Incident response has traditionally been the domain of large enterprises, resourced with dedicated forensic analysts, specialised tooling, and deep pockets. For smaller security teams and managed service providers (MSPs), replicating this capability in-house has often felt out of reach.
But that’s changing.
Thanks to advances in automation and agentic AI, it’s now possible to deliver end-to-end incident response, from evidence gathering to audit-ready reporting, without relying on external DFIR consultants or building a specialist team internally.
In this article, we outline how lean security teams can build forensic-grade capability without the overhead, and in many cases, with faster results.
1. Automate the Evidence Collection Process
The first step in any incident response is establishing a reliable account of what happened. Traditionally, this has involved manually sourcing logs, extracting endpoint data, and preserving key artefacts for investigation.
Automating this process not only improves response times but also ensures consistency and preserves chain of custody.
Platforms like Strand can operate agentless during Email compromise incidents, or deploy lightweight agents for infrastructure incidents, that:
- Collect endpoint and system logs at the point of alert
- Automate identification of threat actor, with threat-relevant, integrated, one-click remediation
- Maintain a clear, tamper-evident audit trail
This allows responders to begin rectification immediately, without delays caused by manual process.
2. Use Specialised AI to Orchestrate the Investigation
In a typical DFIR process, analysts are assigned to different stages of the investigation: one reconstructs the timeline, another works on containment, another compiles the report. While this model works in large security operations centres (SOCs), it’s not feasible for most internal teams or MSPs.
Agentic AI makes it possible to replicate this model in software.
Strand’s approach uses dedicated AI agents for each function:
- Timeline agent: reconstructs key events in sequence
- Root cause agent: identifies how the compromise occurred
- Containment agent: recommends targeted next actions, and automates remediation activities
- Reporting agent: prepares documentation as the investigation progresses
Each agent focuses on a discrete element of the response, enabling consistent, structured outcomes without specialist involvement.
3. Standardise and Automate Reporting
Post-incident reporting is a known bottleneck. Teams often struggle to compile technical findings into a clear and coherent document suitable for internal stakeholders, regulators, or insurers.
With AI-driven tooling, this can be automated. Reports can:
- Include detailed timelines, artefacts, and actions taken
- Align with recognised frameworks (e.g. NIST, ISO 27035)
- Be exported in formats suitable for leadership or audit purposes
This removes a significant operational burden and ensures professional documentation every time.
4. Enable Your Existing Team to Respond Autonomously
Perhaps the most significant shift is cultural. With the right platform, incident response no longer needs to be escalated or outsourced. Your existing team can manage incidents from start to finish, without burning out or relying on ad hoc processes.
Benefits include:
- Consistent, repeatable workflows
- Reduced reliance on third-party DFIR firms
- Faster resolution times with fewer handoffs
In practice, this means better outcomes for end clients, improved SLAs, and the ability to treat IR as a core competency, not an exception.
See It in Action
We’ve developed a Free Threat Intelligence Report that shows exactly how the platform identifies threats, and how it would respond if these materialised. We see this approach work in a typical MSP or internal IT setting.
If you’d like a walkthrough of how this works in a real-world example looking at your business or your customers under threat, you’re welcome to request a free Threat Intelligence Report. We’ll simply show you the insights, answer your questions, and share examples of how others are using it.
→ Request a Free Threat Intelligence Report
Final Thoughts
Incident response no longer has to be expensive, slow, or outsourced.
With the right tools, MSPs and internal security teams can offer a professional, structured response capability that scales, without building a dedicated DFIR function. It’s not just a more efficient model; it’s a more resilient one.
And in a world where incidents are no longer a question of if, but when, resilience matters.
