The Automation Dilemma in Modern SOCs Every CISO I talk to faces the same problem: security alerts are growing exponentially, but budgets aren't. Traditional Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms promised relief through automated playbooks and workflow orchestration. Now generative AI automation is being positioned as the next evolution. Are they complementary, competitive, or something else entirely? Having worked with both traditional SOAR implementations and emerging Generative AI Automation solutions in enterprise security environments, I've developed strong opinions about where each fits—and where the industry is headed. This isn't an either-or decision, but understanding the trade-offs is critical for security architecture decisions. Traditional SOAR: Strengths and Limitations What SOAR Does Well: Traditional SOAR platforms excel at deterministic, high-velocity automation.…