Imagine you're a new SOC admin at a company like McDuck’s Bank. It's your first week, and you're still learning the ropes. You're excited about the opportunity to protect your organization from cyber threats but a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data and the complexity of the security landscape.

Suddenly, an alert pops up—a user is reporting they can't sign in. Your heart races a bit. This is it, your first real-world security event. What do you do?

Enter Microsoft Security Copilot, your AI-powered sidekick in the world of cybersecurity.

Think of it as having a seasoned security expert by your side, ready to assist you every step of the way. This friendly AI assistant guides you, providing the information you need in simple terms, just like a colleague would.

Investigating with Copilot

Simply log on to the “securitycopilot.microsoft.com” portal with your enterprise credentials.

You start by typing a simple question into Copilot: "What is the status of the user account for Allan Deyoung? Is it locked out?" It’s just like asking a fellow team member.

Copilot, in the blink of an eye, checks with Microsoft Entra, the identity and access management system, and confirms that Allan's account is indeed locked out. It even provides more details, like the time of the lockout. You're relieved you didn't have to navigate through complex menus or decipher technical jargon.

Next, you ask Copilot to show you Allan's recent login attempts. Again, Copilot quickly fetches the information, revealing multiple failed login attempts from different devices and locations.

Now, a red flag goes up—this could be a sign of a compromised account.

With Copilot’s help, you ask: "Is the user considered risky? If so, why?" Copilot analyzes the available data and tells you that Lynne's account has a high-risk level due to the suspicious login activity. It even provides specific reasons, making it crystal clear why the account is flagged.

Feeling a little more confident, you continue your investigation. Copilot is there, answering your questions in a clear and concise way, like summarizing a suspicious PowerShell script you find. It explains the steps involved in simple English and even suggests potential mitigations.

Beyond Incident Response

But Copilot's capabilities extend far beyond incident response. It can assist with a wide range of tasks, turning you into a security superhero:

Vulnerability Assessment: Copilot can provide detailed summaries of vulnerabilities (CVEs), explain their severity, and recommend mitigation steps tailored to your organization.

Threat Intelligence: You can ask Copilot about specific threat actors, and it will provide a summary of their tactics and techniques, helping you proactively defend against them.

Policy Management: Copilot can even help you with creating and managing security policies in Intune, Microsoft's endpoint management system. It can suggest relevant settings, explain their impact, and even generate draft policies for you to review.

Reporting: Need to create a report for your manager? Copilot can generate executive summaries of incidents, vulnerabilities, or threat intelligence, making you look like a seasoned pro.

Real-Life Example: The Case of the Suspicious Script

Let’s take a look at a real-world scenario. You’re reviewing security alerts and come across one that includes a PowerShell script. You have a hunch it might be malicious, but you’re not an expert in PowerShell.

You select the “Suspicious Script Analysis Promptbook” in Copilot and paste the script into the prompt. In seconds, Copilot decodes the script, analyzes its behavior, and provides you with a step-by-step breakdown of what it does. It even tells you if the script is potentially malicious, highlights any suspicious indicators, and provides recommendations for protection.

You feel empowered. What might have taken hours of research and analysis has been accomplished in minutes. Copilot has not only saved you time but has also significantly enhanced your understanding of the threat.

The Power of Partnership: Copilot and the MSSP

Now, let's say your organization works with an MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider). Copilot doesn't replace the MSSP; instead, it acts as a powerful force multiplier, enhancing their capabilities:

Enhanced Analysis: Copilot helps MSSP analysts understand complex scripts and code, making them more efficient and effective.

Streamlined Threat Hunting: MSSPs can use Copilot to quickly convert natural language queries into KQL (Kusto Query Language) for threat hunting in Microsoft Sentinel, saving valuable time.

Reduced Skill Gap: Copilot's guided responses help less experienced analysts perform tasks that would typically require more senior-level expertise.

Conclusion

Microsoft Security Copilot is more than just a tool; it's a game-changer for security professionals, especially entry-level SOC admins. It provides you with the guidance, knowledge, and speed you need to confidently navigate the world of cybersecurity. With Copilot by your side, you'll be able to:

Accelerate investigations and respond to security incidents faster.

Gain a deeper understanding of threats and vulnerabilities.

Proactively enhance your organization's security posture.

Develop your cybersecurity skills and become a more effective defender.

As an entry-level SOC admin, you have a lot to learn and many challenges ahead. But with Microsoft Security Copilot as your trusted companion, you're well-equipped to embark on this exciting journey and become a true cybersecurity champion.