The Power of Human Response in Security
What You Need to Know
Automated systems and machine learning are essential for quickly detecting and responding to threats, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. While these technologies excel at sifting through vast amounts of data and identifying potential risks (ask us about our machine learning capabilities!), they lack the nuance and context that only humans can provide. After all, it’s the people on the ground who have firsthand knowledge of their environments, workflows, and the intricacies of how they do their jobs. So, how does human response strengthen security, and how does it fit with automation and machine learning? By leveraging the insights and experiences of real users, organizations can enhance threat detection, reduce false positives, and foster a proactive security culture.
Understanding the Human Element in Security
Human response, interpretation, and decision-making incorporates the insights and experiences of the people directly involved in day-to-day operations across your company —roles your security team may not even know exist. Employees can provide contextual information that automated systems often overlook, which is vital for identifying active threats that might not be immediately apparent through data alone.
Security teams working together with developers and IT staff can share real-time observations about anomalies in behavior. A sudden spike in traffic to a specific application may generate notifications, but it’s the human team members who can recognize whether this is part of a planned marketing campaign or a potential DDoS attack. Crowdalert enables this collaborative approach, which creates an environment where information is shared freely, leading to quicker, more informed decision-making.
The Role of Feedback in Mitigating Risk
Incorporating human feedback into security processes significantly reduces the risk of false positives. SIEM platforms may generate alerts for every minor anomaly, which can overwhelm teams and lead to alert fatigue. This is where human input shines.
By prompting cross-functional team members for confirmation during sensitive actions—such as deploying new code or modifying user permissions—Crowdalert’s intelligent alerting system hones in on the most urgent, high-risk actions. For example, when a developer launches a new instance in AWS, Crowdalert can send a Slack prompt asking for confirmation. If the action is valid, it isn’t escalated unless additional activity in another system raises the risk score. This human-in-the-loop approach not only streamlines operations but also empowers employees, making them active participants in the security process and raising their awareness about the potential risk of sensitive behaviors.
Strengthening Incident Response with Human Insight
The complexity of modern cybersecurity threats demands a multifaceted approach to incident response. When security teams rely solely on automated tools, they risk missing critical context that could inform their actions. Human responses bring valuable insights that enhance incident resolution. Crowdalert combines the best of both worlds—automated detection and prioritization enriched with human insights.
There could be many reasons for an abnormal login attempt. Did the user just return from a business trip? Have they logged in from a new or personal device? This real-world context is something that automated systems wouldn’t take into account. However, with Crowdalert, the user responsible for the login would easily be able to confirm “this was me” combined with automated identity context about account behavior across systems .
Fostering a Security Culture Through Trusted Engagement
Trust among security teams, developers, and other departments is key to strengthening relationships and security posture. By encouraging open communication and shared responsibility, organizations can better defend against cyber threats. Human-centered security tools, like Crowdalert, facilitate teamwork by integrating into existing workflows and delivering clear, simple communications directly to team members. This helps ensure everyone is informed and engaged in addressing security issues, fostering a sense of collective ownership and trust.
Furthermore, organizations prioritizing human engagement benefit from improved security measures while cultivating a more informed workforce. When employees are actively engaged in the security process, they become more vigilant and aware of potential risks, effectively acting as a reliable line of defense.
Emphasizing Human-Centric Security
The power of human response in security lies in its ability to provide context, reduce errors, and foster a good working relationship across teams. By embracing human-centered security practices, organizations can create a more resilient security framework that empowers employees and strengthens overall cybersecurity posture.
Looking ahead, it’s clear that the most effective security solutions will be those that combine the power of technology with the invaluable insights of the people who use them. By merging human insights with automated tools, Crowdalert ensures that alerts are not just fast but also precise and focused. Security isn’t just a task to be automated; it’s a shared responsibility that everyone contributes to, keeping your digital environments secure and resilient against evolving threats.
- By
- Crowdalert Staff