Aligning Security Automation with Business Strategy

Traditionally, automation has been about speed and efficiency: moving faster, saving time, reducing manual work. But short-term wins can lead to locked-in processes that limit an organization’s ability to adapt. Now, thanks to advancements in cloud applications and generative AI, organizations have an opportunity to rethink how work gets done. And nowhere is that shift more urgent than in cybersecurity.

Business strategy and cybersecurity are no longer separate. They must be integrated to improve agility, compliance, and risk posture across the organization.

Reframing automation as a core element of organizational change rather than a point solution is key to evolving securely in a volatile landscape.

Cyberattacks Are Evolving Faster than Humans Can Respond

Cyberattacks rose by 75% between 2023 and 2024, and they’re growing more complex. Attacks driven by automation and AI can be faster, more effective, and more impactful than manual attacks. With a shorter detection and response window, an incident’s cost rises dramatically the longer it remains unresolved.

AI-enabled tools can now scan vast amounts of data in real time, detect anomalies, and initiate automated response protocols — all without manual intervention.

The rise in cyberattacks has put significant pressure and increased workload on security teams. In fact, 77% of security leaders are concerned their staff is spending more time on security incidents than working on other technology-related tasks.

Overworked analysts are facing alert fatigue and burnout from sifting through thousands of alerts. A study from IDC found that up to one-third of security alerts are ignored, and many organizations spend a significant amount of time investigating false alarms.

Automation allows for more proactive, predictive risk management.

Security automation offloads high-volume detection and triage tasks, allowing your IT and security teams to focus on more strategic and high-impact initiatives.

Evaluate Your Tech for Automation Readiness

To implement automation successfully, you must assess your existing technology infrastructure and identify clear integration points.

Consider these steps:

• Audit your current tech stack and identify manual security workflows.
• Define success criteria for automation tools, including security, scalability, and usability.
• Test automation protocols against your existing security measures to mitigate unintended risk.
• Upskill teams on both the tools and the evolving threat landscape.

Use Case: Automation in Email Monitoring

If a suspicious email makes it through filters, an AI-enabled tool can spot and report a potential phishing attempt. It then automatically performs security checks to determine whether the email is malicious or requires human approval of its contents or attachments. Automating the decision process for submitted emails ultimately returns time and energy back to security teams.

Make Proactive Security Your Priority

Over 80% of leaders say their organization’s cyber risk management approach does not address the full scope of risks.

34% of organizations plan to deploy AI into their security framework within the next 12 months. However, technology is only effective if it’s part of a proactive and holistic strategy. That starts with clarity around your goals and current capabilities.

Ask yourself:

• What are your key risk reduction goals, and how do they tie back to business strategy? 39% of leaders can’t connect risk reduction practices to overall business strategies.
• Do you have real-time visibility into your threat landscape? 37% of leaders lack access to the right data to assess their organization’s cyber risk.
• Which areas are ripe for automation? Areas to consider include incident response, access controls, and threat detection.
• How can AI enhance your team’s effectiveness? Our survey found that predictive analytics and automated report creation are some of the top ways AI can help teams.

Security Automation: Real-World Use Cases

AI in Security Operations

Gen AI for security operations threat detection uses detection rules and queries for security information and event management. It can then analyze large data sets to identify potential threats and recommend actions to security operations center analysts. A recent poll by McKinsey found that implementing AI in security operations resulted in up to 25% time savings.

Construction: Securing Field Connectivity and IoT Devices

Construction firms increasingly rely on remote job site tech — drones, mobile devices, connected sensors — to drive productivity. However, these tools introduce new entry points for cyber threats.

Automation in Action:

• AI monitors network activity from connected job site devices in real time.
• Automated alerts isolate suspicious connections, reducing the risk of malware spreading from the field to HQ.
• Automated updates ensure all devices meet cybersecurity standards — no manual patching required.

Manufacturing: Protecting Smart Factories from Downtime

Manufacturers adopting smart factory technologies face heightened risk due to interconnected systems (ERP, MES, IoT). A breach can halt production, risking lost revenue and supply chain disruption.

Automation in Action:

• AI-powered threat detection scans production environments for unusual machine behavior.
• Automated incident response shuts down compromised endpoints without halting entire lines.
• Real-time monitoring helps enforce cybersecurity compliance with industry regulations (e.g., NIST, CMMC).

Healthcare: Securing Patient Data and Clinical Systems

Healthcare providers face a double threat — sensitive patient data and life-critical clinical systems make them prime targets. With HIPAA and other privacy requirements, compliance is non-negotiable.

Automation in Action:

• AI monitors HER access logs for suspicious behavior (e.g., off-hours access or unauthorized file downloads).
• Automated identity and access controls ensure that only authorized personnel access patient data.
• Automated patch management ensures clinical systems and medical devices stay compliant and secure.

Automate Your Security with Confidence

Security automation can amplify your team by reducing human error and minimizing risk. But without a clear roadmap, organizations risk investing in tools that don’t integrate, scale, or serve strategic objectives.

We can help you determine the best way to enhance your security posture, reduce the risk of breaches, and operate more efficiently.