From an ever-expanding attack surface to the need to safeguard a complex, multi-vendor, hybrid landscape, security teams are facing an onslaught of challenges. The new normal calls for a holistic approach that ensures security resilience in the face of an unpredictable threat landscape. At the same time, they must enable Security Operation Centers (SOCs) to cut through the noise and act quickly on what really matters.
Security resilience—the ability for rapid detection, low dwell time, and swift removal of bad actors—is essential for quick recovery with little to no data loss, especially given the onslaught of new threats. Yet it’s harder to operate an effective SOC today because of several factors, among them:
- Rapidly changing threat landscape
- Volume and complexity of security alerts
- Rise of public cloud
- Challenge of working with disparate tools
For these reasons, 52% of security professionals believe security operations are more difficult today than they were two years ago, according to ESG research. Thirty-seven percent of SOC teams interviewed flagged alert volume and complexity as factors making security operations more difficult. And 34% pointed to the growing use of the public cloud as another complication.
Security leaders recognize the challenge and are taking steps to modernize SOCs—88% of respondents to the ESG research confirmed plans to increase spending on security operations.
“Companies today must protect their reputations and customers, maintain compliance, and deflect cyberattacks, all while allowing increased use of remote work and in the midst of digital transformation,” says Mike Storm, distinguished engineer at Cisco Security.
The right stuff
To build security resilience, organizations need to embrace a robust set of tools and best practices. Platforms that simplify operations through aggregation and correlation of data from multiple sources into a unified view help create the shortest path from detection to response. At the same time, built-in automation and orchestration ensure faster remediation with fewer resources. Managing against the NIST framework, leveraging Identity and Access Management (IAM) platforms along with application, network, and endpoint security are other requisites.
Additionally, SOC teams should consider the following to maximize resilience:
- Regular risk assessments: Conducting regular risk assessments helps identify potential system vulnerabilities and threats, proactively addressing weaknesses before they’re exploited.
- Robust incident response plan: Have a well-defined and rehearsed incident response plan that outlines the recommended steps to take when a security breach is identified. This should include technical responses, communication strategies, and recovery procedures.
- Continuous employee training: Make sure all employees are regularly trained on cybersecurity best practices and understand the importance of their role in the effort. This not only helps prevent incidents but ensures a swift response when events do occur.
- Layered security measures: Implement multiple layers of security defenses (firewalls, antivirus software, encryption, multi-factor authentication, etc.) across the system. That way if one layer is compromised, there is continuity in protection.
- Regular system updates and patching: Keep all systems, applications, and software up to date with regular patching and updates. Fixing known vulnerabilities minimizes potential risks.
No single measure provides adequate safeguards, so it’s important to implement the full complement of tools and best practices to maximize resilience.
“Security resilience is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process that evolves as threats, technologies, and business needs change,” Storm says. “It’s important to regularly review and modify these strategies as per the changing cybersecurity landscape.”
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