Beyond the legacy: Rethinking SIEMs in an age of cyber escalation

As global cyber threats continue to proliferate at an unprecedented pace, enterprises are increasingly discovering that the traditional tools designed to safeguard their digital infrastructure are no longer up to the task.

Chief among these legacy systems are Security Information and Event Management platforms (SIEMs) whose limitations are now putting organisations at serious risk.

SIEMs, once considered indispensable to any robust cybersecurity framework, have become increasingly outdated. Originally developed two decades ago, many of these platforms have failed to evolve meaningfully in response to the radically different threat landscape of today.  With an ever-growing list of potential vulnerabilities, the inadequacy of these older systems is becoming alarmingly clear.

Cracks in the SIEM foundation

A primary concern is the overwhelming volume of alerts generated by conventional SIEM systems. Rather than enabling effective threat management, many platforms inundate analysts with a flood of notifications, most of which are low priority or false positives. The sheer volume poses a significant risk: critical alerts may be overlooked, delaying response and leaving systems exposed.

Moreover, traditional SIEMs are heavily reliant on manual processes. Investigations often require hands-on effort from security personnel, consuming valuable time and diverting attention from strategic initiatives. In an industry where time is of the essence, such inefficiencies can be costly and budget constraints further compound the problem. 

Many organisations are finding it difficult to justify the cost of upgrading or expanding their SIEM capabilities,     this can result in vulnerabilities being left unaddressed. Security teams are essentially being asked to confront modern threats with outdated tools, and with fewer resources than ever.

Another growing concern is data retention. With security data volumes exploding, storing and securing this information has become a logistical and compliance challenge. Organisations are increasingly wary about the security implications of retaining vast stores of sensitive telemetry data over long periods.

The case for change

The cybersecurity landscape demands a fundamental rethink of how threats are monitored, detected, and neutralised. In this context, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation into security operations is no longer optional - it is imperative.

AI, and specifically agentic AI, is emerging as a transformative force in cybersecurity. Unlike traditional automation, which typically relies on static rules, agentic AI has the capability to operate autonomously, making decisions and taking actions without direct human oversight. For security teams burdened by repetitive and time-consuming tasks, this presents a path toward dramatically improved efficiency and resilience.

The transition toward AI-driven security is expected to unfold in phases. Initially, organisations are moving from fully manual systems to rules-based workflows that offer a degree of automation. This is followed by AI-assisted processes, where machine intelligence supports - but does not yet replace - human decision-making.

In the final stage, agentic AI becomes the frontline defence, executing most or all security functions independently. At this point, triage processes are fully automated, allowing for rapid threat identification and containment.

The burden on human analysts is greatly reduced, enabling them to focus on high-value activities such as strategic planning and incident response refinement.

Reimagining the future of cyber defence

The benefits of AI-driven SIEM systems are far-reaching. They offer improved detection accuracy, reduce false positives, and enable real-time response to incidents. Most importantly, they restore the balance of power in favour of security teams that have long been overwhelmed by the volume and velocity of incoming threats.

Early adopters of AI-driven security solutions are already seeing significant improvements in operational efficiency and threat mitigation. As the technology matures, its cost-effectiveness and accessibility are also expected to improve, making it a viable option for organisations of all sizes.

Nevertheless, the shift toward AI-security operations is not without challenges. Organisations must be mindful of the ethical and governance implications of deploying autonomous systems. Ensuring transparency, accountability, and control will be crucial as these tools become more deeply embedded in enterprise infrastructure.

A strategic imperative

Ultimately, the evolution beyond legacy SIEMs is not merely a technological upgrade - It is a strategic imperative. Organisations that fail to modernise their security frameworks risk falling behind in an environment where cyberattacks are not only increasing in frequency but also in sophistication.

Business leaders must recognise that cybersecurity is no longer a siloed IT issue. It is a boardroom priority that directly impacts operational resilience, customer trust, and regulatory compliance.

Investing in next-generation security infrastructure, powered by AI and automation, is one of the most effective ways to future-proof an organisation against the cyber threats of tomorrow.

As the cyber battleground continues to evolve, the message is clear. Yesterday's tools cannot defend against today's threats, and the time to act is now.