A lot of industries can take advantage of security operations centre (SOC) services, especially those handling sensitive data or having regulatory compliance requirements. Most of them also face a high risk of cyberattacks. SOC services provide monitoring and detecting fraudulent activities, as well as analysing and responding to cybersecurity incidents within the organisation.
Typically, a SOC team is composed of skilled security analysts and engineers working together to keep the network and data safe from cyber threats. These types of services can be managed in-house or outsourced to a third-party provider.
Here’s why digital transformation is critical for catalysing Southeast Asia’s green transition
Types of SOC services
The services provided by SOC come in different types, each designed to the needs and resources of an organisation.
- In-house SOC services
This is a fully managed and operated SOC by the internal cybersecurity team of the company. This involves dedicated personnel working onsite within the premises of the organisation. The advantage of using this type of service is that you will have direct control over security operations that are designed to your specific needs and infrastructure. It also offers faster communication and decision-making, since the team is directly part of the organisation. The only downside is that it can be costly in terms of hiring staff and training them. It is also a resource-intensive endeavour due to the significant investment in technology and tools.
- Managed SOC services
This option is provided by a third-party managed security service provider or MSSP. They will be responsible for monitoring and managing the organisation’s security on its behalf. Managed SOC services are also advantageous in terms of cost compared to building an in-house SOC. You also have access to experienced security professionals and advanced technologies. However, you may have less control over the security operations, in comparison to in-house SOC. Likewise, there would be potential concerns with data privacy and sharing sensitive information with third-party providers. Nonetheless, it should be an ideal option for small to medium-sized businesses that require comprehensive security monitoring but don’t have resources to build their own SOC.
Organisations that benefit from managed SOC
- Small to medium-sized business
This will enable SMBs to maintain a strong cybersecurity posture without sacrificing their resources to build one on their own. This is suitable if you don’t have a dedicated security staff or tools required to continuously monitor cyber threats.
- Enterprise with limited cybersecurity expertise
The lack of specialised expertise in cybersecurity should be costly even for larger companies. That is because threats can evolve, which makes it crucial to have updated knowledge and skills within the internal setting. Managed SOC services offer specialised skills and knowledge from a team of experienced security professionals. They are capable of handling complex threat analysis and providing incident response so that the company can focus on its core operations.
- Startups and fast-growing companies
The services provided by managed SOC can be beneficial to these companies because they have the flexibility to scale security services in accordance with their needs. Thus, they don’t have to make huge upfront investments in their infrastructure and staff. Thus, they will be able to keep up with the increasing volume of data and potential threats, if they settle for this type of service.