Security operations center teams seeking a security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) solution must consider critical features for the best experience. Although each one comes with similar capabilities—the minor variations matter.

What Is SOAR?

SOAR stands for security orchestration, automation, and response. It’s a software solution that allows security teams to integrate their various tools into seamless incident response workflows. The purpose is to connect multiple software and capabilities for complete centralized control over security measures.

It provides more context behind actions because everything is clearly visible and structured. Coordination and threat assessment is more manageable when everything is in one place.

How Does It Work?

SOAR merges security tools to ensure each orchestrates with the other for a streamlined experience. It combines interconnected tools, low-level automation and incident response actions to enhance security processes for security operations center (SOC) teams.

There are three aspects to SOAR:

• Security orchestration: The security orchestration aspect unifies interconnected security tools to create more effective operations. Such integration results in enhanced threat detection because it connects software and tools
• Security automation: Security automation is the ability of programming to automate routine processes that would traditionally be manual. It’s repeated task execution that doesn’t require human input
• Security response: A typical security response involves threat monitoring and anticipation. SOAR provides a central view of each response action to reduce reaction time and increase collaboration

Security orchestration results in data collection that informs the tools behind the automated processes. The three other aspects of SOAR combine to form an automatic threat detection and response solution for SOC teams. Connecting various internal and external tools provides heightened collaboration and threat assessment for potential cyberattacks.

Why Is SOAR Necessary in Cybersecurity?

As the number of cyberattacks increases, so does the requirement for extra security. Attacks are becoming more sophisticated as technology advance—and SOC teams typically need more people for an adequate response.

Many professionals face burnout and increased stress as the demands for increased security grow but the amount of available labor declines. As the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals grows to 3.4 million job openings, SOAR becomes more of a necessity. It can take over routine tasks and support them with critical job functions, relieving them of some of their workloads.

Since around 75% of SOC teams claim their increased workloads are the primary reason for their burnout, they may benefit from SOAR's automation. It can streamline everyday tasks, allowing them more time to prioritize essential matters. In addition—it gives them a dashboard that emphasizes collaboration and coordination, so their daily job functions are simpler.

What Key Features Should a SOAR Solution Have?

While most SOAR solutions share all the expected necessary features, some offer better versions than others. Plus, many functions that aren’t built-in automatically are likely key for SOCs. Cybersecurity professionals should consider where their team needs assistance and look for aspects that align.

1. Scalability

One of the primary features a SOAR solution must be capable of is scalability. As an SOC team adjusts to new security or user needs, it should be able to adapt. For example, a larger amount of data requires more processing power. Although it may seem flexible initially, it should be capable of continuous change and expansion. A scalable solution is necessary for any growing team.

2. Customization

Customization may seem optional at first as long as the SOAR solution can get the job done. Still, you’ll be thankful for the ability to personalize your dashboard and various other features. The right solution should conform to your needs, so it’s a key feature.

A broad range of users with various technological capabilities should be able to create and modify dashboards as they see fit. It’s ultimately meant for collaboration and ease of access, so it must be relatively easy for individuals at different levels to alter it.

3. API-First Architecture

Application programming interfaces (APIs) allow for successful integration and coordination between software and tools. An API-first architecture relates to scalability and management because it enables seamless integration and better coordination between tools and software.

It’s beneficial in a SOAR solution because the same APIs powering various applications can also engage in incident response and playbooks with little human input. The commonality between function and design can enhance the security and response of an SOC team.

4. Ease of Integration

Since the primary feature of a SOAR solution is unification, a key component to look for is seamless integration. It should take little time and effort to adapt the current methods and make the switch. Since every SOC team requires different security needs, comparing solutions and seeing which allows the most streamlined implementation process is essential.

5. Customizable Playbooks

Playbooks are predetermined, automatic actions meant for task identification and execution. Since SOC teams use them to handle routine operating procedures, they can’t take full advantage of the automation of a SOAR solution without them.

While playbooks are a feature already integrated into SOAR, some have more customization capabilities than others. They’re an integral part of the solution, so looking for an element with a broad range of personalization options is worth it. Beyond that, some are much easier to utilize than others. Just because they’re all built-in doesn’t mean they’re all equal.

Key Features of a SOAR Solution

Aspects of customization and ease of integration are essential features of a SOAR solution. Although some are already built-in or considered basic functions, they can have minor variations that ultimately affect how streamlined everything is. Since one of its primary responsibilities is making a SOC team’s workload more manageable, key features like these are necessary.