New technologies and shifting priorities have left companies looking for new ways to protect themselves and their data. With cyber threats on the rise and the unpredictable nature of the market influencing our decisions, we need to invest in proactive security measures.

Automation is a critical component of the information security space and can be valuable to your company’s overall cyber security strategy. Automated security programs are responsive and thorough – traits your business needs to have a strong security posture.

What is cyber security automation?

Cyber security automation uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance an organisation’s security programs. These technologies provide businesses with software capable of diagnosing, analysing, and preventing cyber threats from damaging networks.

They automate smaller tasks performed by security analysts, such as monitoring networks for malicious activity, collecting data, and categorising threats to shorten future incident response times. Automated cyber security programs act as your business’s digital security teams, blocking cyber threats while storing information to create more effective cyber security strategies for future use.

What types of cyber security automation tools exist?

 There are several security automation tools companies can adopt into their frameworks. Each program boosts your organisation’s data protection measures and ensures you and your staff work in a safe environment.

Some of these tools include:

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) – gathers data from your company and examines it for patterns and potential threats.
• Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ) – analyses the financial consequences of cyber threats.
• Extended Detection and Response (XDR) – sources security-related data from your organisation’s IT infrastructure for an overview of your company’s threat status.
• Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) – gathers data and responds to detected threats without human interference.
• Risk-based Vulnerability Management (RBVM) – locates and addresses vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure.

Your business’s security issues should not be taken lightly. Security automation tools can give you peace of mind knowing your networks are continuously monitored and protected by the latest data security measures.

Why is cyber security automation important for businesses?

In the first quarter of 2022, 92% of data breaches were caused by cyber-attacks. Organisations must remain vigilant on the cyber front to protect their networks and employees from disasters. However, as technology infrastructures grow and companies develop new ways to conduct their business, organisations’ attack surfaces have widened significantly.

Experienced in-house cyber security teams can no longer keep pace with the constant volume of threats and the need to innovate. When they can tackle cyber risks, your company spends time and money as your IT staff shift their attention to time-consuming tasks such as troubleshooting.  

This can put your business at a disadvantage as your staff spends their skills and talent on keeping your IT infrastructure together rather than helping it grow and bring in more revenue. Automated cyber security programs streamline your company’s security operations, making them faster at responding to everyday threats.

Can automated programs fully replace IT security staff and practices?

Security automation solutions complement existing IT security staff and practices by freeing up employees‘ time to do more strategic work and managing repetitive tasks. While automation may take over some administrative duties and policies, your organisation still needs humans to carry out more advanced actions that require empathy and critical problem-solving skills.

At the same time, as robust as security automation programs are, your business will still need cyber security professionals to make sense of the data and communicate any breaches or risks to upper management and the company at large. To keep this simple, automated solutions improve your business’s cyber security strategies but do not serve as an excuse to ignore best practices or forgo IT expertise.

What are the benefits of security solutions for organisations?

From assessing potential security risks to assisting with risk management, automated cyber security programs help organisations protect their employees, customers, and stakeholders. By investing in these solutions, your business benefits from: 

Proactive detection and response

The average SMB spends between $10,000 and $49,000 per year on technology. The more devices and software you bring into your organisation, the more complex your IT infrastructure becomes. Security solutions run 24/7/365 and respond to threats as they are detected. No network is too complex for automated programs – they can monitor everything without becoming overwhelmed.

Reduced costs

Cyber security automation alleviates the stress of system monitoring from your staff’s shoulders. Passing the responsibility of repetitive tasks onto software tools reduces the chances of oversights and human error, making it harder for cyber threats to breach your networks and drain your company’s resources.

A more productive workforce

The slightest digital mishap can damage your employees’ morale and cause them to lose focus. By securing your workplace environment with automated solutions, your employees can focus on bringing value to your customers and taking advantage of the latest opportunities in the market.

Improved scalability

As organisations grow, companies’ IT infrastructures must be optimised and secure to deliver the best possible service to their owners. However, business growth often requires additional technologies to be implemented, and the security policies surrounding them must complement the existing infrastructure.

Security solutions scale alongside your users and readily envelop new devices and programs into your security measures for faster deployments. 

Automate your security with consultancy services

Cyber security automation capitalises on AI, machine learning, and other technologies to automate our security initiatives. By investing in more advanced security programs, your business can remain compliant with industry regulations and protect its sensitive data.

The cyber security consultants at Atarix are experts in boosting organisations’ cyber security models with the latest technological innovations. Contact the team to secure your network and become more agile in today’s threat landscape.