the client via email, followed by a phone call from the on-call analyst. However, delays in response can have significant consequences.

Here’s where AI could revolutionise the response process with automated outbound calls. Instead of waiting for an analyst to log in and place the call, AI could initiate a simple, automated phone alert, notifying the client to check the report or ticket that has already been sent. This small change could make a huge difference, shaving precious minutes off the response time and ensuring the client is informed instantly.

Beyond time savings, automated calls would deliver messages clearly and consistently, helping to bridge communication gaps and ensuring nothing is lost in translation.

The Future is Now

These are just a few examples of how AI could reshape Security Operations Centers. As AI continues to evolve, its potential to streamline, enhance, and personalise security operations will only grow. SOCs powered by AI won’t just be more efficient – they will be smarter, faster, and more adaptable, offering a level of protection that is truly ahead of its time.

The possibilities are limitless. And as AI becomes further integrated into the heart of cybersecurity, the question isn’t if AI will transform SOCs, but how far-reaching its impact will be.

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^[1] AI and globalisation are shaking up software developers’ world, The Economist