Burning Your SOCs: How Burnout Impacts Defense

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Presented at BSidesNova 2020 by

In security, we try to account for every microscopic technical angle that could be abused for access to protected resources. While the human element has been spotlighted as a possible angle for abuse, what doesn’t often get attention with regards to humans is the idea of burnout and how it can impact the readiness of defensive operations. In this talk, Emily will talk about where burnout starts, how to recognize burnout, and even deep dive into how the technologies we depend on to help us identify threats can be turned against us and blunt an otherwise sharp team of defenders. One specific concept that will be discussed is the idea of “Mechanical Turks”. Some newer defensive technologies selling advanced detection have exchanged true technological advancement for a heavier, yet obfuscated burden on humans. Essentially, these technologies rely on humans to give the appearance that the technology is more effective than it truly is. This is becoming a serious issue in security that should not be understated.