Basic cybersecurity defenses are no match for the sophisticated attacks cybercriminals launch against systems. Gone are the days when they execute these measures all by themselves. They now deploy advanced tools to hack the most secure networks remotely.

The arsenal you bring to the ongoing cyberwar can make or mar your chances of successfully protecting your application. Security automation systems help level the playing field by offering high-end threat monitoring and resolution tools to secure your network. Here’s how you can leverage them to improve your security.

What Are Security Automation Systems?

Security automation systems are software applications you can use to monitor, detect, and prevent cyber threats. Effective security is around the clock. Since there aren't designated times for cyberattacks, your best bet is to always be alert.

Security automation systems enable you to keep watch, detect, and contain threat vectors you would miss ordinarily. They have advanced artificial intelligence built from monitoring diverse threat patterns. Powered by machine learning, they recognize various threat behaviors and establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

How Do Security Automation Systems Work?

Implementing cybersecurity involves performing a series of tasks against vulnerabilities. Threat vectors aren’t visible on the surface. Identifying them requires you to perform security checks such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, patch management, etc. Doing these manually consumes time and resources. More so, it’s impossible to execute them around the clock, so you might miss some threat actors.

There are three elements of security automation systems: data sources, analytics tools, and response.

Data Sources

Data sources are the areas within your system with information about ongoing activities such as network traffic, security logs, and attack surfaces. The security systems continuously collect data from these locations and record all inputs. Precision in collecting data from the sources sets the pace for high performance. Any omission will affect the final results.

Analytics Tools

The data the automated systems collect from sources are in raw formats. Regardless of the data source, it’s not credible or accurate. Implementing it in this state raises concerns about data integrity.

The systems channel the data to their analytics tools for sorting and processing. The goal at this stage is to detect threat vectors with artificial intelligence. They must differentiate malicious traffic components from others.

Response Mechanism

When the analytics tools determine a threat vector from analyzing the pile of data, it informs the response mechanism to initiate appropriate actions preventing or managing the threat.

The first step is to stop the threat in its tracks, so it doesn’t spread across your network. It blocks the infected area to prevent movement and then moves to eradicate it. The system sends a threat notification to you about the development, so you can take further actions to contend it effectively.

What Are the Benefits of Using Security Automation Systems?

Implementing security automation systems is a proactive security measure that preempts cyberattacks with the following benefits.

1. Reduce Human Error

Overseeing your cybersecurity manually requires a great deal of attention to detail, critical thinking, and resilience among other attributes. Bringing these qualities to the table at all times is a tall order. Humans are fallible, so there's a high chance of making inevitable human errors even when you apply utmost caution. These errors cause several attacks.

Intruders are very much aware of the roles humans play in facilitating cyberattacks whether intentionally or unintentionally. They leverage that weakness by poking you with tricks where they deceive you to take compromising actions (it's vital that you take steps to avoid phishing scams) and social engineering where they pressure you to divulge sensitive information.

Security automation systems take the core security functions off of your hands. They are automated to perform repetitive routine checks and maintenance accurately, minimizing human input reduces errors drastically.

2. Provide Continuous Threat Monitoring

If you keep your eyes on your system 24/7, you will notice all threat vectors that can endanger your system. But you can’t do that all day even if securing your system is your topmost priority. Besides having other responsibilities, you'll get tired.

Security automation systems are machines. They don’t have responsibilities, nor do they suffer exhaustion. Once you program them to keep an eye on your system, they do the job without changing base.

3. Maintain Compliance Standards

If you operate in a regulated industry, there are some compliance requirements you need to meet. The way you collect and implement data is a sensitive subject you must prioritize, especially if your activities involve others. Handling such a critical issue manually is risky because important details can slip your mind.

Using security automation systems increases your compliance levels. These systems are designed with the latest compliance standards and follow them to the letter due to their high precision capacities. However, you must update your compliance requirements across all areas of your network as the systems work according to their programming.

4. Prevent Alert Fatigue

Receiving and responding to multiple threat alerts daily is exhausting. While you try to wrap your head around the ones on your desk, more roll in. How do you address all these incidents? Which ones do you prioritize over others? These questions and more lead to fatigue.

There’s no such thing as alert fatigue for security automation systems. They can manage hundreds of threat notifications. Due to their AI features, they can also determine the magnitude of each alert and prioritize the most damaging ones over others. This is called cyber triage, and it allows you to deploy your cybersecurity resources efficiently. Delays in resolving urgent crises can ruin your most critical data.

5. Enhance Decision-Making With Data Reporting

Effective cybersecurity relies on accurate performance data. Security automation systems generate data about activities in your system, especially regarding its security. This data includes malicious network traffic, vulnerable attack surfaces, and outdated software.

Analyzing the reported data gives you a clear picture of your digital environment and helps you make well-formed decisions in your best interests. For instance, identifying your vulnerable attack surfaces guides you to strengthen them to avoid exploitation.

Streamline Security Routines With Security Automation Systems

Technology advancements have redefined many aspects of our lives including cybersecurity. Why perform security tasks manually when there are systems you can use to achieve a better job? Security automation systems are here to make your job easier.

The procedures for securing computer systems are usually repetitive. One thing automated systems are good at is performing the same tasks repeatedly. Security automation systems run your security duties on autopilot. This gives you more time to focus on activities that need your full attention.