How to Integrate AI into Modern SOC Workflows

Artificial intelligence is making its way into security operations quickly, but many practitioners are still struggling to turn early experimentation into consistent operational value. The article notes that 40 percent of SOCs use AI or ML tools without making them a defined part of operations, and 42 percent rely on AI/ML tools “out of the box” with no customisation at all.

It outlines five areas where AI can support SOCs: detection engineering, threat hunting, software development and analysis, automation and orchestration, and reporting and communication, with clear cautions that AI excels when the task is well-bounded and that humans remain responsible for interpretation and validation. A further challenge highlighted by the 2025 SANS SOC Survey is that 69 percent of SOCs still report metrics manually or mostly manually, underlining a gap in consistent, actionable reporting.

As a practical example, the article cites a machine‑learning exercise from the SANS SEC595: Applied Data Science and AI/ML for Cybersecurity course that inspects the first eight bytes of a packet’s stream to determine if traffic reconstructs as DNS, illustrating how AI can add value in narrowly defined problems when trained properly.

According to the article, the path to realising AI’s value lies in narrowing scope, validating logic, and ensuring rigorous review processes, rather than viewing AI as a universal solution.