Today’s security companies must adjust to the demands due to surging security vulnerabilities and rapidly changing customer requirements. Read on to learn how to launch new security workforce automation.
Over three decades have passed since the first PC-targeted malicious software (malware) known as “Brain.A” appeared in 1986. Today, security professionals continue to help companies from security threats by offering measures to safeguard data against online hackers and ransomware attacks.
Automation has become essential for several google display advertising companies to boost team members’ effectiveness and efficiency. This process allows workers to get past tedious tasks and distractions to focus on top priorities.
Ineffective automation processing can also result in a less productive team through results like inefficient efforts. Here are some of the best options for security teams to implement automation better.
Step 1: Align New Automation With the Business
Security teams should avoid purchasing new automation technology for the sake of doing so. There’s a better way. Instead, carefully consider the company’s vision and business practices.
This step makes it easier for security companies to select integrated software that perfectly fits their business structure. The software can also help create a snapshot of the business, including components such as:
- Checkpoint logging
- Incident reporting and alerting
- Audio-video feeds
- GPS tracking
Step 2: Get Team Members on the Same Page
A common situation among security teams involves individuals working on automated systems not communicating the direction they’re going.
This phenomenon can result in some messy situations. They include redundant work and security members going in different directions.
One solution is to communicate the team’s priorities centrally. Then it can build automation more effectively.
Step 3: Set Clear Goals
A security team must evaluate the big picture and problems it’s attempting to solve through automation. Where do the team’s processes have gaps? Where are the costs high? Where are improvements required?
When making the “wish list,” don’t set limits. Today’s technology can offer a full range of needs for security workforce management.
Here’s an example. Scheduling software can solve security teams’ problems related to over-staffing, low job satisfaction, and high turnover rates. The software can provide benefits like optimized workloads.
Teams can even find tools that use artificial intelligence (AI) to match web security personnel’s preferences to type of work and hours.
Step 4: Determine the Tasks to Be Automated
As basic as this process may seem, it’s a critical one to take. This process should involve a company’s security team and other teams that automation could affect.
When determining such tasks to automate, weigh different factors. For instance, which automation would cut the most risk, effort, and time?
Security professionals can think of such tasks as “dominos.” For example, they can consider whether automating one gigantic task or several small tasks will produce a significant impact in terms of efficiency.
Suppose a large domino makes the biggest impact. In that case, a team should focus on automating that task before tackling the small ones.
Make sure the team is proposing the “right” questions, including:
- What daily tasks require low brainpower?
- Which procedures are most likely to create mistakes?
- How can the security team streamline its work?
- Focus on business intelligence-focused data
The latest and greatest automation software may not be suitable for the company or team. Pick automation tech that converts information into insight.
Advanced analytics and decision-support tools can provide detailed information for maximizing a company’s operations. A business can use guards wherever they’re most needed.
For instance, such tools can use historical reports to project where a security threat is more probable. The team can then take appropriate steps to fix such gaps in security.
Step 5: Convert Ideas Into Results
It’s critical not only to generate tasks but also to keep automating tasks front and center. Here’s the thing: security teams often pile up ideas without finding automation solutions.
Sure, brainstorming ideas is critical. Just make sure the team focuses on outcomes so it can collaborate on solutions.
Step 6: Create a Plan to Build and Implement Automation
After brainstorming ideas, it’s time to create and implement the new automation system. What’s the plan? Some tasks must be broken down into a few different automation tasks.
Determine the steps needed to develop and implement the automation. Depending on the type of tasks identified, they may be broken into a few separate automation steps.
One example of this would be threat intelligence enrichment. This process helps determine implementable ideas for security operations such as threat response.
The steps a security team takes can create value and improve the workflow. It’s critical to break down each task and determine its goal. For example, can it become 100% automated, or will manual processes be required?
Step 7: Calculate the Projected ROI
Before measuring the impact of automating a task, calculate the return on investment (ROI). For example, if an automated job requires one person-hour, how many person-hours can the team or department save per year?
When team members submit ideas about automation upgrades, require them to submit a projected ROI.
The ROI is one of the critical factors when evaluating members’ ideas. Efficiency is another.
Step 8: Evaluate the Impact of Automation
Besides factors like the ROI, it’s critical to evaluate the projected outcome. Here’s where teams factor in the ROI and identify any extra maintenance new automation requires.
One option is to review the security team’s automation each quarter. What’s the result? Teams can determine how impactful the implemented ideas have been to the business.
Unfortunately, the security team can’t automate every process. Here’s the good news: prioritizing processes and automation can achieve the most efficiency for a team. Use a few small projects to test the workflow, then upscale.
Get the team on the same path to avoid possible pitfalls and get leadership involved in automated tasks and idea generation. Involving the security team in the process may motivate them to automate other security tasks automatically.