Automating Security Detection Engineering: A hands-on guide to implementing Detection as Code

Accelerate security detection development with AI-enabled technical solutions using threat-informed defense

Key Features

• Create automated CI/CD pipelines for testing and implementing threat detection use cases
• Apply implementation strategies to optimize the adoption of automated work streams
• Use a variety of enterprise-grade tools and APIs to bolster your detection program
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book Description

Today's global enterprise security programs grapple with constantly evolving threats. Even though the industry has released abundant security tools, most of which are equipped with APIs for integrations, they lack a rapid detection development work stream. This book arms you with the skills you need to automate the development, testing, and monitoring of detection-based use cases.

You’ll start with the technical architecture, exploring where automation is conducive throughout the detection use case lifecycle. With the help of hands-on labs, you’ll learn how to utilize threat-informed defense artifacts and then progress to creating advanced AI-powered CI/CD pipelines to bolster your Detection as Code practices. Along the way, you'll develop custom code for EDRs, WAFs, SIEMs, CSPMs, RASPs, and NIDS. The book will also guide you in developing KPIs for program monitoring and cover collaboration mechanisms to operate the team with DevSecOps principles. Finally, you'll be able to customize a Detection as Code program that fits your organization's needs.

By the end of the book, you'll have gained the expertise to automate nearly the entire use case development lifecycle for any enterprise.

What you will learn

• Understand the architecture of Detection as Code implementations
• Develop custom test functions using Python and Terraform
• Leverage common tools like GitHub and Python 3.x to create detection-focused CI/CD pipelines
• Integrate cutting-edge technology and operational patterns to further refine program efficacy
• Apply monitoring techniques to continuously assess use case health
• Create, structure, and commit detections to a code repository

Who this book is for

This book is for security engineers and analysts responsible for the day-to-day tasks of developing and implementing new detections at scale. If you’re working with existing programs focused on threat detection, you’ll also find this book helpful. Prior knowledge of DevSecOps, hands-on experience with any programming or scripting languages, and familiarity with common security practices and tools are recommended for an optimal learning experience.

Table of Contents

1. Detection as Code Architecture and Lifecycle
2. Scoping and Automating Threat-Informed Defense Inputs
3. Developing Core CI/CD Pipeline Functions
4. Leveraging AI for Use Case Development
5. Implementing Logical Unit Tests
6. Creating Integration Tests
7. Leveraging AI for Testing
8. Monitoring Detection Health
9. Measuring Program Efficiency
10. Operating Patterns by Maturity

Dennis Chow is an experienced security engineer and manager who has led global security teams in Fortune 500 industries with over 14 years of experience. Dennis started from an IT and security analyst background, working upwards to engineering, architecture, and consultancy in blue- and red-team-focused roles. In 2015, the US Department of Health and Human Services awarded Dennis a grant to standardize cyber threat intelligence sharing for the entire US healthcare vertical. In that time, Dennis achieved over 30 certifications and became GIAC Security Expert #288. During his time at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dennis worked as a professional services consultant, focusing on security transformation for detection-focused automation.