What is SOAR? Security Orchestration, Automation and Response Guide

Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) is a collection of software solutions that enable organizations to streamline security operations through automation, orchestration, and standardized incident response procedures. For Australian businesses facing cybersecurity skills shortages, SOAR platforms multiply the effectiveness of security teams.

The Three Pillars of SOAR

Security Orchestration

Connecting and coordinating security tools and processes:

• Tool integration: Connect disparate security tools through APIs
• Workflow coordination: Orchestrate multi-step security processes
• Data sharing: Enable information flow between security tools
• Process standardization: Consistent procedures across the organization

Security Automation

Automating routine and repetitive security tasks:

• Alert triage: Automatically prioritize and categorize alerts
• Threat enrichment: Gather additional context about threats
• Response actions: Execute containment and remediation steps
• Reporting: Generate automated security reports and metrics

Incident Response

Structured and repeatable incident response processes:

• Playbook execution: Automated execution of response procedures
• Case management: Track incidents from detection to resolution
• Collaboration tools: Facilitate team communication during incidents
• Documentation: Automatic documentation of response activities

SOAR Use Cases

Phishing Response Automation

Automate the investigation and response to phishing attacks:

1. Email analysis: Automatically analyze suspicious emails
2. Threat intelligence lookup: Check URLs and attachments against threat feeds
3. User notification: Alert affected users and provide guidance
4. Email quarantine: Remove malicious emails from all mailboxes
5. Incident documentation: Create detailed incident records

Malware Incident Response

Coordinate response to malware detections:

1. Endpoint isolation: Automatically isolate infected systems
2. Forensic collection: Gather evidence for analysis
3. Threat hunting: Search for similar indicators across the environment
4. Remediation: Clean infected systems and restore operations
5. Lessons learned: Update detection rules based on findings

Vulnerability Management

Automate vulnerability assessment and remediation:

1. Vulnerability scanning: Regular automated scans
2. Risk assessment: Prioritize vulnerabilities by business impact
3. Patch deployment: Coordinate patching across systems
4. Verification: Confirm successful remediation
5. Reporting: Generate compliance and status reports

SOAR Implementation for Australian Businesses

Assessment and Planning

Evaluate current security operations for automation opportunities:

• Process mapping: Document current incident response procedures
• Tool inventory: Catalog existing security tools and capabilities
• Automation opportunities: Identify repetitive tasks for automation
• Integration requirements: Determine tool integration needs

Playbook Development

Create standardized response procedures:

• Incident types: Define playbooks for different incident categories
• Response steps: Document detailed response procedures
• Decision points: Include human decision points where needed
• Escalation procedures: Define when and how to escalate incidents

SOAR and the Cybersecurity Skills Shortage

Australia's cybersecurity skills shortage makes SOAR particularly valuable for local businesses. By automating routine tasks, SOAR platforms allow security teams to focus on strategic activities and complex investigations.

Addressing Skills Gaps

• Force multiplication: Enable junior analysts to handle complex incidents
• Knowledge capture: Embed expert knowledge in automated playbooks
• Consistency: Ensure consistent response regardless of analyst experience
• Training acceleration: Help new analysts learn through guided automation

Working with SOAR Implementation Partners

Many Australian businesses partner with cybersecurity MSPs for SOAR implementation. Leading providers like Affinity MSP offer comprehensive SOAR services including:

• SOAR platform selection and implementation
• Custom playbook development and optimization
• Security tool integration and orchestration
• Automation workflow design and testing
• Ongoing optimization and performance tuning