When Your $2M Security Detection Fails: Can your SOC Save You?

"Enterprises today are expected to have at least 6-8 detection tools, as detection is considered a standard investment and the first line of defense. Yet security leaders struggle to justify dedicating resources further down the alert lifecycle to their superiors. As a result, most organizations' security investments are asymmetrical, robust detection tools paired with an under-resourced SOC, their last line of defense."

"A recent case study demonstrates how companies with a standardized SOC prevented a sophisticated phishing attack that bypassed leading email security tools. In this case study, a cross-company phishing campaign targeted C-suite executives at multiple enterprises. Eight different email security tools across these organizations failed to detect the attack, and phishing emails reached executive inboxes. However, each organization's SOC team detected the attack immediately after employees reported the suspicious emails."

"Detection tools operate in milliseconds. They must make instant decisions on millions of signals every day. They have no time for nuance; speed is essential. Without it, networks would come to a halt, as every email, file, and connection request would be held up for analysis. Detection tools zoom in. They are the first to identify and isolate potential threats, but they lack an understanding of the bigger picture."

Enterprises commonly deploy six to eight detection tools while neglecting SOC resourcing, producing asymmetrical security investments. A cross-company phishing campaign bypassed eight leading email security tools and reached executive inboxes but was immediately detected by standardized SOC teams after employee reports. Detection tools operate in milliseconds, prioritizing speed over nuance and lacking broader context. SOC teams provide human analysis and lifecycle response that automated tools cannot. Balanced investment across the alert lifecycle strengthens response capabilities and maximizes the value of existing detection investments. Understanding the operational disconnect between rapid automated detection and human SOC workflows explains why gaps emerge.

Read at The Hacker News