Breaking Down Legacy Walls: How CISOs Can Unlock AI’s Potential in the SOC

When it comes to AI strategies, successful SOCs are distinguished by CISOs who take charge of AI initiatives and proactively address obstacles, dismantling outdated barriers that hinder progress.

The recent Forrester’s 2025 Security & Risk Summit highlighted the discrepancy between the potential of AI and its actual implementation. Allie Mellen, a principal analyst, emphasized the disruptive impact of generative AI on cybersecurity teams.

Many organizations find themselves restricted by self-imposed limitations that impede their cybersecurity capabilities.

The Key to AI Success in Cybersecurity

The difference between successful and unsuccessful AI integration in cybersecurity lies in organizational preparedness rather than technological advancements.

While some leading organizations have embraced AI for efficiency gains, many enterprises are struggling to overcome barriers that have accumulated over time. With cyber threats evolving rapidly, the need to dismantle legacy obstacles is critical for survival.

Recent reports have indicated a high rate of AI-related breaches, with generative models being a prime target for cyber adversaries.

Despite the challenges, executives have reported significant productivity improvements from AI deployments, highlighting the importance of addressing organizational barriers.

According to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz, the traditional SOC model is no longer sufficient in the face of AI-powered attacks. Security now relies on data quality, response speed, and enforcement precision to stay ahead of threats.

Most enterprises operate multiple security tools from various vendors, resulting in fragmented data streams that hinder AI integration. This fragmentation poses a significant cybersecurity risk that organizations must address.

Overcoming Governance Challenges with Unified Platforms

Traditional security governance processes are ill-equipped to handle the speed at which AI agents operate. To address this challenge, organizations need unified platforms that can consolidate telemetry data for real-time analysis.

Leading cybersecurity companies are developing single-agent architectures to streamline governance processes and improve decision-making speed.

• Policy-as-code for AI agents: Encoding guardrails for agents ensures consistent enforcement across operations.

• Single source of truth for evidence and audit: Unified telemetry data simplifies regulatory reporting and audit processes.

• Continuous control monitoring: Platforms can continuously test policy effectiveness in real-time.

• Closed-loop enforcement: Automated responses to policy violations enhance security measures.

• Consistent identity-centric governance: Focusing on identities improves access control and risk monitoring.

These design principles aim to reduce the complexity of security operations, minimize conflicting policies, and enhance visibility across diverse environments.

Shifting Security Culture for Strategic Success

CISOs are transitioning from gatekeepers to business enablers, focusing on strategic initiatives that drive revenue and growth.

By aligning security objectives with business goals, organizations can accelerate innovation and automation, empowering AI-driven governance.

Unified security and IT operations have proven to be more effective in governance and incident prevention compared to siloed approaches.

Integrating security teams into development and operations, implementing automated guardrails, and enabling AI agents with real-time data access are key strategies for enhancing cybersecurity.

Security should no longer be a hindrance but a driving force behind automated defense mechanisms, ensuring proactive protection against evolving threats.