A Security Operations Center (SOC), also known as an Information Security Operations Center (ISOC), is a team of IT security professionals. They monitor an organization’s entire IT infrastructure around the clock, 24/7, to detect cybersecurity events in real time and respond promptly and effectively. The SOC is responsible for choosing, managing, and maintaining the organization’s cybersecurity technologies. Additionally, it consistently analyses threat data to enhance the overall security posture of the organization.

Operating an in-house Security Operations Center (SOC) comes with notable drawbacks, primarily in terms of cost and expertise. The expenses associated with running a 24/7 SOC, including wages for security analysts. Additionally, substantial investments in sophisticated technology are required, making it a costly endeavour. Finding and retaining trained experts poses a challenge, as high-quality IT professionals are in high demand. In New Zealand, where security resources are limited, staff turnover can be disruptive to business operations. Furthermore, the planning and building phase can be prolonged, adding to the time and resource investment needed for effective SOC implementation.

Outsourcing your Security Operations Center (SOC) offers a range of valuable advantages. First and foremost, it provides a solution for effective cost management, enabling access to an established SOC at a notably lower expense compared to establishing and maintaining an in-house counterpart. This approach also grants immediate access to the expertise of top IT and cybersecurity professionals, addressing the industry’s high demand for skilled personnel. Additionally, outsourcing facilitates scalability and flexibility, allowing organizations to tailor their coverage based on specific size, requirements, and budget constraints. Beyond cost and expertise, it simplifies the overall process by eliminating the complexities associated with setting up, staffing, running, and investing in an internal SOC.

SOC teams undertake various crucial functions to proactively prevent, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks. These functions encompass maintaining a comprehensive inventory of assets and security tools, continuously reducing the organization’s attack surface through activities like patching and configuration management and conducting thorough threat detection using advanced analytics solutions. Continuous monitoring of the entire IT environment is executed, utilizing tools like SIEM, SOAR, and XDR solutions, to identify abnormalities or suspicious behavior. SOC teams leverage threat intelligence derived from data analytics and external sources to understand attacker behavior and motives, aiding in swift threat detection. Log management, incident response, recovery and remediation efforts, root cause investigation, security refinement, and compliance management constitute essential tasks performed by the SOC. These multifaceted functions collectively fortify the organization’s cybersecurity posture and ensure resilience against evolving cyber threats.

Many organisations prefer external SOC partners over internal setups due to cost and challenges. When selecting an external partner, prioritize broad visibility, 24×7 coverage, expertise, strategic guidance, and continuous improvement. Small organizations may opt for a turnkey service, while larger ones enhance existing resources. The crucial aspect is collaborating with experts who understand your environment, providing tailored recommendations and ongoing guidance.