Save Time on Threat Hunting with Microsoft Copilot for Security and Difenda

Microsoft Copilot for Security – simplified data analysis and streamlined threat hunt plans save SOC teams hours.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, threat hunting has emerged as a proactive measure to identify and mitigate threats that have evaded existing security controls. However, the complexity of threat hunting, combined with the vast amounts of data to be analyzed, means that it typically takes security teams anywhere from 10 to 30 hours to develop and perform a single threat hunt.

This extensive time commitment is a significant challenge for many organizations striving to maintain a robust security posture in today’s busy environment. Fortunately, AI tools like Microsoft Copilot for Security, enhanced by Difenda’s custom solutions, offer a way to speed up this process to under 2 hours, enabling faster and more efficient threat hunting.

The Challenge of Traditional Threat Hunting 

Threat hunting is a proactive cybersecurity practice involving the manual and automated search for threats that have evaded existing security controls. The process includes the collection, analysis, and interpretation of vast amounts of data, necessitating deep expertise and substantial time investment. Given the complexity and volume of data, SOC teams often find themselves overwhelmed. 

Additionally, the number of professionals specializing in this field is limited, and even fewer possess the comprehensive skill set required. Consequently, many threat hunting teams are understaffed and unable to conduct as many hunts as necessary. 

Adding to these challenges, 75% of organizations with threat hunting capabilities rely on team members who juggle multiple roles within their Security Operations Center (SOC) and Incident Response (IR) teams. While this is better than having no threat hunting at all, it impedes the development of consistent, repeatable processes and effective hunts. As a result, most organizations spend about 10 to 30 hours developing and performing a single threat hunt. 

The Need for Better, Faster Threat Hunting with Microsoft Copilot for Security

To address these challenges, there is a growing need to automate aspects of threat hunting. Automation can significantly reduce the time required to develop and perform threat hunts, allowing security teams to focus on more complex tasks that require human intervention. Microsoft Copilot for Security is a game-changer in this regard. Through custom development by Difenda, Microsoft Copilot for Security has been tailored to streamline the threat hunting process, saving teams hours on building threat hunt plans.

Difenda’s Custom Build: Reducing Time to Under 2 Hours 

Microsoft Copilot for Security leverages advanced AI and machine learning to automate the initial stages of threat hunting, such as data collection and preliminary analysis. This enables security professionals to quickly identify potential threats and focus their efforts on deeper analysis and mitigation. By automating routine tasks, Copilot for Security allows SOC teams to conduct more hunts in less time, enhancing their overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Automating Threat Hunting – Is It the Right Thing to Do?

Many companies claim they can “perform automated threat hunting.” While it’s true that certain aspects of threat hunting can be automated, the entire process cannot be fully automated.

A few years ago, Sergio Caltagirone made a poignant statement: “Threat Hunting cannot be automatic. If it was automatic – we’d call it IDS.” This highlights a crucial point about the nature of threat hunting—it is a Human vs. Human activity that requires the intuition and insight of trained professionals. While automation can handle repetitive tasks and data analysis, the final decision-making and nuanced threat identification still rely on human expertise.

Automating threat hunting with tools like Microsoft Copilot for Security is not about replacing humans but about augmenting their capabilities. By offloading mundane and time-consuming tasks to automated systems, security professionals can focus on the strategic and analytical aspects of threat hunting. This hybrid approach ensures that organizations benefit from the speed and efficiency of automation while maintaining the critical human element necessary for effective threat detection and response.

A More Ideal Approach to Threat Hunting Today

The ideal approach to threat hunting combines the speed and efficiency of automation with the intuition and expertise of skilled professionals. Microsoft Copilot for Security exemplifies this hybrid model, providing organizations with the tools they need to streamline their threat hunting processes and enhance their overall security posture.

By leveraging automation for routine tasks and focusing human efforts on complex analysis, organizations can save hours on threat hunting, allowing them to stay ahead of emerging threats and protect their critical assets more effectively.