A guide to deploying a security operations center

High-speed internet, automation tools and other technology advancements have greatly improved business processes. The downside is that cybersecurity threats are getting more dangerous and more difficult to identify and subdue. Based on data from the 2018 Ponemon Institute Cost of a Data Breach Study, a company would typically take 196 days to detect a data breach, and more than a month to mitigate it.

Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) should emulate large enterprises and deploy a security operations center (SOC), a formal structure that can make the detection, containment, and prevention of cyber threats more efficient for your SMB.

Defining a Security Operations Center

By tradition, an SOC is a physical location within a firm that houses a team of information security experts who will analyze and monitor your enterprise's security systems and immediately react to security threats in order to protect your SMB from data breaches. SOC personnel usually consists of security analysts, management, and engineers (on occasion) who will work with your IT support staff and development teams.

SOCs have proven to be effective in detecting cyber threats, decreasing the possibility of data breaches, and guaranteeing the proper response when an incident occurs. Their teams isolate unusual activity on applications, networks, databases, and servers, and address security incidents as they take place.

How an SOC works

Your business has to formalize its cybersecurity strategy for the SOC team to work efficiently. The SOC team would also need to rely on a security information and event management (SIEM) system, which gathers events and logs from many organizational systems and security tools and produces security alerts, which the SOC team can examine and respond to.

Note that each SOC team member has a specific and significant role to play in this system:

• Security analyst – He or she is tasked with identifying possible security threats and addressing them. This individual is involved in the disaster recovery plan and implements the necessary security measures.
• Security engineer – Usually a hardware or software specialist, the security engineer is responsible for updating and maintaining the security systems and tools, as well as any documentation that other team members may need, including protocols.
• SOC manager – Responsible for the entire SOC team, the SOC manager directs all of its operations and responses to cybersecurity threats. He or she has to be in sync with the security strategy, and oversees the hiring and training of the engineers and analysts.
• Chief information security officer (CISO) – He or she organizes the operations, policies, and security-related strategies of the organization. This individual works closely with the CEO, providing reports and information to management regarding security issues.
• Director of incident response – This officer can be found in large enterprises, and is in charge of managing cybersecurity incidents as they happen, informing clients of the necessary security requirements if ever a major data breach occurs.

Perks of an SOC

• Decreased cybersecurity costs – An SOC will be a major investment, but your business will save money on the expenses from ad hoc security measures and damages from data breaches.
• Rapid analysis and threat intelligence – An SOC uses security tools and threat intelligence feeds to quickly detect cyber threats and understand security incidents to generate the best response.
• Incident response – An SOC works around the clock to identify and address cybersecurity incidents.

The experts at Complete Technology can assist your SMB with its cybersecurity and backup and recovery requirements. Our company redefines IT services for customers in Kansas City by letting them focus on their business, not IT distractions. Get in touch with us today and we’ll give you a free consultation to help you make the best decision.