Security Operations Center (SOC) teams are increasingly adopting Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) to keep pace with the growing volume and sophistication of threats and to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their security operations. Forking away from a deluge of “Dumb SOAR” tools, D3 Security’s Smart SOAR has been trailblazing its own path, with an approach that:
- Incorporates identity data: Smart SOAR uses user IDs, device IDs, and cloud accounts in its threat detection and response processes, enabling a more holistic view of potential threats that takes into account not just the “what”, but also the ‘who’ behind an alert.
- Leverages behavioral insights: In addition to identity data, D3 Smart SOAR leverages behavioral data such as MITRE ATT&CK TTPs to explain the “why” behind an alert.
Combining identity and behavior makes it easier to pinpoint, track, and address threats. Let’s explore how Smart SOAR can make a positive impact on your organization’s SecOps.
Understanding Identity-Driven Security Operations
Identity-driven security operations refer to the cybersecurity practices and processes that center around who is involved in a particular security event or incident. This approach allows SOC teams to discern patterns, detect anomalies, and respond more effectively to threats.
Identity data encompasses several components, each bringing its unique layer of context and intelligence. It includes, but is not limited to:
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- User IDs: User identifiers can help pinpoint who might be the target of a threat or potentially participating in suspicious activities. By identifying the “who”, analysts can make informed decisions about the severity and credibility of the alert. Some examples of user identity data include user IDs, email addresses, and biometric data.
- Device IDs: Each device connected to your network has a unique identifier — such as IP and MAC addresses, IMEI numbers for mobile devices, or UUIDs for computing devices. Monitoring these can help identify suspicious activities linked to particular devices and allow you to track, investigate, and block threats more effectively.
- Cloud Accounts: Identifying unusual activities linked to specific cloud accounts can enable quicker detection of potential breaches.
- Session and Usage Data: Information about when users log in and out, failed login attempts, and activity data such as what actions a user, device, or account has taken, such as files accessed, commands executed, or settings changed.
- Security Credentials: Passwords, session validation tokens, certificates, and cookies.
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Why Identity Data Matters in Cybersecurity
Identity data is the key to unlocking a more contextual, effective, and proactive approach to your cybersecurity operations. Benefits include:
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- Enhanced Threat Detection: By incorporating identity data into your threat detection processes, you can identify patterns and anomalies that might be missed otherwise. For example, repeated alerts involving a specific user ID or cloud account can indicate a targeted attack.
- Prioritized Response: Knowing who is involved in an alert can expedite the decision-making process during threat triage and response. For example, an alert involving the CEO’s device ID would be treated with a higher level of urgency.
- Proactive Security Measures: By monitoring identity data, you can proactively identify threats and take preventive measures before an actual breach occurs. For instance, if a user ID is showing an unusual pattern of activity—such as repeated failed login attempts, logging in from unfamiliar locations, or accessing sensitive data it usually doesn’t—these could be indicators that a user’s account has been compromised or even that the user is a malicious insider. By identifying such patterns early, organizations can investigate and potentially prevent a breach before it happens.
Integrating Identity Data into Every Alert with D3’s Smart SOAR
If you’ve come this far down this blog, you know that Smart SOAR leverages critical identity data such as user IDs, device IDs, and cloud accounts along with ATT&CK TTPs to enhance the triage process and provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of potential threats.
With an estimated 80% of attacks now involving compromised credentials, the integration of identity data into every alert is no longer optional but essential. Smart SOAR’s integrations with the top Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions include Okta, Active Directory, CyberArk, Silverfort, and HashiCorp Vault.
These integrations don’t just streamline user management and enhance security infrastructure, they also provide valuable security insights, enabling the swift detection and proactive handling of security incidents. Read more about Smart SOAR’s unique, two-tiered automation, involving event-level triage and incident-level response—which enables a more comprehensive understanding of the incident, and a more effective response—in the following blogs:
- Why Smart SOAR is the Best SOAR for Okta
- Why Smart SOAR is the Best SOAR for Active Directory
- Defending Against Valid Account Threats: A Holistic Workflow with CrowdStrike, Okta, Elastic, and Recorded Future
- Automatically Triage and Respond to Mimikatz Alerts with CrowdStrike, Okta, and Smart SOAR
Advanced SOC Capabilities With Identity-Driven Smart SOAR
The ability to incorporate identity data and behavioral insights is a critical advancement in cybersecurity operations. With Smart SOAR, organizations can gain a more complete and contextual understanding of potential threats by identifying the “who” and the “why” behind an alert. Our integrations with top IAM solutions provide essential security insights that allow for swift detection and proactive incident handling. Schedule a demo to enhance your organization’s security posture with an identity-driven approach.
