SOAR Replacement: A Complete Explanation

Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) systems provide security teams with a powerful way to manage and respond to attacks.

Think of it as the command center for your security, wherein all alerts come in to be sorted, and the responses can be set into motion automatically. Assuming you work in cybersecurity, you would have heard of or used SOAR systems, handling complex jobs while providing an interface for integrating all other security products.

In many ways, just like how your smartphone requires an upgrade, the SOAR solutions have now reached a point where replacements could provide enormous benefits. This is because of the constant evolution of cybersecurity threats, along with enterprises demanding smart solutions to quickly identify and respond to attacks.

This post will provide the reasons behind this shift, describe the advantages of modern solutions, and highlight the importance of replacing SOAR.

Importance of SOAR Replacement

SOAR solutions have been helpful, but they also have limitations. Here’s why replacing SOAR is becoming essential:

• Evolving threats—Modern cyberattacks call for a level of speed and adaptability above and beyond what traditional SOAR might be able to provide.
• Integration challenges—Many SOAR tools do not integrate easily with newer security technologies.
• Complexity issues—SOAR can be tough to manage, requiring lots of customization and continued upkeep.
• Scalability needs—As security environments enlarge, there is potential for SOAR systems not to scale efficiently, creating performance bottlenecks.
• Better alternatives available—New solutions provide AI-driven automation, real-time threat intelligence, and enhanced operating experience.

Benefits of a New System

Replacing SOAR with a modern solution comes with key advantages:

• Faster response time—AI and automation-driven platforms process threats in real time, leaving negligible space for delays.
• Enhanced threat detection—Advanced analytics bring a higher level of accuracy to the identification and mitigation of security risks.
• Reduced operational burden—With less manual intervention, security teams can now devote their energy to strategic tasks.
• Seamless integrations—Next-gen platforms easily plug into a wide array of security tools and cloud environments.
• Improved scalability—Newer solutions can adjust to and scale along with the needs of the organization's security.

Factors Driving SOAR Replacement

Several key factors are pushing organizations like yours to make the switch:

• The emergence and rise of XDR (extended detection and response) platforms bring SOAR capabilities with them.
• There's a growing need beyond what legacy SOAR can deliver in terms of AI and machine learning capabilities.
• Modern security tools must work well in the cloud, while legacy SOAR offerings may play catch-up in the same environment.
• The transition to working from home accelerated the demand for more flexible and accessible security management tools.
• Now is the time when organizations demand some unified security platforms versus the singular-point solutions.
• Many organizations seek cost-effective alternatives that reduce overhead and provide better long-term value.

Overview of SOAR Replacement

While looking for a replacement, you have to explore and see what modern alternatives bring. These next-generation platforms not only address the limitations of traditional SOAR but add to these already powerful capabilities. Therefore, determine what you're looking for in a replacement, decide what technical specs matter, and compare newer models to what you're currently using.

Key Features to Look for in a SOAR Replacement

There are some factors to consider before deciding to switch over, as discussed below:

• Advanced AI and machine learning—One such consideration is finding advanced AI and ML software that can learn from past events and suggest better responses to address issues in real time. This is useful for reducing false positives and prioritizing threats without constantly tuning the systems.
• Native cloud architecture—Look for native cloud architecture built from the ground up. Modern solutions develop with the use of cloud technology. This gives you the flexibility to scale resources as needed with remote access to your security operations.
• No-code automation builder—The best replacements allow you to build even the most complex work processes from a drag-and-drop interface without coding skills. Thus, you will save hours building and adjusting your security playbook.
• Unified security data lake—A united lake of security data itself should ideally consolidate all security data into one searchable repository.
• Open API framework—Be sure to have a strong application programming interface built in for integrations. This allows your security stack to evolve over time, making it a smart long-term investment.
• Built-in threat intelligence—The system itself should, at the same time, automatically enrich alerts with relevant intelligence on threats. Quicker information on the alert investigation should not require engaging several sources manually.

Technical Specifications of the Replacement

When evaluating replacement possibilities, consider these technical aspects:

• Deployment options—Look for flexibility between cloud and on-premise deployment options.
• Processing capacity—Ensure it can manage your alert volume (aim for 10,000+ events per second).
• Storage efficiency—Due to long-term data retention, the compression ratios must be good (10:1 or better).
• Authentication—Must support multi-factor authentication and role-based access control.
• Compliance—Certificates for relevant regulatory standards applicable to your industry.
• SLA guarantees—The security that guarantees 99.9% uptime or better for mission-critical infrastructure.
• Integration depth—Should integrate with at least 200+ common security tools out of the box.

Comparative Analysis: SOAR vs. New Solution

Best Practices for Implementing a New SOAR

Switching to a new SOAR solution involves more than simply selecting the correct technology; it's also about making the transition as seamless as possible. Here are practical techniques to properly implement your new system, based on real-world experiences, budget concerns, and frequent problems to avoid.

Case Studies of Successful SOAR Replacements

These real-world examples demonstrate how organizations like yours have successfully made the transition:

Financial services company (500+ employees)

A bank struggling to manage its SOAR legacy platform decided to keep pace with evolving threats. It implemented a cloud-native replacement in a phased approach, starting with the most critical use cases.

In its first three months, the bank reported a 62% reduction in the meantime to resolution and a 78% automation rate of routine alerts that had previously required manual intervention. The key to the success of this accomplishment remained in having parallel systems during the transition and dedicated champions from both the security and IT teams.

Health care provider (2,000+ employees)

A 2,000+-employee health care network suffered from high licensing costs and integration challenges with its legacy SOAR. A smooth transition to a modern alternative emphasized no-code automation and API flexibility.

By targeting high-volume, non-complex alerts at first, they were able to score some quick wins, which built organizational confidence. After two months, the security operations team reported saving 22 hours a week on manual tasks, implementing 15 new use cases that were not possible with the earlier solution.

Budget Considerations for SOAR Replacement

Add this consideration to your budget when planning for a SOAR replacement: its total life cycle costs, including implementing, training, and running on an ongoing basis. Most modern solutions follow a subscription model within the price range of $25,000-$150,000 yearly, depending upon the size and needs of your organization.

You should account for resource allocation for the implementation team; typically, there needs to be at least one person, with time for four to eight weeks during the transition. Some good news: Newer SOAR replacements frequently require less support for professional services than legacy systems, saving really 30% to 50% on entire implementation costs.

Don't forget to retain any time limit from your existing SOAR contract, and check if the vendors offer competitive displacement discounts for a smoother financial transition.

Challenges in Transitioning to a New SOAR

Be prepared to address these common challenges during your transition:

• Data migration difficulty—Transferring previous incident data and playbooks often takes more effort than providers estimate. Create realistic timelines for this procedure.
• Integration reconfiguration—Even with current connectors, you must reconfigure and properly test each integration before going live.
• Team resistance—Your analysts may want to stick with their current workflows rather than master a new system. Early participation in the selection process can assist in overcoming this barrier.
• Operational continuity—To minimize coverage gaps, security operations must be carefully planned during the changeover.
• Playbook optimization—Simply moving existing playbooks isn't enough; spend time redesigning workflows to capitalize on new features.
• Metrics realignment—Your reporting and KPIs will most likely need to be adjusted to reflect the new system's capabilities.
• Documentation updates—Standard operating procedures, training materials, and response plans all require updating to reflect new operations.

Current Replacements and Future Developments

The SOAR replacement environment is evolving rapidly, with interesting solutions coming quickly to overcome the restrictions of traditional platforms.

Blink Ops is a platform that stands out—a no-code security automation platform designed specifically to assist you in dealing with challenges you may have had with legacy SOAR systems. It greatly reduces implementation time by combining powerful automation capabilities with an easy-to-use UI.

In the future, to be more effective in security orchestration, tools should predict forthcoming threats rather than just react like Blink Ops. Moreover, these platforms are embedding themselves within teams that do not specialize in coding, giving free rein to security automation across organizations of all sizes.

Powered with cloud-native architectures and subscription-based pricing models, platforms such as Blink Ops enable distribution-grade security orchestration at a lower expense than traditional approaches, with faster time to value and reduced operational overhead.

Moving Forward: Your Path to Better Security Automation

As you've seen throughout this post, moving beyond typical SOAR platforms provides major potential to transform your security operations.

You now understand the primary factors behind SOAR replacement, the critical attributes to look for in current replacements, and practical tactics for a smooth transition. The case studies show that different firms are already seeing significant benefits from next-generation technologies.

As security threats grow in complexity and number, platforms such as Blink Ops provide the ideal blend of strong automation, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness for today's security teams. By exploring a switch to Blink Ops' no-code security automation platform, you can join the rising number of enterprises that are spending less time maintaining security products and more time securing themselves.

‍This post was written by Gourav Bais. Gourav is an applied machine learning engineer skilled in computer vision/deep learning pipeline development, creating machine learning models, retraining systems, and transforming data science prototypes into production-grade solutions.