Full Guide to Automated Security Workflow for Corporate Assets

Attacks on digital and IT infrastructures are now more sophisticated than ever, able to evolve and adapt, dependent on defense structures and risk mitigation mechanisms in place. Therefore, it is critically important that businesses are equipped to deal with this ever-changing and increasingly potent threat and have appropriate security systems that work to protect their assets.

All devices on a corporate network, whether that be computers, laptops, smartphones, or storage units, are susceptible to penetration. Indeed, a device's internal operating system - the management control center that governs how it functions - can be breached at any moment. Consequently, businesses must have the ability to respond to security threats around the clock and have a process in place for efficiently eliminating threats.

1What is Security Automation?

Quite simply, security automation is a mechanisms to automatically handle preset alerts for emergencies. It usually integrates platforms that serve to consistently identify threats to cybersecurity, diagnose the nature of these attacks, and take appropriate action to reduce the likelihood of this activity compromising the integrity of a device within a corporate network.

But what does this look like in practical terms? Below, we have identified three key actions that are initiated by security automation, and outlined how these have a positive impact on the protection of workplace assets and corporate confidential information.

25 Use Cases for Automated Security Workflow

In the previous section, we explored the general functionality of IT security automation - now we switch focus to the specific support mechanism of automated security workflow. We highlight five of the most frequent security actions undertake on a typical corporate scope:

1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

A simple program designed to support the everyday management of corporate networks, Robotic Process Automation delivers a vast range of basic security tasks, but does not have the capability to pacify sophisticated cyberattacks.

A robust RPA system allows businesses to reduce the workload of IT operators, and therefore liberates these individuals to focus on more significant network activity.

2. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)

This tool enables businesses to gather data on persistent security threats, and understand trends and patterns in risk activity. Furthermore, SOAR ensures that security profiles are active and suitable for their local environment and is the vehicle in which patch updates can be delivered to networked devices. Its response arm can adequately deal with complex cyberattacks without requiring support from a human operator.

3. Reporting Compliance-related Data

It is vital that all businesses adhere to cybersecurity management regulations, and that their defense policies and procedures keep pace with industry standards. Prior to their integration, automated security workflows are mobilized to monitor local network activity with respect to legal requirements, take evasive action if devices fall into non-compliance, and provide feedback relevant data on regulatory performance.

4. Phishing Detection

Phishing is the act of intentionally misleading an e-mail recipient for the purpose of extorting financial information. With an effective automated security workflow, businesses can construct workflows that act to reduce the threat of phishing, blocking e-mails sent by specific mailboxes and alerting employees when suspicious e-mails appear.

5. Endpoint Scans

1.A remote device that absorbs and relates information about the conditions of any given network; endpoints enable IT operators to understand the nature and potency of cyberattacks. By initiating regular scans of endpoint devices, security incident response workflow help businesses swiftly detect issues, and empower them to take appropriate defensive action when required.

3What Tools Can be Used for Security Workflow Automation?

We have discussed how automated systems possess the capability to support corporate entities in the execution of their daily security strategy, but what are the specific tools businesses use in order to preserve their digital estate?

The three sub-headings listed below represent critical focus areas for internal IT teams. In relation to these three disciplines, we have provided examples of security tools readily used in corporate networks.

1For Data Loss Prevention

If a company's confidential data is leaked, the consequences could potentially be catastrophic. This threat does not exclusively derive from the efforts of unsavory external actors; employees (whether intentionally or not) can also be responsible for the loss of sensitive information.

2For Device Protection

As all business devices are intimately connected to corporate networks, and, therefore potential conduits to the type of sensitive information discussed in the previous section, it's essential they do not fall victim to menacing cyberactivity.

Besides, circumstances such as device loss and stolen are also major security threats and need security incident response workflow.

Using automated security technology, businesses can perform device locks to prevent undesirable users from gaining access, execute full factory re-sets to wipe confidential data, and uninstall harmful applications and viruses all from a remote location. In order to deliver each of these preventative tasks, IT operators must utilize device management platforms - AirDroid Business is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive programmes on the market.

3For Cloud Computing Services

Cloud services afford businesses the opportunity to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively, by providing storage, server, and data reporting solutions from a single digital location, and reducing the requirement of human intervention in managing corporate networks.

4How to Create an Automated Security Workflow?

As alluded to on several occasions in the notes above, a workflow is a pre-determined action that is triggered when a specific event (or, in this context, a threat to security) occurs. The process for setting-up a workflow response is clearly dependent on the mobile device management platform being used; however, most automated security workflows will require users to follow a similar methodology.

In order to illustrate how to create an automated security workflow and indeed establish a relevant notification procedure, we have highlighted the steps businesses would need to undertake when conducting this task using AirDroid Business's device management solution:

• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Step 4

5Why Companies Need Security Workflow Automation?

The security workflow automation is essential in combatting the threat of cyberattacks, providing businesses with a host of security-related benefits:

• Device provisioning ensures assets exist safely, with relevant protection, within corporate networks.
• Security policies, created with the needs and requirements of the specific user they serve, protect devices and networks from familiar threats, and continuously adapt to help businesses defend against new and increasingly sophisticated attacks.
• Kiosk modes help govern employee accessibility to corporate data, reducing the risk of data leakages.
• Automated endpoint scans ensure IT teams can quickly identify network breaches, and react to threats as appropriate.
• Commands can be pushed instantly and remotely onto corporate devices, pre-empting activities such as device locks, factory re-sets, and app uninstallation.

FAQs

What are some popular tools used in Automated Security Workflows?

Maverick

AirDroid Business, Ansible, Jenkins, Docker, Terraform, and others.

What is Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)?

Maverick

SOAR enables businesses to collate detailed analytics on security threats, and by extension, develop suitable security profiles to help mitigate these risks.

How does Automated Security Workflow help with compliance?

Maverick

Automated Security Workflow ensures that security policies and procedures are consistently applied across the organization. And, it provides an audit trail of all security-related activities, making IT admin easier to track and report on compliance. Moreover, auto-workflows are able to streamline tasks, that help organizations to achieve compliance efficiently.

What are the potential drawbacks of implementing Automated Security Workflow?

Maverick

It can generate false positives, can be rigid and inflexible, and is unable to complete complex tasks that require professional knowledge.