Table of contents
- What is SOAR and why is it important in cyber security
- How a SOAR system works
- SOAR vs SIEM: differences and synergies
- Benefits of using a SOAR platform
- A practical example: email phishing
- Challenges and limitations of SOAR
The Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and persistent, and organizations are finding themselves managing a growing number of security incidents, often with limited resources.
In this complex scenario, advanced technologies such as Security Orchestration, Automation and Response – known by the acronym SOAR – represent a concrete and effective response.
This article explores in depth what SOAR is, how it works, and why it has become an indispensable ally in modern cyber security.
SOAR vs SIEM comparison, integrations with SIEM systems, benefits for security analysts, and the most relevant use cases.
What is SOAR and why is it important in cyber security
SOAR, an acronym for Security Orchestration, Automation and Response, refers to a category of platforms designed to help security teams manage, analyze data and respond to security incidents more efficiently by leveraging process automation.
The concept was born from the need to reduce response times and operational overhead caused by the mass of alerts generated every day by various security tools (firewalls, antivirus, IDS, SIEM, etc.). These tools can be very useful, but require a huge amount of manual work to analyze, correlate and react to each event. This is where SOAR comes in.
Through orchestration, the SOAR platform connects tools and data, allowing an integrated and centralized view of security operations.
With automation, repetitive tasks (such as classifying an alert, blocking an IP, isolating a compromised host) are performed autonomously. Finally, the response part allows you to define and implement playbooks (predefined operational flows) to deal with cyber attacks.
How a SOAR system works
The functioning of a SOAR solution can be described in three main phases, which correspond to the pillars of its definition:
1. Orchestration
Orchestration automation and response begins with integration. A SOAR platform connects with numerous enterprise tools: SIEM, firewall, antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), ticketing systems, threat intelligence tools, and more.
This orchestration allows security teams to have a single point of access to analyze data and make coordinated decisions.
2. Automation
By automating tasks, SOAR saves time and reduces human error. Security analysts can set up automatic rules to respond to certain events. For example:
if "suspected malware" in alert["description"]:
send_email("SecOps", alert["details"])
island_host(alert["host"])
crea_ticket("Malware detected on " + alert["host"])This simple script simulates an automatic reaction to a suspicious event, triggering notifications, defensive measures, and workflows.
3. Incident Response
The threat response part is perhaps the most visible and effective. Playbooks – sequences of automated actions – are activated based on the severity of the incident and company policies.
This allows teams to react in real time, reducing the so-called dwell time, or the time between the initial compromise and the containment intervention.
SOAR vs SIEM: differences and synergies
A recurring question is: SOAR vs SIEM, what is the difference? The most correct answer is that they are not alternatives, but complementary tools.
- The SIEM ( Security Information and Event Management ) system is designed to collect and analyze data from various sources (logs, events, network traffic) in order to detect threats and anomalies.
- SOAR, on the other hand, was created to manage incident response in an automated and coordinated manner
In practice, SIEM identifies, SOAR reacts.
However, the two systems can be tightly integrated: an alert generated by the SIEM can trigger a playbook on a SOAR platform, thus closing the detection & response loop.
Benefits of using a SOAR platform
The introduction of a SOAR platform brings a number of strategic and operational benefits:
- Reduced false positives
Through automation, false alarms are quickly filtered out, allowing security analysts to focus on real events. - Real-time response
SOAR enables teams to activate immediate defensive measures (IP blocking, host isolation, credential revocation). - Resource Optimization
By automating repetitive tasks, the workload on analysts is dramatically reduced. - Standardization
Playbooks ensure uniform and consistent response to incidents, reducing human errors. - Post-incident analysis
Every action performed by the system is tracked and archived, useful for audit, compliance and continuous improvement.
A practical example: email phishing
Let’s say an employee reports a possible phishing email. Here’s how a SOAR platform might handle the incident:
- The system receives the notification through integration with the ticketing system.
- Automatically launches an analysis of the header and links contained in the email using a threat intelligence engine.
- If the email is confirmed to be malicious:
- The message is removed from all affected mailboxes.
- The sending domain is blocked at the firewall.
- A notice is sent to all users to inform them of the risk.
- A detailed report is generated for security managers.
All this can happen in a few seconds, automating activities and leaving operators only the task of validating or reviewing the actions performed.
Challenges and limitations of SOAR
Despite the many benefits, adopting a SOAR solution also presents challenges:
- Complex implementation
Integrating all enterprise tools requires time and expertise. - Playbook Maintenance
Automatic flows should be updated as threats evolve. - Blind Automation Risks
Without adequate human oversight, an automated action could cause disruptions (e.g. blocking legitimate users).
For this reason, it is always recommended to combine automation with a strategy of constant review and validation by security analysts.
To conclude
Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) represents a natural evolution in IT infrastructure defense. In an environment where speed of response is everything, and where security operations are increasingly complex, orchestration, automation and response are the keys to modern, proactive and sustainable cyber security.
Integrated with a SIEM system, SOAR not only enables teams to respond quickly, but also addresses staffing shortages and improves the quality of security incident response.
Questions and answers
- What is a SOAR platform?
Cyber security platform that integrates tools, automates responses, and manages cyber incidents. - How does a SOAR differ from a SIEM?
SIEM detects threats by analyzing logs, while SOAR automates incident response. - Can I use SOAR without a SIEM?
Yes, but integrating with a SIEM system greatly enhances its capabilities. - What tasks can be automated with SOAR?
Alert classification, phishing response, host isolation, IP blocking, ticket opening and more. - Are SOAR playbooks editable?
Yes, they can be customized according to company policies and risk levels. - Can SOAR reduce false positives?
Threat intelligence tools. - Which professional figures interact with SOAR?
Mainly security analysts, SOC managers and automation engineers. - How long does it take to implement a SOAR?
It depends on the complexity of the IT environment, but on average a few weeks to a few months. - Is SOAR only useful for large companies?
No, even SMEs can benefit from it, especially if they operate in high-risk sectors. - What are the most popular SOAR platforms?
Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR, IBM Resilient, Splunk Phantom, Microsoft Sentinel and Siemplify.
