Secure Networks: Endace Packet Forensics Files

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping Security Operations Centers (SOCs), helping security teams investigate incidents faster while reducing alert fatigue. But as AI becomes more capable, what role do human analysts and packet data play in an increasingly automated SOC?
In Packet Forensics Files Episode 67, Michael Morris sits down with Cisco Security Sales Engineer and incident response expert Erik Dove to discuss how Agentic AI is changing incident response, where packet data fits into modern SOC workflows, and why both experienced analysts and packet data remain essential.
If you're interested in how AI, automation and packet capture are shaping the future of security operations, this episode is highly recommended. It's a fascinating discussion with plenty of practical advice for organizations looking to build more effective SOCs.

In this episode of the Endace Packet Forensic Files, Michael chats with with Cody Spooner, Principal Sales Engineer and DFIR expert at Corelight, about an interesting topic: the subtleties and differences of “Enablers" vs "Behaviors” of a cybersecurity compromise.
Cody explains that when most people think of threat hunting or incident response investigations, they picture analysts looking for signs of malicious activity. In reality there are critical subtle differences between the “behavior of a compromise” and the underlying “enabler of a compromise” that often go unnoticed or overlooked. He highlights how organizations tend to focus heavily on detecting malicious behaviors - such as data exfiltration or unauthorized logins - but often miss identifying the enabling conditions - such as misconfigurations or legacy protocols - that led to those compromises in the first place.
Cody shares examples of seemingly harmless issues that can become the doorway to a full compromise, such as configuration issues or outdated or deprecated protocols like NTLMv1 and SMBv1. These often persist in modern environments and Cody suggests that incident responders and threat hunters can usefully focus on identifying and eliminating these enablers to reduce the organisation's risk profile.
Cody gives advice for security teams on how to shift their mindset from focusing only on behaviors to focusing on enablers as well in their threat hunting activity. He also provides insights into how IR teams should interpret and contextualize indicators of compromise and discusses how the “why” behind an attack can often change or influence the response strategy.
ABOUT ENDACE 
*****************
Endace (https://www.endace.com) is a world leader in high-performance packet capture solutions for cybersecurity, network and application performance. 

EndaceProbes are deployed on some of the world's largest, fastest and most critical networks. EndaceProbe models are available for on-premise, private cloud and public cloud deployments - delivering complete hybrid cloud visibility from a single pane-of-glass.

Endace’s open EndaceProbe Analytics appliances (https://www.endace.com/endaceprobe) can be deployed in on-premise locations and can also host third-party security and performance monitoring solutions while simultaneously recording a 100% accurate history of network activity.

In this episode of the @Endace, Packet Forensic Files, Michael Morris chats with Andrew Cook, CTO of Recon InfoSec and host of the Thursday Defensive Podcast about Incident Investigation and Response, and Threat Hunting . 

Andrew has a wealth of experience in high-pressure cyberdefense environments and shares some of the key lessons he's learned along the way, as well as passing some great advice.

This episode is a must-listen for cybersecurity professionals who want to learn more about the latest incident response and threat hunting tips, tools and techniques.
ABOUT ENDACE 
*****************
Endace (https://www.endace.com) is a world leader in high-performance packet capture solutions for cybersecurity, network and application performance. 

EndaceProbes are deployed on some of the world's largest, fastest and most critical networks. EndaceProbe models are available for on-premise, private cloud and public cloud deployments - delivering complete hybrid cloud visibility from a single pane-of-glass.

Endace’s open EndaceProbe Analytics appliances (https://www.endace.com/endaceprobe) can be deployed in on-premise locations and can also host third-party security and performance monitoring solutions while simultaneously recording a 100% accurate history of network activity.

In this episode of the @Endace, Packet Forensic Files, Michael Morris chats with Steve Fink, CTO and CISO of Secure Yeti and architect of the SOCs for Black Hat, RSA Conference, and Cisco Live, for an in-depth look at building effective Security Operations Centers (SOCs). 

With 26 years of cybersecurity experience, Fink shares strategies for leveraging packet data, integrating AI for automation, fostering vendor collaboration, and ensuring scalability and resilience. 

This expert-led discussion is a must-watch for cybersecurity professionals who want to learn how to optimize threat detection and avoid data swamps .

ABOUT ENDACE 
*****************
Endace (https://www.endace.com) is a world leader in high-performance packet capture solutions for cybersecurity, network and application performance. 

EndaceProbes are deployed on some of the world's largest, fastest and most critical networks. EndaceProbe models are available for on-premise, private cloud and public cloud deployments - delivering complete hybrid cloud visibility from a single pane-of-glass.

Endace’s open EndaceProbe Analytics appliances (https://www.endace.com/endaceprobe) can be deployed in on-premise locations and can also host third-party security and performance monitoring solutions while simultaneously recording a 100% accurate history of network activity.

CHAPTERS
01:24 Why is your nickname 'Fink' and not Steve?
02:17 What foundational, architectural principles are essential when designing a next-gen SOC?
05:43 How do you approach scalability & modularity in NOC/SOC design to accommodate future growth?
08:57 How have you evolved to integrate cloud native technology or hybrid environments into your SOC and what were the challenges?
12:04 What role does packet data and centralized logging play in your SOC design and how do you ensure efficient data ingestion and retrieval?
14:45 How do you architect SOC to support real time threat detection and response across geographically distributed global infrastructures?
17:55 What strategies do you use for disaster recovery?
20:35 How do you incorporate AI, ML and automation capabilities into your SOC architecture to enhance threat hunting?
23:02 What are your best practices for integrating third-party tools?

Why NDR is Evolving—And What Enterprises Should Demand From It
In this episode of  the @Endace Packet Forensic Files, Michael Morris is joined by Jack Chan, VP of Product and Field CTO at Fortinet, to unpack what makes a truly effective Network Detection and Response (NDR) solution. Jack shares his perspective on why visibility, historical context, and deep threat hunting capabilities matter more than flashy features.
They explore how AI and machine learning are transforming NDR—helping detect threats in encrypted traffic and reduce alert fatigue for SOC teams. Jack also talks about integrating NDR with firewalls and EDR tools to improve response decisions and streamline investigations.
Finally, Jack leaves us with a powerful reminder: security starts with people. From secure coding to user awareness, the human element is often the weakest link—and the best place to strengthen your defences.
ABOUT ENDACE 
*****************
Endace (https://www.endace.com) is a world leader in high-performance packet capture solutions for cybersecurity, network and application performance. 

EndaceProbes are deployed on some of the world's largest, fastest and most critical networks. EndaceProbe models are available for on-premise, private cloud and public cloud deployments - delivering complete hybrid cloud visibility from a 'single-pane-of-glass'.

Endace’s open EndaceProbe Analytics appliances (https://www.endace.com/endaceprobe) can be deployed in on-prem locations and can also host third-party security and performance monitoring solutions while simultaneously recording a 100% accurate history of network activity.