SOC in Cyber Security means security operation center which is used to monitor, prevent, identify, and respond to cyber threats. SOC teams create cyber security strategies and have to keep an eye on the company’s assets, including personal data, intellectual property, and business systems. They are the central point of collaboration that works as the defense mechanism against cyber-attacks.
How Does SOC Work?
The size of SOC teams depends on the size of the company or the type of industry. Most of the roles of the team members are the same in every industry. SOC is a specialized function, and companies employ people who can monitor the procedure and take the right steps to improve the security posture by analyzing, identifying, and creating strategies to deal with cybersecurity breaches. Here are some of the main functions of the SOC.
Detection and Prevention
Prevention of cybersecurity threats is crucial before the damage gets worse. SOC teams work around the clock to monitor suspicious activities so they can prevent damage right away. If something malicious is detected, they collect the relevant data to investigate the matter further.
Investigation
One of the most important phases of this process is investigation, where the SOC team assesses suspicious activities to examine the nature of threats. It helps the team to analyze the company network and all other operations to find the indicators of a security breach. Security analysts check the company’s systems to know how attacks unfold so they can respond properly before things get out of control. The soc analyst merges the information of the company’s network with the help of threat intelligence, which involves tactics and tools that attackers use, so it helps perform the triage effectively.
Response
After the investigation, SOC analysts will take the required steps to respond to the security incident. It includes the termination of harmful processes, isolation of endpoints, and deletion of infected files from the system. The team also works to recover the compromised data and restore systems so everything can start working again smoothly. It may also include restoring endpoints or integrating reliable backups that can deal with ransomware attacks.
Challenges that SOC Team Faces
SOC teams face different challenges in dealing with cybersecurity attacks, so they need to stay one step ahead of what attackers think to overcome these challenges. Here are some challenges that SOC analysts face.
Lack of Advanced Skills
It is hard for companies to find competent SOC team members, as they lack the advanced expertise and skills that are essential to identifying threats. It can lead to understaffed SOC teams, so companies must fill the skills gap to build a better defense mechanism against cyber-attacks.
Operational Overhead
Most companies use different disconnected security tools, which means team members need to convey the policies and alerts to other departments, which can increase the overall cost. Furthermore, it makes security operations complex and inefficient.
Dealing with Plenty of Alerts
When companies integrate new tools to detect threats, the quantity of alerts also increases. The cybersecurity teams have to deal with an overwhelming number of alerts that can lead to threat fatigue. Most alerts do not offer good intelligence, can drain the efforts and resources of team members, and can distract them from the actual incidents.
How to Deal with SOC Challenges
Finding actual security threats can be a time-consuming process, and SOC teams have to put together different pieces of information to learn about security incidents. Also, they have to deal with different monitoring solutions and keep an eye on the thousands of alerts. To deal with these challenges, companies need to incorporate the relevant tools and technologies that can help to increase the efficiency of security operations. Such tools have enhanced threat visibility and effective threat intelligence that adds real value to SOC operations and makes things easier for the team to ensure in-depth investigations with good results.
Security Operation Center Benefits
There are different benefits that security operations center offers to organizations that significantly impact their business growth.
Asset Protection
One of the main benefits that SOC offers is the protection of valuable resources and assets, which reduces the risk of data breaches. It also helps to protect critical systems and digital assets from theft and security incidents.
Saving Money
Investing in managed SOC services can keep you safe from major financial losses that can occur due to cyber-attacks and data losses. A one-time investment can keep you safe from financial damages due to security incidents, so it is better to invest in the right place to save your money for the future.
Threat Detection
With continuous monitoring of networks and systems, teams can identify and respond to cybersecurity threats quickly, which helps minimize potential damage and security breaches.
Keeping Business Operations on Track
Another benefit that this solution offers is business continuity, which is made possible by minimizing the impact of security incidents. It improves business productivity and ensures the smooth execution of business operations.
Better Risk Management and Incident Response
By assessing the security events, the experts detect the vulnerabilities in the company’s systems, applications, and networks so they can take the right measures accordingly. The SOC analysts also mitigate the risk of financial losses by responding to threats promptly to prevent business disruptions.
Regulatory Compliance
This solution helps businesses fulfill regulatory requirements and work as per industry standards by integrating reliable security measures and a detailed record of incidents and responses.
Keeping Trust of Customers
By showing commitment to the cybersecurity measures, SOC teams get the trust of customers and give them confidence that their valuable data is in safe hands, so they do not have to worry about anything.
Team Members of Security Operation Center
The SOC is the specialized department that deals with cybersecurity issues. It requires highly skilled individuals with technical expertise who can positively contribute to the success of the team and in detecting cybersecurity threats. Let’s find out about it.
SOC Manager
The SOC Manager makes sure everything runs smoothly and manages the entire team. They are in charge of managing resources, establishing security procedures, and communicating with upper management. Their main priorities are strategy development, process optimization, and making sure the security operation center is in line with company objectives.
Incident Responder
Responders to incidents deal with ongoing security breaches. To reduce damage, they oversee the investigation, neutralize the threat, and put recovery plans into action. These experts frequently collaborate closely with other SOC members to guarantee prompt and efficient cyberattacks reaction times.
Forensic Analyst
Security breaches are looked at by forensic analysts after they happen. They acquire information, examine hacked systems, and contribute to the understanding of the attack’s methodology. Their efforts are crucial for improving future security measures by helping the team learn from past instances.
Tools Used in Security Operation Center
The SOC team depends on different tools to analyze, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats. These tools are designed to identify the potential threats and flaws in the company’s systems, networks, and applications.
SIEM
SIEM system collect and examine network-wide security event data. They support SOC teams in promptly identifying any threats by offering real-time monitoring and alerting for suspicious activity.
Threat Intelligence Platforms
Threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) gather and examine external threat intelligence, providing SOC teams with up-to-date knowledge of attack methods, instruments, and patterns. The integration of these tools results in a strong defense system that empowers security operation center analyst to proactively identify and address threats.
Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability assessment help SOC teams prioritize patching and hardening activities by pointing out security holes in the network or system configurations that an attacker could exploit.
EDR
EDR solution offer deep visibility into potential threats on endpoints, including servers, workstations, and mobile devices. Malware, ransomware, and other sophisticated threats are detected and contained by them.