What is a SOAR Playbook and is it enough When Approaching Use Cases?
SOAR playbooks are predefined, automated sequences of actions that outline how a security incident should be handled. These playbooks orchestrate various security tools and processes, ensuring a standardized and efficient response to incidents. They encompass a series of steps, from initial incident detection to final resolution, guiding security professionals through a coordinated and automated response.
The main benefits of SOAR playbooks include:
Consistency and standardisation
SOAR playbooks enforce consistency in incident response by providing standardized workflows. This ensures that each security incident is handled in a uniform and systematic manner, reducing the risk of human error.
Efficiency and speed
Automation within SOAR playbooks accelerates the incident response process. By automating routine tasks, such as data collection and analysis, security teams can respond swiftly to threats, minimizing potential damage.
Adaptability and customisation
SOAR playbooks are adaptable and customizable. Security teams can modify, and update playbooks based on emerging threats, ensuring that the organization remains agile in the face of evolving cybersecurity challenges.
SOAR playbooks also have some challenges which include:
The continuous evolution of threats
While SOAR playbooks offer a structured approach to incident response, the rapid evolution of cyber threats requires constant updates and modifications. Static playbooks may become outdated, necessitating ongoing refinement to address emerging threats effectively.
A lack of human expertise
Despite the automation capabilities of SOAR playbooks, human expertise remains indispensable. Cyber security professionals must interpret the results, make informed decisions, and adapt playbooks to the unique characteristics of each incident.
Integration with threat intelligence
Effective threat intelligence integration is crucial for the success of SOAR playbooks. Ensuring that playbooks leverage the latest threat intelligence feeds enhances their ability to detect and respond to sophisticated threats.
The Speed Levels of SOAR Playbooks
When talking about SOAR playbooks there are two speed levels we should consider when approaching a use case. The first is the one we are all used to – human speed – whereas with SOAR we are introducing a framework for response mechanisms at machine speed. This is important to consider not because of the benefit but primarily because we cannot trust machines to do everything an analyst can – at least not yet. This argument imposes a human-in-the-loop approach where we slow down the machine aided response for analysts to review, analyse, perform actions outside the confines of the automation platform or other.
This approach in return allows us to add different dimensions in our response which can allow us to pivot and collaborate during a response so we can act on the different phases of a response in parallel, thus accelerating the response. We achieve this by defining the standard operating procedures within the automation framework with a “task list”. This “task list” allows us to define the steps needed to be taken for a specific incident.
This way we can break down the automated response playbook in multiple playbooks and avoid the hurdles of long lines of code, while allowing for parallel response and case management. Instead of a playbook, we end up with something like a workbook where we have defined guidelines for a specific incident type, with predefined tasks that help the analyst keep track of their response, as well as their service level agreements (SLA’s) in every step of the process. This provides an overall much more mature and controlled approached to an incident response that promotes collaboration, teamwork, effective and robust response capabilities that sets us up for success, while we stay on top of the alert fatigue improving the quality of life of our team.
A SOAR playbook doesn’t necessarily have a one-to-one parity with a use case e.g. one playbook for every incident type. Rather, we should apply all the SOAR tools at our disposal to design the best possible response framework. That way one use case can consist of one or more playbooks, but for simplicity reasons we will refer to a use case as a playbook.
Final Thoughts
SOAR playbooks represent a cornerstone in the defence against cyber threats, offering organisations a structured and automated approach to incident response. While their strengths lie in consistency, efficiency, and adaptability, it’s essential to recognize that they are not a silver bullet.
Cyber security is ever evolving and requires a combination of human expertise, continuous refinement of playbooks, and integration with cutting-edge threat intelligence. Understanding the role of SOAR playbooks within a broader cyber security strategy is crucial, as it allows organisations to harness their power effectively to navigate the complex landscape of digital security threats.
