Network Security Automation: Tips & Techniques in 2024

By 2025, the annual financial impact of cybercrime is expected to reach $10.5 trillion, underscoring the critical necessity for strengthened cybersecurity strategies.¹ Relying on prevention technologies like antivirus and anti-malware software, alongside a firewall, was adequate for protecting against cyber threats. However, in the current landscape, organizations need a more comprehensive security approach that not only includes these foundational technologies but also integrates additional, more sophisticated security solutions to counter the increasing complexity of cybersecurity threats.

This article explains the concept of network security automation, why organizations need to automate security processes, outlines best practices and lists top network security automation tools.

Key components of network security automation

1. Automated firewall audits

An automated firewall audit software is essential for network security automation, ensuring firewalls are configured correctly to protect against threats. A firewall audit tool identifies vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in real-time, with higher efficiency and regularity, enhancing network resilience. It also minimizes human errors, making it a key component of network security.

2. Automated threat detection

Network security automation tools enable organizations to identify potential threats and circumvent security incidents like data breaches and data loss, eliminating the reliance on manual processes. For Security Operations Center (SOC) teams, executing effective threat detection and response poses significant challenges. Automated security systems engage in the continuous collection of extensive data from different sources across the network, including network traffic, user interactions, endpoint activities, and system logs.

This collected data forms the foundational basis for detecting threats. The threat detection process uses this data to spot anomalies in expected behavior and activities. Part of this process involves matching the observed data with a repository of known threat signatures. Automated systems have the capability to integrate threat intelligence from external sources, offering insights into new threats and vulnerabilities.

3. Threat response automation

Automated threat response is the process of mitigating detected cybersecurity threats, minimizing the need for human intervention. Threat responses include blocking malicious IP addresses, applying software patches, disabling user accounts, or isolating affected systems of the network. Threat response automation solutions can integrate with other security tools such as firewalls, and endpoint detection platforms, or intrusion detection systems (IDS).

4. Vulnerability and patch management

Vulnerability management refers to the process of identifying, classifying, prioritizing, and addressing vulnerabilities in a network system. Network security automation tools allow organizations to continuously scan network devices and applications for proactive threat hunting. These network automation tools can include vulnerability scanners to identify a cyberattack or security breach that need immediate attention. They often use the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) to classify vulnerabilities based on their severity. Automation solutions assign priority to detected vulnerabilities based on the value of affected assets.

Patch management is a critical process within a network security operation that includes the automatic acquisition, testing, and deployment and verifications of patches to applications, software or systems. Patches address security vulnerabilities and fix bugs.

5. Compliance standards and security policy enforcement

In 2023, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) levied unprecedented fines totaling over €1.6 billion, surpassing the cumulative fines issued in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021 combined (figure 1). ²Network security automation offers a range of functionalities that help businesses detect malicious activity, prevent unauthorized access, and monitor network activities.

Network security tools act as a barrier between internal networks and untrusted external networks, monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic. This process ensures that data handling practices comply with internal policies and industry standards. These tools cover a variety of technologies, such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), vulnerability scanners, data loss prevention (DLP) systems, and anti-malware software.

6. Security orchestration and automated workflows

Security orchestration and automated workflows integrate different security tools and automated processes to improve the process of detection, analysis, and response to security incidents. This approach offers a centralized security platform by simplifying the management of complex security environments.

The security orchestration process ensures that all security tools and processes work together harmoniously, optimizing the overall security incident response. Automated workflows execute repeatable tasks and security processes automatically, eliminating the risk of human error and the burden of time-consuming security tasks.

Key indicators your business requires network security automation

1. Continuous security breaches

75% of cybersecurity experts have reported a rise in cyberattacks over the previous year.³ With most organizations facing regular data breaches, malware outbreaks, and other cyber incidents, this trend serves as a significant indicator.

2. The burdened security teams

Security teams often find themselves inundated with security alerts, dedicating significant effort to sifting through false positives. For instance, automated incident response systems oversee network activities and leverage threat intelligence to offer ongoing security. This maintains a constant security posture, allowing security analysts to tackle threats with remarkable swiftness and effectiveness. Security automation allows the security team to streamline the aggregation of logs from firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and other security systems.

3. Evolving complexity of cyber threats

There are continuous hacking techniques targeting specific entities, such as ransomware or zero-day exploits. By leveraging network security automation technologies, businesses can reduce overall response times and mitigate the impact of current security threats.

4. The struggle for complete network transparency

Many organizations operate within complex and dispersed network structures that span on-premises, cloud, and hybrid settings. This complexity poses difficulties in achieving consistent network visibility throughout the entire network, making it necessary to change network infrastructure. For example, resources hosted in the cloud can be rapidly deployed or decommissioned. Moreover, the large volume of data produced by different applications and devices can exceed the capabilities of traditional monitoring solutions.

Challenges and considerations

Setting up and managing automated systems can be challenging due to the varied technologies present in networks, such as IoT devices, cloud services, and contemporary applications. To automate security operations throughout this varied landscape, it’s necessary to employ strategies and tools that work seamlessly with numerous technologies.

With the expansion and increasing complexity of networks, it becomes a challenging task to ensure that automation solutions can scale efficiently while still delivering reliable performance and precision.

Best Practices for implementing network security automation

1. Define objectives

Assess your current security setup to pinpoint where automation could yield benefits, such as automating manual processes that are prone to human error, and clearly define your objectives for incorporating automation.

2. Prioritize automation efforts

Focus on areas where automation can swiftly enhance your security posture.

3. Select automation platform and tools

Choose automation tools that can directly integrate with existing security infrastructure.

4. Choose scalable automation platforms

Keep track of how automated systems are functioning to make sure they remain efficient as your network grows and changes.

5. Invest in training for your human analysts

Security automation tools may not handle complex decisions as effectively as security teams. Human oversight is important to review and correct errors such as false positives and false negatives to prevent issues arising from automation mistakes.

Case studies

1. Industry- retail

Casa, a homeware retailer in Europe with over 500 outlets across 11 nations, is successfully growing even amid challenges faced by physical retail stores. In 2018 alone, it launched 35 new stores in the Netherlands. Aiming to refine its supply chain and control expenses while presenting an optimal range of products to shoppers, Casa adopted network automation technologies. This strategic move has significantly enhanced its operations, with automation now covering over 30% of its new distribution center, facilitating round-the-clock operations.⁴

2. Industry-computer and network security

MSActivator, co-branded as Virtuora Service Activator powered by UBiqube, initially managed its security needs manually with the help of an offshore team, which proved to be expensive and led to substandard outcomes. In search of a more efficient solution, they partnered with UBiqube to automate their security services, introducing a self-service security management portal for their customers.
With the deployment of MSActivator, rebranded as Virtuora Service Activator powered by UBiqube, the company leveraged the Integrated Virtual Security system for automating their security infrastructure. The adoption of Virtuora Service Activator markedly enhanced the quality of service and expedited operational processes per device.⁵

3. Industry-law and finance

The legal sector globally, including in Australia, is attractive to cyber attackers. GT Law, an independent law firm in Australia, aimed to protect its operations and client data. They adopted a security automation platform to streamline their security processes and optimize their security spending without increasing their resources. This approach enabled GT Law to enhance their security capabilities and improve their overall security stance.⁶

Further reading

• Top 10 Microsegmentation Tools
• Microsegmentation: What is it? Benefits & Challenges
• Network Segmentation: 6 Benefits & 8 Best Practices

For guidance on choosing the right tool or service for your project, check out our data-driven lists of zero trust networking software.

External resources

• 1. Fox, J. “Top Cybersecurity Statistics for 2024” (DEC 8, 2023). Cobalt.
• 2. Armstrong, M. “EU Data Protection Fines Hit Record High in 2023” Statista.
• 3. “Zaki, A. (Aug. 30, 2023) “85% of Cybersecurity Leaders Say Recent Attacks Powered by AI: Weekly Stat“. CFO
• 4. “Casa Network automation case study“
• 5. FNC-Fujitsu-UBiqube-Customer2-Case-Study
• 6. Threat Intelligence, GT Law, Case Study.