Overview

Move beyond AI hype to build scalable and effective security systems. Many AI initiatives in cybersecurity stall after initial demonstrations. Organizations often face a cycle of endless pilots, fragmented tools, and unverified outputs that generate more noise than actual solutions. ""Beyond the Pilot"" is a practical guide for security leaders and architects aiming to understand benefits and risks with implementing production-ready AI systems. The Gap Between Potential and Production: CISOs face significant pressure to adopt AI, yet security operations remain complex. Issues such as hallucinations, integration challenges, and analyst de-skilling can turn promising AI projects into liabilities. In environments where a ""confident mistake"" from AI can be catastrophic, sustainable architecture, rather than new tools alone, is essential for effective security. This book provides a flexible, system-focused framework for integrating AI into the SOC. Readers will advance from isolated chatbots to integrated architectures using three key building blocks: MCP (Model Context Protocol): Standardizes AI interactions with existing security stacks to reduce reliance on fragile, one-off integrations. RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation): Transforms static organizational knowledge into a dynamic, real-time security asset that supports every investigation. Agentic Workflows: Coordinate multi-step reasoning, enabling AI to manage complex tasks while maintaining human oversight. A Strategic Roadmap for the Modern SOC: The book guides readers through each stage of AI adoption: Foundation (Part I): Build a clear understanding of SecOps, define key terminology, and learn to critically assess vendor claims. Building Systems (Part II): Explore implementation details of MCP, RAG, and Agents, and learn integration strategies for effective combination. Governance, Risk and Sustaining (Part III): Address governance, integrations, vendor risks, and sustainability to support long-term success. The Decision Framework (Part IV): Gain a repeatable strategic approach for applying these principles to future security challenges. Who Should Read This Book? CISOs and VPs of Security: Seeking a strategic roadmap for sustainable and risk-aware AI adoption. Security Architects: Designing the next generation of automated defense and knowledge synthesis systems. SOC Managers and Practitioners: Seeking unified operational workflows that maintain technical rigor and resolve tool fragmentation. Why Trust This Guide? Written by a practitioner, not a theorist. Joe Schumacher (CISSP, GCFA) brings over 20 years of experience in incident command, digital forensics, and advisory roles. As founder of Focused Hunts, he specializes in the ""amplification model,"" using AI to enhance human expertise rather than replace it. Move beyond pilots. Start building. Continue the journey.

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