SOC-as-a-Service: The Five Must-Have Features
Euan Carswell
SOC Team Lead
With 32 per cent of UK organisations experiencing a cyberattack in 2022, it’s not surprising most businesses don’t have the internal resources to manage cybersecurity safely.
Organisations don’t have the workforce to handle the daily surge in threats, alerts, and attacks, so outsourcing to service providers is often the safest option, especially when managing labour-intensive but highly critical Security Operations Centres (SOC).
SOCs are one of the most essential functions of an organisation’s security defences but are also a heavy drain on resources. Their analysts investigate and act upon hundreds of alerts daily while tirelessly working to reduce risks and keep threats at bay. The hours are long, and the work is hard.
SOC analysts are placed in the critical position of identifying and preventing attacks before they occur, which places significant pressure on them both mentally and physically. This means they are often required to work 24/7, 365 days a year. But when thinking about a typical SME, very few have the capacity to manage such an enormous task.
Furthermore, SOC analysts at the coal face of threat activity must have expert knowledge of today’s threat landscape. They must understand every vulnerability and threat actor tactic to have the expertise and technical depth to guard attackers out of networks and implement defences to protect against adversaries. But, considering the digital skills shortage, this type of expertise is also challenging to come by for the average SME.
As a result of the requirements needed to run an efficient SOC, many organisations believe it is more sensible to outsource the function to SOC-as-a-Service providers. These SOC-as-a-Service providers are experts in cyber defences and attacker activity, allowing organisations to use their digital expertise without draining resources or putting pressure on in-house teams.
However, given that SOCs are first in line with an organisation’s defences, finding a provider with the skills and competence to meet today’s cyber challenges is essential. Organisations must ensure that when recruiting a SOC-as-a-Service partner, they offer a robust service to suit their needs and that their analysts have the expertise and skills to keep their assets safe in the ever-evolving threat landscape.
So, what are the top features organisations must look for in a SOC-as-a-Service provider to ensure they find a partner with the skills required to keep their business safe?
24/7 + 365 Days Coverage
Cybersecurity is a full-time job, so organisations must ensure their outsourced SOC is always on guard. Hackers don’t take holidays, and neither should a business’s cybersecurity. This means the SOC must always be on and have a function where analysts can be alerted to issues so they can be investigated before they escalate into breaches. The SOC-as-a-Service provider must offer always-on cover, and this must be agreed before contracts are signed.
Tooling
Compatibility with an organisation’s technology architecture and existing security tools is essential. This will allow the SOC to get up and running quickly without the need to rebuild systems and train in-house employees on new appliances and technology. The tooling must also be best-of-breed and capable of detecting advanced malware and threats as they evolve.
Collaborative Approach
Even when outsourcing, an organisation must always know what is happening within its cybersecurity. Has threat activity increased? Are any employees deemed a risk? The outsourced SOC must collaborate and communicate with the organisation regularly so they have a clear understanding of all security issues. The timescales of communication should be agreed on in advance, but monthly check-ins should ideally come as standard. At the same time, there must also be an agreed channel for communication in case of emergencies.
Business Understanding
Business has no one-size-fits-all – every organisation is different, and each has its crown jewels. The outsourced SOC must take time to understand its customers and know what is most valuable to them. By understanding the organisation, the SOC can offer a bespoke service to suit their specific needs while adapting and adjusting as the business grows. The SOC-as-a-Service provider must carry out this due diligence in the early stages of the relationship to build out the security program effectively.
Cyber Expertise
A good understanding of threat activity is undoubtedly the most crucial feature of an outsourced SOC. Analysts must possess an in-depth knowledge of threat actors, understand attacker techniques, and know which vulnerabilities must be patched as a priority. The outsourced SOC analysts must be experts in the field of cybersecurity – possessing the skills to think like a hacker and effectively defend against them.
Are you looking for an experienced and reliable Managed SOC provider? We are here to help. Contact us today.