SOC – What the Security Operations Center is and why your company needs it

The purpose of a Security Operations Center is to prevent, analyze and ensure cyber security both in public and private companies. Nowadays, the world has changed due to the computerization of all companies, services and public administrations.

We live in a digital environment, in which we resort to online sales and data capture systems. Who has never shopped online? Who has never viewed his details of registered in a public online service? It is crucial for companies to rely on a computer security and protection service, such as SOC services, since a cyber attack could cause a catastrophic massive data theft.

What is the SOC or Security Operations Center?

The analogical world has given in to the digital world, which has brought great advantages and breakthroughs. Unfortunately, it has also prepared the ground for dangers such as cyber attacks. Information is power; we know that this statement is true in this information era in which we all live –including hackers-. This is why they launch cyber attacks or hack private and public companies.

Hence, the emergence of SOC services or Security Operations Center. Given the threat posed by cyber attacks, both public and private organizations had to take measures in order to protect their IT systems. Up to date anti-virus systems and basic measures to prevent unauthorized people from breaking into the system are no longer enough, since nowadays many cybercriminals know how to bypass them.

A SOC or Security Operations Center is formed by a technical human team which constitutes the core of IT security in a given company. Their responsibilities not only include defending the company against potential cyber attacks, but also to prevent and monitor any suspicious activity on the net.

These teams specialized in cyber security are highly qualified and have the necessary tools and software in order to prevent and respond to any attack. They also investigate possible anomalies related to the company which could eventually turn into future attacks, and perform thorough analyses in order to look for any security breach so as to correct it before it causes any severe consequence.

Differences between an in-house Security Operations Center and an external one

As we have seen, a Security Operations Center is a team of experts in the different stages of cyber security who also have the necessary tools in order to undertake the security duties of the company.

It can be an in-house team or an external one. What is the main difference? An in-house SOC is a team who belongs to the company; it is on the payroll and has its own department. An external SOC is an outsourced service, which means that that department is managed by an external company exclusively specialized in cyber security.

Regarding in-house SOC services, they imply having that team within your organization, which means that the Human Resources department will have to recruit it. Also, the company will have to invest in technology and tools so that this human team can carry out its duties. These services are more appropriate for large companies who envision long-term security, given that it involves a huge investment both in terms of time and money. The advantage is that the team will be within the company itself, as a part of it, but it has a major shortcoming; it is very difficult to integrate a whole team of experts.

On the other hand, we find external Security Operations Centers, which is the most widely used alternative in the corporate world. When this service or department is outsourced, the advantage is that it can start working immediately. Also, the team is formed by experts in different areas, which ensures effectiveness.

There are multiple external SOC services, with several different fees and security plans suitable for all kinds of corporations, from SMEs to public administrations. This means that they can meet your company’s needs and devote to it all the effort you deem necessary. The only disadvantage is that they are not integrated within the company and therefore they do not know how it works in detail, although it is not a great shortcoming, since they will get more and more involved with it as time goes by and they will get to know the sector more deeply.

What kinds of companies need a Security Operations Center?

Now that you are familiar with the SOC, you must be wondering: should my company have a Security Operations Center? Before answering this question, pose the following ones; does my company work online? Do I have ecommerce? Do I work with the customer’s personal data? Do I store private information, or am I a public service?

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then it is advisable for you to contract SOC services for your company. As we mentioned before, we live in the information era, the net era, and everything is on the net. If you want your customers to shop online, you must offer them security. And if you are a public service or administration, you do not want the personal data to get leaked or misused.

It not only a question of your customer’s protection anymore, but that of your employees and your company itself: there are private and confidential data to which non-authorized people from outside your company should not have access. Therefore, whether you own a large or small, public or private company, you should consider the implantation of a Security Operations Center.

Remember that SOC services not only try to defend your business when it is the victim of a cyber attack, but they also focus on preventing and analyzing any possible security breach.

What benefits and advantages does a Security Operations Center offer?

We have summarized that the aim of SOC services is to defend you against attacks and prevent and monitor any suspicious activity. However, let’s delve a bit more into the advantages of having a Security Operations Center at your disposal.

In order to better understand the advantages of integrating a SOC into your company, let’s analyze the services or stages they offer: prevention, analysis, defense and implementation of improvements.

Threats and attacks prevention

It is a proactive approach against potential threats, in other words, anticipating potential problems. This stage involves actions such as potential security breaches analysis. It can also include an early threat detection system, in other words, anticipating the attack.

Analysis and monitoring

This stage involves an in-depth analysis of issues, as well as monitoring the different security systems in your company. It includes the maintenance and updating or these security items. It is a control stage.

Defense against cyber attacks

This stage involves taking action. Has your company undergone a cyber attack? The minute it is detected, the SOC starts acting in defense of your company so that the attack is not successful. Also, it performs an evaluation of the attack and how it took place.

Implementation of improvements

It involves gathering all the information obtained during the previous stages and suggesting a possible solution to potential problems. After performing a detailed advisory service, some improvements regarding corporate security are suggested.

Conclusions about the Security Operations Centers

We could say that contracting a Security Operations Center is like covering it with a safety shield. Imagine having a full team of experts at your disposal, with tools and advanced software in order to detect threats or possible issues.

And not only that; this team will also be ready to suggest solutions and to act in case there is a cyber attack. Thus, it is as if your company had an armored safety shield on the net. It could even result in security policies and protocols, in other words, a guide to know what to do in case a given situation happens.

Nowadays, having an IT department who undertakes several tasks – cyber security among them- is no longer enough. It is necessary to have a department or area exclusively devoted to monitoring and analyzing all the activity related to IT security. Having an in-house or an external SOC will depend on your company and its needs.

The aim is to avoid headaches caused by vulnerability and attacks. The last thing that a company’s CEO wants is to receive an attack and not to be able to respond, or not to know how to. He would fail the company, the employees and the clients. If that happened, it would generate a wave of distrust for the company and everything you have built up to now would look vulnerable.

 

Finally, our SOC service gives you full visibility in real time of security threats that could affect your technological infrastructure in real time. This way, you will be able to troubleshoot them quickly and easily. What are you waiting for?

Advance your detection of threats, incident response rate, and the management of regulatory compliance with our Security Operations Centre services.