Eightcap unveils AI SOC to cut cyber costs for small firms by 80%

Eightcap has launched Eightswarm, an agentic AI Security Operations Centre (SOC) designed to provide rapid and cost-effective cyber threat detection for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

The security platform, which is powered by AWS, detects cyber security anomalies in under 50 seconds, a significant improvement on the industry benchmark of 15 minutes. Eightcap aims to address increasing challenges posed by the rise in cyber threats without requiring businesses to expand their security teams or rely on high-cost managed services providers.

AI-driven defence

Eightswarm utilises embedded intelligent agents to deliver continuous monitoring, fast response, and real-time remediation at a fraction of the typical costs associated with traditional SOC solutions. According to Eightcap, the new solution can reduce SOC-related costs by up to 80%.

AWS commented on Eightcap's approach to embedding intelligent agents within security operations, stating that the company is "among the first to operationalise Agentic security, setting a precedent for what intelligent security operations can truly become".

AWS also noted that "As security environments grow more complex, traditional SOCs respond by hiring. Eightcap took a different path. By embedding intelligent agents into core workflows, the Agentic SOC reduces the need for manual analysis at scale. The result is a team that grows in capability, not size."

With increased complexity in cyber security environments, many businesses have needed to add to their security staff, which can significantly drive up operational costs. Eightcap's model seeks to minimise staffing overheads through automation, offering a solution for organisations that do not have, or cannot maintain, a dedicated security operations team.

Market context

The launch occurs against the backdrop of accelerating convergence between cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Industry analysts project the global SOC market will grow from USD $44.2 billion in 2024 to USD $152.6 billion by 2037. Drivers of this trend include the need for scalable and persistent security measures to address increasingly sophisticated and persistent threats.

Nick Harman, Chief Information Security Officer at Eightcap, described the evolving threat landscape: "Security can't rely on humans alone anymore. We needed something faster, something that could understand what's happening and act immediately. A new kind of threat is emerging - agentic cyber attacks. The speed and adaptability of AI benefits bad actors just as much as defenders. We'll need to fight agents with agents, so we built a SOC that protects, reasons, and responds."

Key features and access

Bryn Newell, Chief Information Officer at Eightcap, commented on the usability and potential impact for SMEs. "We set out to build a system smart enough to handle threats in real time - and simple enough for any business to use without the need for a dedicated security team. The results have been transformative. We've proven that smaller companies don't need to choose between cost and capability. Now, they can have both."

The Eightswarm solution is specifically designed to benefit smaller businesses by providing:

• Sub-minute detection and response times
• Significant reduction in false positives through real-time pattern recognition
• No requirement for shift work or additional staff, thanks to autonomous triage and remediation
• Intelligent scale for SMEs and lean teams without added complexity

Eightcap stated that Eightswarm will be available later in the year, utilising a freemium model. This approach will allow businesses to trial the security platform alongside their existing security tools before making a commitment to fully implement the service.

The system is intended for SMEs seeking to modernise their security posture without incurring substantial additional costs, with a focus on efficiency and accessibility for organisations with limited resources.