Introduction: The Complex Security Landscape
The growing complexity of the threat landscape is burdening security teams like never before. As more technologies are introduced to counter new threats, the attack surface expands, causing security analysts to become overburdened. Consequently, the shift from merely adopting new technologies to incorporating specialized services becomes crucial.
Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Security
The Challenges of Reactive Security
The current landscape often forces security analysts into a constant reactive stance, with daily alert monitoring and triaging. This approach leads to slow response times, higher risk, and burnout among staff.
A Proactive Approach through Third-Party Services
By shifting focus from reactionary tasks to proactive ones, organizations can optimize metrics such as mean-time-to-detect, time to triage, and mean-time-to-respond. Utilizing third-party services, such as SOCaaS, allows for:
- Offloading Monitoring: Freeing analysts for more critical tasks.
- Leveraging Automation and Machine Learning: To process vast volumes of data for faster response and better accuracy.
- Implementing Best Practices and Training: For effective threat hunting.
How Security Services Benefit the Entire Organization
Embracing third-party services can create a strong security posture by:
- Extending Team Capabilities: <SECURITY>aaS providers can become an extension of the internal team, helping with non-business hours monitoring and leveraging expertise in automation and machine learning.
- Providing an Outside Perspective: External assessments can evaluate and optimize the team and processes through IR readiness assessments, tabletop exercises, and playbook development.
- Enabling Efficient Incident Response: Outsourcing IR work can reduce remediation time and costs when a security incident occurs.
An Architecture Breakdown of Security-as-a-Service
Here’s how certain processes and attributes are relevant to the concept of embracing third-party services to improve security operations:
1. Security Service Management (Service Layer):
Why Relevant: Embracing third-party services like SOCaaS emphasizes the need to manage and align security services with the overall business strategy. It calls for clear definition, management, and delivery of security services.
2. Risk Management and Assurance (Risk Layer):
Why Relevant: By embracing third-party services, organizations are seeking to mitigate risk, improve responsiveness, and provide assurance of security controls. Understanding the risk profile and applying assurance mechanisms is essential in this context.
3. Operational Management and Orchestration (Solutions Layer):
Why Relevant: The integration of third-party services requires the orchestration and management of various security functions. This attribute ensures that the operational management is seamless and aligns with the business requirements.
4. Data Processing and Analytics (Information Layer):
Why Relevant: Utilizing third-party services like machine learning and automation necessitates effective data processing and analytics. Ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data aligns with this attribute.
5. Performance Efficiency (Performance Layer):
Why Relevant: Outsourcing and automating tasks aim to enhance efficiency in detecting, responding to, and remediating threats. Performance efficiency attributes ensure that the services are executed with the highest possible effectiveness.
6. People and Culture (People Layer):
Why Relevant: Shifting from reactive to proactive security involves a change in the organizational culture and the roles of the security analysts. The focus on job satisfaction, skill development, and alignment with business goals resonates with this attribute.
7. Governance, Compliance, and Legal Requirements (Policy Layer):
Why Relevant: Implementing third-party services must be aligned with existing governance structures and legal requirements. This ensures that all activities are in compliance with laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
A NIST CSF View
Embracing third-party services to improve security operations is a complex initiative that involves implementing various tools, processes, and controls. Aligning them with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) ensures that they are not only effective but also compliant with recognized standards. Below are specific examples of tools, processes, or controls, how they align with NIST CSF, and why they are relevant:
1. Threat Intelligence Platforms:
Why Relevant: To monitor and detect emerging threats in real-time.
NIST Alignment:
- Identify (ID): Helps in asset management and understanding the cybersecurity risk to organizational operations.
- Protect (PR): Facilitates timely information processing and protection against unauthorized access.
2. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) Platforms:
Why Relevant: Automates security operations, and coordinates complex workflows.
NIST Alignment:
- Detect (DE): Enables continuous monitoring and anomaly detection.
- Respond (RS): Supports incident response by automating actions.
3. Incident Response Plan (IRP):
Why Relevant: Ensures structured response to security incidents, reducing damage and recovery time.
NIST Alignment:
- Respond (RS): Emphasizes response planning, communication, and analysis.
- Recover (RC): Focuses on recovery planning and continuous improvement.
4. SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS):
Why Relevant: Offloads monitoring and managing security events, especially during non-business hours.
NIST Alignment:
- Protect (PR): Assists in access control, data security, and information protection.
- Detect (DE): Enhances security continuous monitoring.
5. Security Awareness and Training Programs:
Why Relevant: Educates employees about security best practices and potential threats.
NIST Alignment:
- Protect (PR): Helps in awareness and training, reinforcing human aspects of security.
6. Third-Party Risk Assessment Tools:
Why Relevant: Evaluates risks associated with third-party vendors and services.
NIST Alignment:
- Identify (ID): Assists in risk assessment and risk management strategy.
7. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Tools:
Why Relevant: Prevents unauthorized data access or transfer.
NIST Alignment:
- Protect (PR): Enforces data security and information protection processes.
Saying Goodbye to Old Ways of Thinking
The Impracticality of Traditional Insourced vs. Outsourced Thinking
The traditional methods of fully outsourced or fully in-sourced services are becoming impractical. Embracing a hybrid model and engaging in higher-level activities such as threat hunting can improve expertise, job satisfaction, and organizational protection.
The Business Value of Third-Party Services
The strategic alignment of third-party services with business goals can:
- Achieve Goals Faster: Streamline security processes and technologies.
- Enhance Analyst Engagement: By enabling more interesting and meaningful work.
- Provide Long-Term Protection: By fostering an environment of continuous improvement and adaptability.
Conclusion: Embracing Services for Robust Security Operations
The ever-increasing complexity of threats and the pressure on security analysts requires a strategic rethink of security operations. Embracing third-party services aligned with internal expertise provides a robust, agile solution that ensures better protection while fostering an engaging work environment.
Organizations seeking to stay ahead of threats should consider not only technology but a blended, tiered approach involving third-party services. This strategy enhances the role of analysts and increases their value, leading to better protection, optimized operations, and a sustainable future in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.
