In the relentless battle against cyber threats, Security Operations Centers (SOCs) find themselves grappling with a multitude of challenges. According to the Tines 2023 “Voice of the SOC” report, a staggering 60% of SOC analysts report increasing workloads, with 65% considering a job change within the next year. Other surveys call out that 55% of organizations are missing critical alerts almost daily, and 64% of analysts report that redundant manual work consumes over half of their time. These statistics underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions to bolster SOC efficiency and resilience in the face of evolving threats.
Enter SOC Insights, a groundbreaking AI-driven security capability integrated into Infoblox’s DNS Detection and Response (DNSDR) solution, BloxOne Threat Defense. SOC Insights is designed to address the persistent challenges faced by modern SOCs, leveraging advanced analytics to distill vast amounts of network and security data into actionable insights to empower security analysts to better prioritize and respond to threats more effectively, while raising overall SOC efficiency. By helping the SOC to shift its focus from generalized alerts to more actionable insights, this comprehensive approach to DNSDR has solidified its valuable role in XDR.
One of the standout features of SOC Insights is its ability to mitigate alert fatigue by consolidating hundreds of thousands of security alerts into a dramatically smaller, more manageable set of insights. (One customer reported over half a million alerts being distilled won to only 24 insights.) By applying AI-driven analytics to DNS activity, asset information, DNS threat intelligence, and security events, SOC Insights correlates those events, prioritizes them based on many factors beyond typical malware risk rankings, and provides recommendations for swift resolution. This not only accelerates threat detection and response but also alleviates the strain on overburdened SOC analysts.
Moreover, SOC Insights plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between security and networking teams, offering enhanced visibility into network activity. Networking teams benefit from improved DNS and network stability and resilience as BloxOne Threat Defense identifies and addresses threats at the DNZS layer. Furthermore, SOC Insights identifies configuration errors, high-risk activity, and other behaviors helping organizations fortify their security posture and mitigate risks proactively.
The impact of SOC Insights extends beyond immediate benefits, contributing to a proactive security stance. Leveraging DNS intelligence, organizations can reduce the risk of C2 and malware in attacks by a staggering 92%, as revealed by the Cybersecurity Directorate at the NSA. And hunted DNS intelligence helps disrupt attack infrastructure, often composed of tens of thousands of domains, enabling customers to block many attacks even 2-3 months before threat actors launch their attack using those domains. This proactive approach not only mitigates breaches but also fosters a healthier work environment for security analysts, combating burnout and bolstering retention rates.
In addition to its formidable immediate cybersecurity benefits, SOC Insights revolutionizes the broader security ecosystem. By sharing AI-driven insights and other relevant data with other security tools, SOC Insights maximizes the ROI of existing investments and enhances the effectiveness of the entire security stack.
ThreatQuotient is the first to complete SOC Insights integration, uplifting the capabilities of both solutions. The recent ThreatQuotient 2023 State of Cybersecurity Automation Adoption report highlighted several concerns among cybersecurity leaders that can be addressed by an enhanced level of integration of their SOAR solution with SOC Insights including:
- ‘Smart Tools’ improve threat analyst well-being and retention
- Multiple data sources support more effective security automation
- AI can empower analysts to make better decisions, faster, with the right context
Together, Infoblox and ThreatQuotient customers can intelligently initiate automate workflows and trigger remediation actions based on SOC Insights, expand response across their entire security infrastructure, and share other vital data to provide a unified defense.
In conclusion, SOC Insights represents a transformative leap forward for the SOC, empowering security teams to navigate the complex threat landscape with confidence and agility. By harnessing the power of AI-driven analytics, organizations can reinforce their cybersecurity defenses, streamline operations, and safeguard their digital assets against evolving threats. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, SOC Insights stands as a beacon of innovation and resilience in the fight against cyber adversaries.
