Aided by major investments in machine learning (ML) technologies, automation applications in cybersecurity are shifting rapidly due to the proliferation and magnitude of cyber threats in enterprise, industrial, and governmental systems. Automation is also seen, however, as a double-edged sword, especially when it comes to critical functions like incident response or SOC operations. This report examines current and emerging automation applications like security alert streamlining and system optimization; investigates veiled challenges like interoperability, network visibility, and encryption; and provides guidance for organizations aiming to make use of autonomous security systems.