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Manual vs. Automated Threat Hunting Methods: Finding the Right Approach Breadcrumb Home Insights Blog Manual vs. Automated Threat Hunting Methods: Finding the Right Approach February 12, 2025 When it comes to threat hunting, the decision to rely solely on automated or manual methods can lead to missed opportunities. Instead, adopt a hybrid approach to embrace the best of both threat detection methods. By leveraging AI-based tools alongside the expertise of cybersecurity professionals, organizations can strengthen their defenses, reduce incident response times and minimize dwell time. Let’s explore how to effectively combine these methods. Automated Threat Hunting: Identifying Patterns at Scale Imagine sifting through millions of data points manually—an overwhelming task. Automated AI-based threat-hunting tools eliminate this challenge and offer unmatched speed and accuracy. These tools can monitor business assets 27/7/365 with far fewer resources than a team of full-time analysts. They excel at analyzing patterns across large datasets, spotting unusual login attempts or detecting anomalies in network traffic that might otherwise go unnoticed. In addition to real-time monitoring, security operations centers (SOCs) benefit from automation handling repetitive tasks such as cataloging changes in hash values or monitoring event frequencies. For example, an AI-powered tool might identify a sudden spike in login attempts and alerts analysts to investigate a potential credential-stuffing attack. Automation of these routine processes free up valuable human resources for more complex tasks. Manual Threat Hunting: Context and Expertise Matter While automation is powerful, it lacks the ability to interpret the nuanced context of cybersecurity events or address sophisticated attack patterns. Human analysts bring critical expertise in these areas, especially when dealing with advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other complex attack vectors. Their ability to analyze broader patterns and connect seemingly unrelated events is something automation cannot replicate. Human analysts also play a vital role in reducing false positives. Automated tools often generate alerts for benign anomalies that lack contextual understanding. Analysts validate these alerts to ensure precision and fine tune threat detection. A Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds By combining the speed and scalability of automation with the precision and expertise of human analysts, a hybrid approach offers the most effective threat detection and response capabilities. Automated tools are ideal for handling repetitive tasks such as monitoring endpoint traffic or cataloging routine changes, which allows analysts to focus on strategic activities like threat modeling and long-term defense planning. This relationship between humans and AI strengthens both processes. For instance, an AI tool might detect an unusual increase in login attempts and send alerts to the SOC team. Analysts can investigate further, identifying the cause as a planned pen-test rather than malicious activity. After updating the AI tool with this information, it will no longer flag similar pen-test patterns, improving its accuracy over time. This constant feedback loop enhances the tool’s contextual awareness and reduces the likelihood of false positives. Take Action: Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Defense Threat hunting is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. A hybrid model offers the best of both worlds, leveraging the efficiency of automation and the precision of human expertise. This approach not only improves detection capabilities but also enhances incident response and ensures your organization is well-equipped to handle evolving threats. Start by assessing your current approach. Think about how AI tools and skilled analysts can collaborate to create a more robust and proactive defense system tailored to your specific needs. Optiv, the leading trusted cybersecurity advisory and solutions leader for 64% of the Fortune 500, specializes in crafting customized hybrid threat-hunting programs. Our experts analyze your unique cybersecurity landscape, threat profile and industry requirements to design outcome-driven strategies. We deploy the right combination of cutting-edge technologies and collaborate closely with your SOC team to ensure continuous monitoring and defense. Through our tailored approach you’ll identify critical security gaps, receive actionable recommendations on the most effective threat detection technologies and consolidate your security stack for greater efficiency. Take the next step in fortifying your organization's defenses. Contact us today to implement a proactive threat-hunting strategy tailored to your business objectives, industry challenges and compliance requirements. By: Chris Acevedo Senior Digital Forensics and Incident Response Consultant | Optiv Chris Acevedo is a senior digital forensics and incident response consultant at Optiv with over a decade of expertise in cybersecurity and information technology. Chris served in the U.S. Army as part of the special operations forces (SOF), specializing in military and signals intelligence. His expertise spans digital forensics, incident response and threat hunting, with a proven track record of conducting high-stakes digital investigations for small businesses, Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Chris has handled complex cases involving ransomware, state-sponsored attacks, intellectual property theft, ethics violations and malware infections. Share: Optiv automated threat hunting soc automation threat detection methods ai-based threat hunting types of threat hunting Optiv Security: Secure greatness.® Optiv is the cyber advisory and solutions leader, delivering strategic and technical expertise to nearly 6,000 companies across every major industry. We partner with organizations to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs from strategy and managed security services to risk, integration and technology solutions. With clients at the center of our unmatched ecosystem of people, products, partners and programs, we accelerate business progress like no other company can. At Optiv, we manage cyber risk so you can secure your full potential. For more information, visit www.optiv.com.
Optiv Security: Secure greatness.® Optiv is the cyber advisory and solutions leader, delivering strategic and technical expertise to nearly 6,000 companies across every major industry. We partner with organizations to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs from strategy and managed security services to risk, integration and technology solutions. With clients at the center of our unmatched ecosystem of people, products, partners and programs, we accelerate business progress like no other company can. At Optiv, we manage cyber risk so you can secure your full potential. For more information, visit www.optiv.com.
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