Detection at Scale

Rootly’s JJ Tang on Transforming Incident Management Culture

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack speaks to JJ Tang, CEO and Co-founder of Rootly, about revolutionizing incident management in tech organizations. JJ shares his journey from practitioner to founder and emphasizes the importance of viewing incident management as a cultural and collaborative effort rather than just a tooling issue. 

 

JJ touches on breaking down silos between security and other teams to enhance communication and reliability, and empowering security practitioners to take on educator roles within their organizations. He also offers actionable insights on creating a culture of reliability and improving incident response strategies! 

 

Topics discussed:

• The importance of viewing incident management as a cultural shift rather than just a tooling problem, focusing on people and processes.  
• Strategies for breaking down silos between security teams and other departments to foster collaboration and improve incident response effectiveness.  
• The role of security practitioners as educators, helping other teams understand best practices and the importance of security in incident management.  
• The significance of collecting and analyzing data on repeat incidents to identify root causes and prevent future occurrences.  
• Insights on how to create a culture of reliability within organizations, making incident management a shared responsibility across teams.  
• The challenges faced during the transition from a practitioner role to a founder and CEO in the tech industry.  
• The impact of AI and automation on incident management, including how these technologies can improve response times and learning from incidents.  
• The necessity of having a clear governance framework in place to ensure data privacy and security during incident management processes.  

 

Resources Mentioned: 

• JJ Tang on LinkedIn
• Rootly website

Grammarly’s Thijn Bukkems on Working Backwards from Response Strategies

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack speaks to Thijn Bukkems, Threat Hunting Lead at Grammarly. Thijn shares his expertise on building a robust security intelligence program, emphasizing the importance of leveraging existing resources and adapting current tools to enhance threat detection. 

 

Thijn discusses the value of working backwards from response strategies to design effective detection mechanisms. He also highlights the necessity of collaboration across teams, urging listeners to avoid silos in decision-making to uncover unexpected insights. 

 

Topics discussed:

• The importance of utilizing current tools and knowledge, adapting them to enhance threat detection rather than starting from scratch.
• The value of designing detection mechanisms by first understanding how to respond to potential threats, ensuring proactive preparedness.
• The need to avoid silos in decision-making, as insights from various teams can lead to significant improvements in security measures.
• The critical aspects of security intelligence, focusing on assessing risks and anticipating potential attacks.
• The finite nature of security engineering time and the importance of prioritizing tasks effectively.
• How internal threat modeling helps in identifying vulnerabilities and understanding potential attack vectors within the organization.
• The balance between analytical research and production-ready work, including the need for code-oriented solutions in security.
• The iterative process of collecting and analyzing data to answer broad security questions and develop actionable plans.
• The role of automation in optimizing data collection and analysis, improving efficiency in addressing security concerns.
• How the security intelligence team provides strategic insights to guide the business in prioritizing security efforts effectively. 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Thijn Bukkems on LinkedIn

CRED’s Saksham Tushar on Data Enrichment for Effective Threat Detection

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack speaks with Saksham Tushar, Head of Security Operations & Threat Detection Engineering at CRED, about the challenges of compliance in a high-growth environment. Saksham shares their strategy for automating security processes and enriching data to enhance threat detection. 

He emphasizes the importance of verifying automated outcomes to ensure accuracy. Saksham also covers how CRED uses Python libraries for efficient incident response and the significance of contextual understanding in security incidents. With a focus on streamlining compliance and leveraging intelligence, Saksham provides valuable insights into building a robust security operations framework in a rapidly evolving landscape.

 

Topics discussed:

• How CRED distilled complex compliance requirements into a manageable set of common standards to streamline processes.
• The importance of correlating various log sources to create a comprehensive view of security incidents.
• How automation has transformed security processes, making them more efficient and effective.
• The use of threat intelligence and how it is centralized and automated to provide actionable insights for security teams.
• The development of internal Python libraries that facilitate quick data queries for incident investigations.
• The importance of understanding the context around security incidents to better inform responses and strategies.
• How using notebooks for investigations aids in communication and auditing, allowing for clear documentation of processes.
• How to organize a team to maintain agility while ensuring diverse skill sets are leveraged effectively.
• The necessity of verifying automated processes to ensure they yield accurate and actionable outcomes.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Saksham Tushar on LinkedIn
• CRED website

Netflix’s Dan Cao and Brex’s Josh Liburdi on Balancing Big Platforms and Bespoke Tools

In this special episode of Detection at Scale, Jack welcomes security experts Dan Cao, Engineering Manager of Security Incident and Response at Netflix, and returning guest Josh Liburdi, Staff Security Engineer at Brex. They discuss the rise of developer-centric security solutions and the ongoing balance between utilizing big platforms like CrowdStrike and bespoke tools — the build versus buy dilemma. 

They highlight the importance of fundamental skills and critical thinking in security engineering, emphasizing the need for continual learning and adaptability. Dan and Josh also share insights on building effective security teams and the significance of mentorship and team culture in fostering innovation and resilience in an evolving tech landscape. 

 

Topics discussed:

• The shift towards security operations and incident response that prioritize developer involvement and custom coding solutions.
• How to effectively integrate large security platforms like Crowdstrike with tailored, in-house security tools.
• The need for critical and abstract thinking skills in security engineering to solve complex problems.
• Strategies for leveraging team strengths and addressing skill gaps to create robust security teams.
• The role of mentorship and a positive team culture in fostering growth and innovation within security teams.
• The importance of mastering the basics of technology and cybersecurity as a foundation for advanced problem-solving.
• The need for security professionals to stay adaptable and continually update their skills in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
• The difficulties small security teams face when managing and integrating diverse security tools and platforms.
• The effectiveness and limitations of using commercial security solutions for large and small organizations.

Resources Mentioned: 

Dan Cao on LinkedIn

Josh Liburdi on LinkedIn

ThoughtSpot’s Alessio Faiella on Building Forward-Looking Security Programs

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack speaks to Alessio Faiella, Director of Security Engineering & Security Operations at ThoughtSpot, to discuss building forward-looking security programs for 2024. 

Alessio dives into the dynamic and ephemeral nature of modern security environments and the importance of understanding the nuances of the product and user base. He also highlights how ThoughtSpot leverages AI to enhance detection and response capabilities. Additionally, Alessio shares insights on codifying playbooks and prioritizing core focuses to ensure a robust cybersecurity posture. 

 

Topics discussed:

• The importance of defining clear goals and laying strong foundations for scalable security programs.
• Emphasizing the need for security teams to deeply understand the product they are defending and the behaviors of its user base.
• The significance of developing and prioritizing detailed playbooks to guide detection and response efforts effectively.
• How AI can assist in real-time response, log data parsing, and providing actionable recommendations during security incidents.
• Identifying and focusing on critical areas like persistence, lateral movement, and data exfiltration to optimize security efforts with limited resources.
• Techniques for evaluating the success of security playbooks and ensuring they align with the organization's goals and infrastructure.
• Combining automated processes with human oversight to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of security operations.
• The difficulties in gathering and integrating data from various sources to enable quick and informed security responses.
• Crafting security rules that are tailored to the specific needs and priorities of the organization’s environment.
• Advice on maintaining focus and ensuring foundational security practices are in place for a strong and resilient cybersecurity posture.

Sprinklr’s Roger Allen on Preventing Team Burnout in Cybersecurity

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack speaks to Roger Allen, Senior Director, Global Head of Detection and Response at Sprinklr, to explore the complexities of running a modern SOC. Roger shares his expertise on prioritizing alerts with contextual understanding, the importance of crafting a robust data strategy, and preventing team burnout. 

From integrating adversary testing to ensuring team alignment with organizational goals, Roger also offers actionable insights and practical advice for enhancing cybersecurity defenses.

 

Topics discussed:

• The importance of understanding adversaries' TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) and leveraging them to improve detection and response capabilities.
• Discussing the critical role of adversary simulation and testing in writing effective detection rules and enhancing overall security posture.
• Strategies for prioritizing alerts based on contextual understanding and the sequence of events, moving beyond mere alert volume.
• The necessity of a well-defined data strategy, including standardizing logging formats and implementing data enrichment techniques to improve incident response.
• Addressing team burnout by ensuring balanced workloads, regular reviews, and meaningful conversations to align team goals with organizational objectives.
• The role of integration and unit testing in validating security rules and ensuring their effectiveness from multiple perspectives.
• How security teams can bridge the gap between understanding the tech stack and the business objectives, ensuring security measures align with business priorities.
• The importance of bringing in relevant data for incident response and the collaboration needed between different security functions to optimize data usage. 

WP Engine’s Christopher Watkins on Cost-Effective Threat Hunting Strategies

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack welcomes Christopher Watkins, Senior Staff Cloud Security Engineer at WP Engine, to discuss innovative logging solutions and efficient data management across multiple cloud platforms. Chris reveals how WP Engine leverages native tools and robust API gateways to streamline logging processes. 

 

He shares strategies for cost-effective threat hunting, such as optimizing large-scale queries through table partitioning. Chris also emphasizes the importance of mental and physical well-being, and the role of community support in maintaining a sustainable career in cybersecurity. 

 

Topics discussed:

• How WP Engine uses native tools and robust API gateways to manage logging across multiple cloud platforms efficiently.
• Strategies for optimizing large-scale queries, such as table partitioning and avoiding costly operations, to maintain efficiency and reduce expenses.
• Techniques for moving data efficiently across different cloud services, ensuring consistency and reliability in data management.
• The importance of partitioning tables and being selective with queries to enhance threat detection and incident response efforts.
• The role of a well-designed schema in speeding up threat detection by understanding key value pairs frequently used in security data.
• Leveraging best practices from data teams to optimize queries and improve security use cases.
• Ensuring human oversight with two-person reviews of scripts and dry runs to maintain accuracy and reliability in automated processes.
• The importance of mental, physical, and spiritual health routines to manage the stress of incident response and avoid burnout.
• The role of community and trusted conversations in sharing experiences about breaches, vulnerabilities, and other challenges in the cybersecurity field.
• How WP Engine's mantra of "detection as code" and "pipelines as code" extends to response workflows for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Chris Watkins on LinkedIn
• WP Engine website

Elastic’s Darren LaCasse on Cutting Alert Volumes in Half By Automating Responses

In this episode of Detection at Scale, Jack Naglieri chats with Darren LaCasse, Director of Threat Intelligence, Incident Response, & Threat Detection at Elastic. Darren offers insights into the innovative project around detection as code, shedding light on the methodologies Elastic employs to enhance security operations. 

Darren touches on the challenges of managing massive amounts of data, the importance of prioritization in security tasks, and how automation has revolutionized their response strategies. He also shares practical advice on conducting gap analyses to focus on what truly matters. 

 

Topics discussed:

• The importance of prioritizing security tasks to focus on critical business-impacting elements, ensuring a resilient security framework.
• Strategies for handling and analyzing large volumes of security data to maintain effective monitoring and response capabilities.
• How automation has halved alert volumes, freeing analysts from repetitive tasks and enhancing overall productivity.
• Conducting regular gap analyses and attack path discussions to visualize vulnerabilities and direct security efforts effectively.
• The role of tagging and context-aware responses in streamlining security operations and making analysts' lives easier.
• Prioritizing security efforts based on the criticality of vendors and data, focusing first on restricted and critical vendors.
• The importance of conducting at least annual reviews to reassess and improve security controls and monitoring strategies.
• Using metrics to measure the effectiveness of security measures and guide continuous improvement efforts.

 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Darren LaCasse on LinkedIn
• Elastic Security Solution website

Check Point’s Daniel Wiley on Balancing Technology and Human Analytics in Cybersecurity

In this episode of the Detection at Scale podcast, Jack speaks to Daniel Wiley, Head of Threat Management and Chief Security Advisor at Check Point Software, to discuss the intricacies of balancing technology and human analytics in cybersecurity. 

Daniel shares his experiences in building three successful internal startups at Check Point and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning throughout one’s career. He also touches on effective incident response strategies for small- to medium-sized businesses, and the vital role of adaptable data schemas in managing large-scale security operations. 

Topics discussed:

• The highs and lows experienced in the cybersecurity startup journey, including the importance of quick decision-making and team-building.
• Strategies for developing effective IR playbooks tailored for small- to medium-sized businesses to handle security threats efficiently.
• The integration of machine analytics and human expertise to manage and interpret large volumes of cybersecurity data.
• Managing 24/7 global SOCs, including the challenges of shift rotations and ensuring analysts are not overloaded.
• Techniques for determining which data is crucial for cybersecurity efforts and how to handle terabytes of data per second.
• The necessity of ongoing education and staying updated with the latest in cybersecurity to maintain effectiveness in the field.
• The significance of hiring the right team from the start and making swift, decisive personnel changes when necessary.
• Check Point's focus on maintaining high operational margins and its impact on the business's success and sustainability.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Daniel Wiley on LinkedIn
• Check Point Software website
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
• Cyber for Builders by Ross Haleliuk

Inductive Automation’s Jason Waits on Building Scalable Security Programs Through Automation

In our latest episode of Detection at Scale, Jason Waits, CISO at Inductive Automation, shares insights learned in his journey from network administration to cybersecurity and the importance of SCADA systems. 

He dives into the value of automation, ML, and AI in security operations, highlighting the need for asking the right questions for efficient data analysis. Jason also discusses building a security team with a focus on detection and response, leveraging automation for faster investigations. 

Topics discussed:

• The role of SCADA systems in various industries and the importance of security in OT environments.
• The challenges and strategies in building a security program for scale, focusing on automation and infrastructure as code.
• The impact of IT-OT convergence on security issues and the need for enhanced controls and monitoring in interconnected systems.
• Embracing automation in security operations, including detection engineering and automating response actions for efficiency and scalability.
• Utilizing enrichment techniques for contextual data analysis and the significance of data sources for effective security investigations.
• The use of ML and AI in security operations, particularly in natural language querying and data analysis for actionable insights.
• Jason's advice on building a successful security team, emphasizing automation, staying informed on industry trends, and fostering collaboration with engineering teams.

Resources Mentioned: 

• Jason Waits on LinkedIn
• Inductive Automation website 
• Detection Engineering Weekly newsletter