The main difference between Agentic MDR and SOAR playbooks is who makes the security decisions. SOAR playbooks follow rules your team writes and maintains, while Agentic MDR uses AI analysts to choose investigative steps as evidence develops, with a person approving anything high-risk.
Both approaches have a place in cybersecurity. Scripted workflows are effective for predictable tasks, while AI analysts can investigate situations that need more context. Human oversight remains important whenever a security decision could affect business operations.
For SMEs and lean IT teams, the SOAR vs MDR question usually comes down to capacity: do you have people to build and maintain automation, or do you need a service that carries out the investigation for you?
What Are SOAR Playbooks?
A SOAR playbook is a predefined sequence of steps that a SOAR tool runs automatically when set conditions are met. SOAR stands for security orchestration, automation and response: technology that connects security tools and automates how alerts are handled.
For example, a security playbook might:
- Detect a file matching a known malicious hash.
- Confirm the match against an approved threat intelligence source.
- Quarantine the file using endpoint protection.
- Notify the IT administrator.
- Record the action in an incident log.
Each step follows an established process. Endpoint and email security products can also include built-in automation rules that work in a similar way.
The main advantage is consistency. When the same conditions occur, the system follows the same instructions. This makes playbooks useful for routine, well-understood security tasks.
Some SOAR vendors now add AI features to their platforms, often marketed as agentic SOAR. These are typically still tools your team configures and runs, rather than a managed service.
Common SOAR Playbook Examples
These SOAR use cases appear in most security teams. Each works well as a playbook up to a point, and each shows where an investigation needs more than a fixed sequence.
| Use case | What a typical playbook does | What Agentic MDR adds |
| Phishing email triage | Extracts links and attachments, checks their reputation and removes matching emails from other mailboxes | Checks whether anyone clicked, whether the account then signed in from somewhere new, and whether a forwarding rule was created |
| Malware containment | Quarantines a file with a known malicious hash and isolates the device | Investigates how the file arrived and whether other devices show the same behaviour |
| Suspicious sign-in | Forces a password reset after an impossible-travel alert | Connects the sign-in with MFA prompts, email activity and file access before recommending action |
| Threat intelligence alert | Blocks a new malicious IP address or domain at the firewall | Searches connected tools for earlier contact with the indicator |
Our guide to phishing triage for lean IT teams covers the first use case in more detail.
Where Do SOAR Playbooks Fall Short?
Predefined workflows work best when conditions are predictable. Cybersecurity investigations, however, often involve incomplete information or unusual combinations of events.
Consider an employee account that suddenly downloads multiple files after signing in from an unfamiliar location. A traditional rule might flag the login or the file activity separately. Understanding whether the events are related may require further investigation.
Playbooks can struggle when:
- An incident does not match an existing rule: New attack patterns may fall outside predefined conditions.
- Information is spread across different tools: A workflow may need information from identity, email and endpoint systems.
- Business context is missing: An unusual action might be legitimate for a particular employee.
- Playbooks require frequent updates: Changes to tools, permissions and threats create ongoing maintenance work.
For lean IT teams, maintaining increasingly complex workflows becomes another operational responsibility. This is one reason businesses experiencing security alert fatigue may struggle even after introducing automation.
What Makes Agentic MDR Different From a Playbook?
Agentic MDR uses AI analysts that evaluate the available evidence and decide which investigative step should follow. Instead of relying entirely on a fixed sequence, an AI analyst adjusts its investigation based on what it discovers.
For example, when investigating suspicious account activity, an AI analyst may:
- Review recent authentication events.
- Identify an unexpected login location.
- Check whether the account received a suspicious email.
- Examine related endpoint security events.
- Compare findings and assess the potential threat.
- Recommend an appropriate response.
The investigation develops as more information becomes available. AI analysts can also produce a written explanation of their findings, although the quality and reliability of that explanation must still be assessed.
This is still an emerging practice. In October 2026, the UK National Cyber Security Centre added an AI chapter to its research problem book, asking how organisations can re-design cyber defence workflows to maximise the benefits of agentic AI.
Our article on how Agentic MDR investigates security incidents explains this process through a practical example.
Agentic MDR vs SOAR Playbooks: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Capability | SOAR Playbooks | Agentic MDR |
| Decision-making | Follows predefined rules | Selects steps based on evidence and objectives |
| New situations | May require a new rule or playbook | Can adapt an investigation to unfamiliar activity |
| Who builds and maintains it | Your team (or a consultant) writes, tests and updates every playbook | The MDR provider; your team only sets the approval rules |
| Explainability | Rules and execution paths can be inspected | Reasoning and evidence require clear investigation records |
| Risk if incorrect | Incorrect rules can trigger inappropriate actions | Incorrect interpretations can produce unsuitable decisions |
| Best suited for | Repetitive, predictable tasks | Complex investigations with multiple signals |
Neither approach removes the need for effective security policies. SOAR playbooks offer predictable execution, while Agentic MDR provides more flexibility when investigations need additional context.
Which Security Tasks Should Be Scripted, AI-Investigated or Human-Led?
A practical security strategy separates tasks according to their complexity and potential business impact.
1. Fully Scripted Tasks
These involve predictable actions with clearly defined conditions. Examples include:
- Blocking a known malicious file hash using an approved security policy.
- Automatically tagging and routing routine security notifications.
These tasks suit conventional automation because the rules and expected outcomes are clear.
2. AI-Investigated Tasks With Human Approval
Some incidents require investigation across several systems before a response can be selected. Examples include:
- Investigating suspicious OAuth application consent that may expose business information.
- Examining unusual account activity before deciding whether to restrict access.
AI analysts can gather evidence, connect events and recommend action. When the response could disrupt business operations, an authorised person should review the findings before execution.
3. Human-Led Decisions
Certain decisions require business knowledge, legal considerations or direct management responsibility. Examples include:
- Disabling a director’s critical account when doing so could interrupt essential operations.
- Authorising a major production system shutdown during an active incident.
AI can support these decisions with evidence and recommendations, but final authority should remain with the appropriate people.
What Controls Should Agentic MDR Have?
Greater autonomy requires clear boundaries. Before enabling automated response, agree which actions AI analysts can take, when approval is needed and how decisions are recorded. Three safeguards matter most:
- Approval thresholds: Sensitive actions, such as disabling an account, need authorisation from a named person.
- Defined permissions: AI analysts can access only the tools and actions they need.
- Audit trails: Every investigation and response action is recorded.
HOPLONai uses Governance Gates to manage these controls. For more detail, see how Governance Gates support controlled autonomous threat response.
How Does HOPLONai Use Agentic MDR in Security Operations?
Agentic MDR (agentic managed detection and response) is a security service in which AI analysts monitor a business’s systems 24/7, investigate and connect alerts across its security tools, and take action to stop threats, with a person approving anything high-risk.
HOPLONai’s Agentic MDR service connects to the security tools you already use and adds AI analysts that support continuous monitoring, investigation and response. Governance Gates control which response actions run automatically and which need human approval.
A playbook protects the environment it was written for. HOPLONai works across customers: when any security tool catches a threat at one customer, HOPLONai hunts it down and removes it for every other customer, whatever vendor they run.
This lets growing businesses introduce AI-driven security operations without building and maintaining complex automation themselves.
For teams comparing security operating models, our guide to Agentic MDR vs AI SOC explains the differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Agentic MDR Replace SOAR?
Agentic MDR can reduce the need to build complex playbooks for investigations, but scripted automation remains useful for predictable tasks. Many organisations use both.
Is Agentic MDR Safe?
Agentic MDR can be used safely with the right safeguards: restricted permissions, human approval for high-risk actions and a full audit record. Its safety depends on the provider’s controls, configuration and ongoing oversight.
Do I Need a SOAR Tool to Use Agentic MDR?
No. Agentic MDR provides investigation and response as a managed service. What you need depends on the provider and the security tools you already use.
Can Agentic MDR Work With My Existing Playbooks?
Depending on the provider’s integrations, Agentic MDR can work alongside existing playbooks and policies. Confirm which playbooks are supported and how permissions are enforced.
What Can Agentic MDR Do That a Playbook Cannot?
It can choose investigative steps based on changing evidence, combine information from different tools and adapt to an unfamiliar situation. A conventional playbook follows a predetermined workflow.
Explore Agentic MDR With HOPLONai
SOAR playbooks and Agentic MDR can both reduce repetitive security work. The right choice depends on the complexity of your environment, the people you have and the level of control your organisation needs.
HOPLONai helps growing businesses connect their security tools, investigate threats and manage response actions through AI security analysts and human-approved safeguards.
Explore HOPLONai’s Agentic MDR service to see how AI-driven security operations could support your organisation.
