Cybersecurity automation: How to do more with less

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. BARR Advisory, which has offices in Kansas City, is a cloud-based security and compliance solutions provider, specializing in cybersecurity, is a financial partner of Startland News.

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In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face a myriad of cybersecurity challenges. Resource constraints combined with the ever-growing complexity of regulatory demands make it increasingly difficult to maintain a strong, resilient security posture. Many organizations rely on time-consuming, resource-intensive cybersecurity and compliance processes that strain their teams and ultimately leave gaps in their defenses. 

As cyber threats become more sophisticated and regulatory requirements more stringent, the need for an efficient, scalable solution has never been more urgent. This is where cybersecurity automation comes into play. Automation not only helps improve your security posture, but also frees up valuable resources, allowing your team to focus on strategic initiatives instead of being bogged down by routine tasks. 

What is cybersecurity automation? 

Cybersecurity automation tools empower organizations across industries to automatically manage their security processes through machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and other advanced technologies. By leveraging automation, organizations can streamline their regulatory compliance audits, monitor for threats, and initiate incident response procedures—in many cases, reducing the likelihood of human error and enabling faster response times to potential threats. 

There are many types of cybersecurity automation tools, each serving a unique purpose within an organization’s overall security strategy. Automation tools can assist organizations with tasks such as: 

• System hardening and system updates; 
• Continuous monitoring and threat detection; 
• Completing risk assessments; 
• Drafting compliance policies; and, 
• Streamlining compliance audits. 

Automation is particularly invaluable for managing cybersecurity compliance. Tools can assist with automating risk assessments, policy drafting, and audit preparation, ensuring that organizations can quickly and efficiently demonstrate their compliance with industry and government standards. By automating compliance tasks, companies can reduce the time and resources spent on ensuring adherence to regulations, avoid costly fines, and demonstrate a proactive approach to risk management. This not only improves your security posture, but also positions your organization as a trusted, responsible partner in the eyes of customers and stakeholders. 

The benefits of security automation 

In addition to helping your organization build trust with stakeholders, one of the biggest benefits of security automation is cost savings. A 2024 study from IBM revealed the average cost of a data breach has reached $4.88 million. Organizations that have fully integrated AI and automation into their cybersecurity strategies saved an average of $2.22 million over organizations that aren’t using these technologies in their cybersecurity programs, according to IBM.

These savings can be attributed to several factors, including decreased downtime, fewer fines and penalties, and lower cyber insurance premiums brought about by demonstrably reduced risk. 

Implementing automation also improves the efficiency and effectiveness of your cybersecurity program. For instance, threat detection and response tools can help continuously monitor network activity, identify suspicious behavior, and automatically respond to potential threats in a timely manner. Other tools are designed to ensure software and systems are consistently updated with the latest security patches and configurations, minimizing vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit. 

Automation can also help improve asynchronous workflows, a key benefit for cybersecurity teams that have embraced remote work or that work with partners across multiple regions and time zones. For instance, automation tools like Audora offer cybersecurity auditors and auditees real-time visibility into the evidence collection progress, including what documentation has been submitted, what’s still outstanding, and any issues that need immediate attention. This means auditors can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time helping organizations anticipate and prepare for changes in compliance standards. What’s more, automation tools can help facilitate smoother concurrent and subsequent audits by mapping controls across multiple cybersecurity frameworks and making it easy to reference control language and evidence from past audits. 

How to implement automation in your security program 

Recognizing the advantages of automation is just the first step. The next challenge is to implement these technologies effectively within your security program. Here’s how to get started: 

1. Assess your current security processes 

Begin by thoroughly evaluating your existing compliance processes to identify manual, time-consuming tasks that can be automated. Look for tedious tasks where human error is a common risk, such as data entry, documentation, and threat monitoring. This assessment will help you pinpoint the specific areas of your security program where automation can have the most significant impact, making your efforts more efficient and impactful. 

2. Select the right tools 

Choosing the right automation tools is crucial for a successful implementation. Identify tools that will integrate seamlessly with your current IT and security infrastructure and have features that align with your organization’s specific needs, such as threat detection, patch management, or compliance audit support. It’s also important to evaluate the scalability of these tools to ensure they can grow with your organization and adapt as your security needs and goals change. 

3. Implement training and change management 

As you begin to introduce automation, personalized training is key to ensure staff members understand how to use new tools effectively. This is your time to engage internal stakeholders to gain their buy-in and address any concerns about job security or the impact of automation on daily tasks. Emphasize that automation will not only put money back in the budget, but also give team members time back to focus on the most interesting and impactful parts of their work.

4. Monitor and optimize 

Once automation tools have been fully deployed at your organization, continuously monitor the performance of these tools to ensure they are delivering the expected results. Gather feedback from your team to identify any issues or areas for improvement. Use this feedback to update your automation strategy and adapt to changing compliance requirements, technological advancements, and evolving threats. By staying proactive, you can maximize the effectiveness of your automation efforts and strengthen the resilience of your security program. 

The future of cybersecurity automation 

As automation continues to grow in popularity, it’s becoming an increasingly vital part of an organization’s overall cybersecurity strategy. Bad actors are also taking advantage of automation and AI tools, meaning their attacks are becoming more sophisticated. The role of real-time compliance monitoring, driven by automation tools, is becoming critical in ensuring business continuity, mitigating security risks, and minimizing the potential damage caused by cyberattacks. 

Looking ahead, cloud-based and hybrid organizations will face stricter regulations around data security. According to a 2022 report from Gartner, three in four people globally will have their data protected by some form of government regulation by the end of this year. The increasing prevalence of AI is further accelerating the adoption of these rules, making it clear that the regulatory landscape will only become more complex. 

As data becomes more valuable and regulations continue to tighten, organizations should expect their cybersecurity and compliance needs to grow significantly in the coming years. Meeting these demands will be crucial not just for adhering to customer and government standards, but also for 

staying competitive in an increasingly regulated environment. Embracing automation through tools like Audora will be essential for both auditors and the organizations they serve to keep up with these rapid changes, ensuring they remain secure, compliant, and well-prepared for the future. 

The bottom line 

Automation has proven to be a powerful tool in helping organizations stay up-to-date on developments in cybersecurity and compliance. For security practitioners and business leaders who want to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals, embracing automation is not just a smart choice—it’s becoming a necessity. 

By integrating automation into your cybersecurity strategy, you can enhance your organization’s resilience, ensure continuous compliance, and allocate resources more efficiently. In an increasingly complex digital landscape, automation offers the flexibility and functionality needed to protect your business and its most sensitive data, now and in years to come.