What it is
Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) refers to technologies that integrate security tools, automate repetitive tasks, and standardize incident response workflows. SOAR platforms connect SIEMs, endpoint protection tools, threat intelligence feeds, and ticketing systems to enrich alerts and execute predefined response playbooks.
These playbooks automate actions such as isolating compromised endpoints, blocking malicious IP addresses, collecting forensic data, and notifying stakeholders. By reducing manual intervention, SOAR enables security teams to respond faster and more consistently to incidents.
Why it matters
Security teams face increasing alert volumes and limited resources. SOAR reduces mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR), helping organizations contain incidents before they escalate. It also improves consistency, auditability, and compliance by documenting response actions and decisions.
How to reduce risk
- Integrate SOAR with existing security monitoring and detection tools.
- Start by automating low-risk, high-volume tasks such as alert triage.
- Regularly review and refine playbooks based on real incidents.
- Maintain human approval steps for high-impact automated actions.