SOC Practitioners Struggle with Overwhelming Volume of False Alarms from Security Tools
Security Operations Center (SOC) practitioners are facing a significant challenge in their day-to-day operations due to the avalanche of false alarms generated by their security tools. A recent survey conducted by Vectra has shed light on the frustrations experienced by cybersecurity professionals with the overwhelming volume of false positives that their software vendors’ tools produce. This issue not only leads to burnout among SOC teams but also allows genuine threats to go undetected amidst the noise.
Mark Wojtasiak, the vice president of research and strategy at Vectra AI, expressed little surprise at the survey results, indicating a persistent frustration among SOC practitioners with current threat detection tools. According to Wojtasiak, the real problem lies in the lack of accurate attack signals rather than ineffective threat detection capabilities.
On average, SOCs are inundated with 3,832 security alerts daily, showcasing the immense challenge faced by SOC staff in sifting through and prioritizing these alerts. This results in 81% of SOC employees spending at least two hours a day solely on this task, leading to a significant portion of security alerts being ignored.
Despite being aware of the implications of disregarding security warnings, SOC operators find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of alerts, resulting in a lack of trust in their security software vendors. The escalating frustration towards vendors has prompted calls for greater responsibility in preventing breaches.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen as a potential solution to streamline SOC operations and alleviate the burden on SOC staff. By leveraging AI technologies, SOCs can enhance their ability to identify and defend against threats effectively, reducing workload and burnout among SOC practitioners. The future of SOC operations may lie in adopting AI-powered tools that provide a more accurate and integrated attack signal, paving the way for a more efficient and effective security posture.