Side-by-Side Remediation:
Enhancing Threat Response Efficiency
In the fast-paced world of DevOps, managing and fixing misconfigurations is a critical aspect of maintaining operational excellence. This case study explores the design and implementation of ARMO's Side-by-Side Remediation Feature. Tailored specifically for DevOps professionals, ARMO Platform enhances their ability to identify and address misconfigurations swiftly.
The Impact
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Time spent on remediation → Reduced by 60%, as analysts no longer needed to manually cross-reference data.
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User adoption → Increased engagement from security teams due to improved efficiency.
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Error reduction → Analysts reported fewer misinterpretations of security policies.
Team:
Product Manager
Frontend Developer
2 Backend Developers Security Researcher
Product Designer (me)
Duration:
3 months (Q1 2024)
Role:
Product Designer
Platform:
Kubernetes Security Dashboard (Web platform)
Company:
Assisted SBS Remediation
Assisted SBS Remediation
The Challenges & Goals
The Challenge
Before this feature, security analysts had to:
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Manually switch between multiple screens to compare misconfigurations.
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Rely on complex documentation to understand expected security policies.
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Risk misinterpretation due to the lack of a structured, side-by-side comparison.
The Goal
Our objective was to build a new remediation workflow that:
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Allowed direct, side-by-side comparison of misconfigurations and their resolutions.
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Provided contextual recommendations to guide analysts in fixing security issues.
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Enabled quick remediation actions to reduce time spent on security fixes.
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Integrated seamlessly into existing security processes without disrupting workflows.
Research & Requirements Gathering
To inform our design, I conducted:
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User Interviews → Spoke with security analysts to document pain points and workflow inefficiencies.
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Competitive Analysis → Evaluated how other platforms handle security misconfigurations.
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Usability Studies → Tested initial concepts with security professionals to refine functionality.
Key Findings:
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Reducing friction was essential—analysts wanted fewer clicks and easier navigation.
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Visual clarity was critical—clear highlights and contrast helped users spot differences quickly.
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Automation was highly valued—pre-populated recommendations saved time and reduced human error.
Stakeholder Alignment & Collaboration
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Worked closely with security teams to ensure the feature met real-world investigation needs.
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Partnered with engineers to define the best approach for integrating live security data.
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Presented prototypes to leadership to secure buy-in and align business objectives.
Working Process
Defining & Refining Requirements
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Mapped out the remediation workflow with security teams to identify key interaction points.
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Defined technical constraints with engineers to ensure real-time data processing feasibility.
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Prioritized features that maximized efficiency without compromising security accuracy.
Wireframing & Prototyping
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Explored multiple dual-pane layouts to optimize for quick comparison and decision-making.
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Created interactive prototypes to test how analysts interact with live remediation data.
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Iterated on designs based on usability test findings, refining navigation and workflows.
Iterative Design & Refinement
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Adjusted layout elements to enhance readability and usability.
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Implemented progressive disclosure to reduce cognitive overload.
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Added quick-action buttons for instant misconfiguration fixes.
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Improved navigation by making security recommendations more discoverable.
User Flow
User Flow
User Flow
The Design
The Side-by-Side Remediation design introduced a dual-panel layout that allowed analysts to investigate threats and take action within a single view. This was a completely new experience tailored to security workflows. Key innovations included:
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Dual-Pane Interface → Analysts can simultaneously view misconfigurations and remediation steps, eliminating the need to switch screens.
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Contextual Recommendations → Automated suggestions based on threat intelligence to assist in decision-making and guidance on the best remediation actions.
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Quick Action Buttons → One-click options allow analysts to resolve issues instantly.
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Live Updates → Changes sync across teams in real time, ensuring consistency.
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Customizable Layout → Users can adjust panel sizes to focus on the most relevant data.
Success Criteria
To measure the impact of this new feature, we tracked:
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Time spent on remediation → Reduced by 60%, as analysts no longer needed to manually cross-reference data.
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User adoption → Increased engagement from security teams due to improved efficiency.
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Error reduction → Analysts reported fewer misinterpretations of security policies.
Summery
By introducing Side-by-Side Remediation, we provided security analysts with a powerful, intuitive tool to quickly identify and resolve misconfigurations, ultimately strengthening cloud security posture and reducing response time.
This project reinforced the importance of:
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Stakeholder collaboration, ensuring alignment between security, engineering, and leadership.
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Iterative testing, refining the design based on real-world analyst feedback.
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Cognitive load management, creating a UI that simplifies complex decision-making.
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Seamless integration, designing a feature that fits naturally into existing security workflows.
Other Projects
Real-Time Detection Features to the CDR Dashboard
Attack Path
