AI-assisted SOC boosts efficiency and cuts investigation time

Security operations have never been a 9-to-5 job. For Security Operations Centre (SOC) analysts, the day often begins and ends deep in a queue of alerts, chasing down what frequently turns out to be false positives or switching between multiple tools to piece together context. The work is repetitive, time-consuming, and high-stakes, leaving SOCs under constant pressure to keep up while often struggling to stay ahead of emerging threats. This combination of inefficiency, elevated risk, and a reactive operating model is precisely where AI-powered SOC capabilities are beginning to make a significant difference. The recent Gartner Hype Cycle for Security Operations 2025 recognises AI SOC Agents as an innovation trigger, reflecting a broader shift in how teams approach automation.

SOC teams report that their most pressing challenges include inefficient investigations, siloed tools, and a lack of effective automation. These issues slow response times and increase risk. The latest SANS SOC Survey highlights that these operational hurdles consistently outpace other concerns. AI-driven triage, investigation, and detection coverage analysis are well-positioned to address these gaps head-on. An AI SOC integrates a range of capabilities that strengthen and scale the core functions of a security operations centre. These capabilities work alongside human expertise to enhance how teams triage alerts, investigate threats, respond to incidents, and refine detections over time. AI systems can review and prioritise every incoming alert within minutes, pulling telemetry from across the environment. True threats rise to the top quickly, while false positives are resolved without draining analyst time.