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Bad actors never take a break. They do not clock out at the end of the day. This means your cybersecurity efforts must always be active — and that is why a security operations center should be an important part of your overall cyber defense plan. There are different SOC models, and understanding the SOC foundation is important for making smart decisions about your strategy.

The SOC is a central command center. It includes tools and technologies that help your organization monitor and protect its network, analyzing and responding to security threats. The primary functions of the SOC include:

• 24/7/365 monitoring: An SOC platform will continually monitor your IT infrastructure, detecting suspicious activity and known exploits, and quickly launching an appropriate response.
• Triage and analysis: The SOC analyzes your log data, combining security information and event management (SIEM) technologies with human engineering oversight.
• Incident response: Trained SOC teams can respond to security incidents in real-time, engaging in containment, eradication, recovery and remediation operations. They will also engage in analyzing root causes to determine contributing factors, helping to prevent recurrences.
• Compliance management: This is also vital. The SOC platform helps ensure that all your systems, tools and processes follow data privacy rules.

The specific composition of your organization’s SOC will depend on the individual needs and resources of your business. You may, for example, maintain your SOC on-premises and staff it with internal personnel, or you may subscribe to a SOC-as-a-service solution. Another option could be a hybrid approach.

In-house SOC

An in-house, dedicated SOC will be built and managed entirely within your organization. This model gives you full control over security policies, procedures and data. You can also customize security protocols to meet your specific needs. An in-house approach also makes it easier to connect the SOC with your current IT systems and business processes.

However, doing things in-house also means that your initial setup and ongoing SOC operations can be more expensive since this model requires skilled workers and ongoing training. It can also be costly to expand operations to keep up with your company’s growth.

Managed SOC

In this initiative, your organization outsources the SOC program to a third-party provider that specializes in security operations. Companies that do not want to support in-house resources or expertise may favor this outsourced approach.

A managed SOC has lower upfront costs and other benefits, compared to an in-house approach. A managed approach also gives you access to a team of skilled security agents who can provide 24/7 monitoring and incident response services.

But this approach also means your organization loses some control over security operations and data. It limits your ability to customize security measures for your specific needs and, since you depend on a third-party provider for security management, you could end up in a costly partnership.

Hybrid SOC

A hybrid SOC solution can present a balanced, flexible and cost-effective approach to cybersecurity. It lets your company use its skills and outside help.

For example, you can have your own staff maintain security systems. At the same time, you can hire a security vendor for advanced analysis and threat hunting. This approach provides strong protection against cyber threats.

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Your in-house team has strong knowledge of the organization and can handle tasks that need this expertise. Meanwhile, the external provider brings their own skills, experience, and many resources. A hybrid model can let your organization streamline how it allocates resources for security, reducing overall costs.

The managed services provider can take care of routine monitoring and other tasks, freeing resources for your in-house team, who can then focus on important work, like incident response and assessing threats. However, managing a hybrid SOC can be complex. It requires clear communication and coordination between internal and external teams.

Regardless of whether you go for an in-house or a managed SOC, or a combination, you can choose between on-premises and virtual. Each option has its advantages.

An on-premises SOC houses security operations within a physical location, providing a centralized command center. This gives your company more control over security. But as your organization grows, you will have to pay to expand your physical infrastructure — and the upfront costs are high.

In contrast, a virtual SOC leverages cloud-based technologies, offering flexibility, accessibility, scalability and cost-effectiveness. This may be appealing if your teams are in different locations, or if you plan to outsource security operations.

Choosing the right SOC model for your business depends on several factors, including the size of your organization, your budget, security needs and available resources. A good starting point would be to evaluate your organization’s security needs, including risk profile and regulatory requirements.

Then consider your existing resources, such as budget, personnel and expertise. Regardless of whether you choose a managed or hybrid SOC, you should research and evaluate security providers carefully.

Find a SOC model that can grow with your organization, one that meets your changing needs and fits well with your current IT systems and processes. An experienced cyber security partner can help to tailor such a solution.

Carl Mazzanti is president of eMazzanti Technologies in Hoboken, providing IT consulting and cybersecurity services for businesses ranging from home offices to multinational corporations.