DefinitionSOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) is a technology that integrates security tools and automates triage, investigation and response tasks through playbooks, reducing manual work and the SOC's response time.
How it works
SOAR connects through APIs to SIEM, EDR, firewalls, email, user directories, threat intelligence sources and ticketing systems. When an alert arrives, it runs a playbook: a defined sequence of steps, automatic or with human approval. Example of a playbook for a phishing alert:
- Extract the sender, links and attachments from the reported message.
- Check the reputation of these indicators in threat intelligence sources.
- Search for the same message in other mailboxes and remove it.
- Block the malicious domain and open a ticket with a case summary.
Why it matters
Much of an analyst's time goes into repetitive enrichment and containment tasks. Automating them frees the team for work that requires judgment, standardizes the response and reduces MTTR. SOAR also records every step, which makes auditing and post-incident review easier.
SOAR vs SIEM, and limits
SIEM detects and alerts; SOAR organizes and executes the response. Today, many SIEM and XDR platforms already include built-in automation. The limit is clear: automation only works well on top of mature processes. Automating a confusing process just speeds up the mistake, and high-impact actions, such as shutting down a production server, should require human approval defined in the playbook.
Network Secure uses playbook-based automation in the operation of its 24/7 SOC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SOAR and SIEM?
SIEM collects and correlates events to raise alerts. SOAR takes those alerts and automates investigation and response through playbooks.
Does SOAR replace SOC analysts?
No. SOAR automates repetitive tasks, but context-based decisions and high-impact actions still depend on analysts.