SOAR vs SIEM. Definitions, Scopes, And Limitations

Previously, we’ve reviewed how SIEM and log management systems work, and how they come together in order to seal off emerging attack surfaces, bridge the detection gap, and increase your overall cybersecurity stance. In this article, we’re going to tackle another data security-related topic – SOAR vs SIEM. So, without further ado, let’s see who wins today’s match. Enjoy!

What is SOAR?

A little refresher on SOAR – coined by Gartner, this concept is used to describe a security-centric architecture that focuses on Incident Response (IR) via automated workflows, processes, and procedures. Intel-gathering is the cornerstone of any solution that falls under SOAR; this feature empowers the IT team to gather threat intelligence from multiple sources, including SIEM. Oftentimes, SOAR(s) are deployed on top SIEM solutions, thus leveraging their data-gathering and automatic signaling abilities. For additional information on how SOAR works and how it can add to your overall security, be sure to check out my other article on Security Orchestration Automation and Response Basics. One more aspect I want to add before moving on to SIEM – SOAR doesn’t replace SIEM in the same manner as SIEM can’t replace a SOAR solution. Both ends were engineered to work in tandem; SIEM is the data mining and signaling component, while SOAR provides the necessary, interventional framework.

What is SIEM?

SIEM-based solutions are employed to aggregate and normalize data from across multiple sources. For instance, your run-of-the-mill SIEM can gather firewall logs, proxy or web filtering logs, logs from miscellaneous security solutions (e.g., Sandbox, DLP, IPS/IDS, router NetFlow, etc.), network telemetry (i.e., data generated by products that do Deep Packet Inspection), Windows auth, any type of information produced by endpoint-based security products, and, of course, threat intelligence (i.e., open- or closed-source). You can check out my colleague’s article for more info about SIEM.

SOAR vs SIEM

So, who would win if we were to pit SOAR against SIEM? To make a long story short, there’s no winner here, simply because there’s no competition. SIEM and SOAR are, what you might call, the two sides of the same coin which, in our case, is security. To better understand their similarities, differences, and what each side brings to the table, let’s list their features and capabilities.

At first glance, one would argue that there’s no discernable difference between SIEM and SOAR. Let’s try sharpening the contrast a bit with some pros and cons.

One final aspect to take into consideration is coverage. Both SIEM and SOAR are designed to operate in on-prem setups and in the cloud. Below you’ll find the pros and cons associated with each approach.

To sum everything up: in the SOAR vs SIEM contest, both of them win. Keep in mind that both of them have their roles set in stone: SIEM is all about data aggregation and alerting, while SOAR helps us set in motion all the security cogs needed to prevent, contain or mitigate a threat.

Conclusion

The SIEM+ SOAR duo is an incredibly flexible threat identification and data gathering tool that will aid you in your threat-hunting effort, adding value to your company, while driving down costs. This concludes my article on SIEM vs SOAR. Hope you’ve enjoyed it. Now, before I scoot, here are a couple of things you may want to try out if you’ve decided to take the SIEM and SOAR road.

1. Baselines and standards. To have a detection & response baseline, you’ll need some standards. The same rules of engagement apply to both SIEM and SOAR. In the case of the former, you’ll need to set detection and alarm thresholds. For the latter, be sure to iron out those workflows before they go online.
2. Data hygiene. Don’t let that data simply pile out. Put in place purging procedures and figure out what to discard and what to keep.
3. Human factor. Automation may be what defines both SIEM and SOAR, but this doesn’t leave the human factor out of the picture. Most of the fine-tuning and setup must be done manually.
4. SOAR + SIEM. Sounds like overkill, especially when you consider the financial aspects, but you can run SOAR and SIEM at the same time. Heimdal®’s eXtended Detection and Response (XDR) centralized monitoring and incident response hub brings you the same detection, response, and mitigation capabilities as any SIEM+SOAR combo.

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