Driving security transformation through automation, AI and analytics

ARTICLE | September 02, 2021

Authored by RSM US LLP

With cyberthreats growing in sophistication and frequency, a 100% DIY approach to security operations rarely makes sense anymore. Outsourcing, co-sourcing or engaging consultants to gain access to critical knowledge, services, skills and technologies can help you build a scalable cybersecurity strategy for this ever-evolving challenge.

In working with clients, we have found a key component of security transformation is AI-driven automation and analytics. These technologies help:

• Drive efficiencies and reduce the time it takes to recognize and remediate threats,
• Enable people to work smarter and faster,
• Increase staff efficiency and cost effectiveness,
• Allow analysts to spend less time sorting through noise and more time focused on vetted high-priority alerts and events, and
• Empower analysts in providing more valuable, data-driven insights to leadership.

Automation and analytics can be part of different services and solutions. For example, third-party providers could use them to assess current systems based on strategic priorities—a pre-requisite to identifying other high-priority areas to apply transformative technologies. They could also be embedded in business applications. Either way, they help organizations save time and prioritize resources while controlling the cost of security operations.

A disciplined approach to security transformation

While AI-driven automation and analytics can help transform your security operations, they aren’t magic. They require skilled people and operational planning.

Developing effective security operations requires an organized and iterative cycle of discovery, design, deployment and optimization. This approach helps the organization become more secure and agile by equipping staff with the tools and information they need to identify and address potential issues sooner. They gain more knowledge about enterprise risk and security operations in general, which empowers confident, fast decision-making when needed. Let’s walk through this cycle.

• Discover: Assess your organization’s current IT security posture and prioritize areas to determine where using AI, security automation and analytics makes the most sense.
• Design: Starting with the highest-priority use cases, develop automated solutions that reduce the need for human intervention.
• Deploy: Implement the solutions with your people top-of-mind. Make them aware of the solutions’ benefits and train them to understand the capabilities and limitations.
• Optimize: Business needs and external factors constantly evolve. Even as you deploy more security automation solutions, continue to monitor performance and results, and optimize each solution to meet current needs.

Shifting left with cyber transformation

A primary benefit of these advanced technologies is that they allow IT teams to “shift left” away from routine tasks and devote more time and resources to strategic initiatives that create competitive advantages. This can begin even before your team deploys a new asset, such as a server or a cloud-delivered service. With security-enhancing automation that provides compliance risk alerts, your team can address any issues prior to deployment.

The other advantage of an “automation-first” approach is that system data starts accumulating immediately. This establishes a baseline for machine learning components so that the AI functionality can react based on any new knowledge

Simplifying the path to modern security operations

Most companies don’t have the resources for this holistic approach to building effective security operations at scale and in a cost-effective manner. This is especially true for highly distributed organizations that have accumulated legacy systems over time. Managing security operations is simply too complex—and given the trajectory of business technology, it will only become more complex and mission critical over time.

Effective security transformation is not optional; every organization needs it to protect against costly non-compliance and increasingly sophisticated cybercrime. RSM provides holistic security operations services, such as managed security operations and managed endpoint solutions, to help transform your security operations technology with AI-driven automation and analytics. We can work together to maximize the security of your company’s data—and that of your customers.