Security Operations Center (SOC) – A Worthful Investment for an Organization

Introduction

Modern innovations change the face of the modern digital world. Meanwhile, the risk of cyberattacks remains a disaster for every organization. A platform effectively uses humans, technology, and resources to secure organizational functions. It works continuously round the clock to eradicate and rectify all sorts of attacks. Organizations adopt such platform depending on their level of competency in providing security services to their customers. The common benefits of the Security Operations Center include threat detection, prevention, and control. This article discusses how a Security Operations Center is a valuable investment to protect from cyberattacks for any organization.

What is a Security Operations Center?

Security Operations Center, commonly referred to as SOC, is a medium to shield the organization from cyber threats. It continuously monitors the organizational function to detect security threats and respond immediately to recover from the attack. It employs tools, techniques, and professionals to gather the data across all organizational nodes. It helps to determine the organizational weaknesses and vulnerabilities to enhance the security features of the organization.

Types of Security Operations Center

Security Operations Center works continuously to maintain the security infrastructure of the organization. Depending upon the organization’s security needs, Gartner proposes six models of Security Operations Centre. The organization can adapt to these models based on its needs and resources.

Virtual Security Operations Center

It is a web-based tool that monitors the organization’s resources and alerts the employees in real-time. It is based on decentralized technology and process to secure organizational resources. The small organization uses this SOC to manage its security infrastructure effectively. With the latest automation tools, the Virtual Security Operations Center provides dedicated security services to its users.

Multi-Function Security Operations Center

It comprises the Security Operations Center and the network operations center. It focuses on security functions, IT procedures, compliance, and risk management.

The staff working in Multi-Function SOC has multi-tasking functions, including organizing the organizational security. Therefore, the staff can detect and respond to common cyber threats and attacks. However, they are not aware of the advanced attack and threats.

It is suitable for small organizations with low-security risks.

Co-managed Security Operations Center

It combines in-house and outsourced security services, which provide the flexibility of managing security services through expert professional advice and guidance.

The in-house security team is built based on skilled professionals and resource availability. The outsourced resources are taken based on the requirements of the organization. As a result, it produces effective results as it has both in-house and outsourced professionals.

Dedicated Security Operations Center

It is a centralized security infrastructure built to meet organizational security standards. It has its people, processes, and technology to monitor, analyze, respond to, and remediate incoming threats and vulnerabilities. In addition, it manages the entire organizational infrastructure round the clock to maintain the organization’s security.

The installation of the Dedicated Security Operations Center required adequate resources and funds. The effectiveness of this model applies to the larger organization.

Command Security Operations Center

It is an advanced model built by Global 2000 companies. It has a team of professionals working across the globe to provide security services. This Command security Operations uses advanced tools and technology, threat intelligence, and threat hunting to identify and eradicate the threats. It is suitable for providing advanced security services to defense and large telecom providers.

Managed Security Operations Center

It is the outsourced model to meet the security requirements of organizations with limited security budgets and security expertise. It includes the latest methodology to provide effective threat detection and response to cyberattacks. Depending upon the service taken by the organization, it provides alert notification or threat response. It is well suited for small organizations in building effective security.

Working Process of Security Operations Center

The SOC is responsible for the overall functioning of the organization. In addition, they help in framing effective working strategies to maintain secure organizational functions. The working of the Security Operations Center is as follows.

Data Security Process

• It identifies the organizational assets, including sensitive data, hardware, software, and other resources, to gather data for threat detection.
• The alerts are gathered from the security tools installed in the network nodes.
• The gathered data is analyzed to determine the traces of threats available in the network.
• The notification is raised to the employee to rectify the threat by taking remedial action.

Alerts Monitoring

• The intrusion detection tools alert the security analyst of the viruses and spyware entering the organizational network.
• The alerts are ranked to identify the threat alerts to eradicate threats at the doorsteps.

System Maintenance and Compliance Management

• The system of the organization is audited to learn its performance. In addition, the system is upgraded to the latest technology to prevent threat intrusion.
• The web application and technology used in the organization are updated regularly to maintain an efficient working process.
• The data is backed up at regular intervals to retain the organizational function at the time of the attack.
• It also monitors whether the process carried out by the organization follows the regulations and policies governed by the security agencies and government.

Thus, continuous monitoring, inspection, analysis, detection, and prevention of threats are done. Furthermore, all the working processes are integrated to work on the right process to achieve the organization’s security.

SOC Team

The SOC team consists of a group of training individuals performing different tasks to ensure the organization’s security. The size of the security team varies from a single analyst to a group of staff working round the clock. It is based on the size of the organization. The sole benefit of the Security Operations Center is achieved through coordinating artificial intelligence with human resources.

The team members perform five roles to eradicate the threats effectively.

1. Security Analyst

   Security Analysts form the first line of threat responders who continuously monitor and analyze the organizational functions. They report the detected threat to the Chief Information Security Officer and work with other team members to rectify the errors.

2. Security Engineers

   Security Engineers are skilled professionals trained to handle software and hardware-related issues. They update the security tools and services and maintain the entire security infrastructure. This team of professional handle protocols and documentation for the effective functioning of other team members.

3. SOC Manager

   The SOC Manager manages the entire function of the team. They perform hiring, skill development, protocol creation, and management of entire team-related issues. In addition, they coordinate the team to perform effective threat prevention and implementation of new security policies and services.

4. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

   The SOC is under the Chief Information Security Officer. He is responsible for framing and following the security policies, protocols, and procedures of the organization’s infrastructure. He directly communicates with upper management to initiate alerts and detailed threat reports. He acts as a bridge between the team and the management in coordinating the organization’s security activities.

5. Director of Incident Responses

   A Director of Incident Response manages the high-level threat activity. He helps the organization take the required steps and remedy the severe threat. This role is often used in large-sized organizations.

Security Operations Center Framework

The SOC framework is an architecture that combines security tools and techniques to deliver security to the organization. The basic framework combines a monitoring platform, analysis platform, and response to work together with threat intelligence to deliver security services. Additionally, it may include multiple platforms to deliver effective SOC services and capabilities.

An organization needs to produce an effective security service. A monitoring platform is used to inspect all the processes carried out throughout the organization. The abnormalities identified through the former platform are analyzed to find the threat traces. The result of the analysis is given out as an alert to the respective organization. The combination of the above platforms and threat intelligence provides a basic framework for a Security Operations Center.

The following are the five core principles of SOC to deliver an essential defense to the organization.

1. Monitoring

   Monitoring is the initial step done by the Security Operations Center. The organization’s systems, applications, software, and virtual services are closely monitored. The professional can either use the latest technical tools or monitor manually the functions carried out by the resources.

   If the process is not functioning as per the regulations, the automated tools notify the professionals with security alerts. The professional understands the processes taking place in the organization to determine the signs of attacks or threats in the network. The network traffic, system performance, authentication, and authorization of confidential resources are examined to determine suspicious activities.

2. Analysis

   The monitored abnormalities are analyzed to determine whether it is a threat or system error. The system alerts are correlated with the past threat pattern to determine the threat’s scope.

   The organization has to face a pool of threat alerts containing false and duplicate alerts. The alerts are prioritized, and the true alerts are identified to produce the required response. The human experience and artificial intelligence play an effective role in identifying the attacks.

3. Incident Response and Containment

   Incident Response and Containment are raised once the analyzed incident is determined as an attack. The alert is notified to the organizational personnel to isolate the affected resource to take remedial steps.

   Each cyberattack requires a different remedial approach to eradicate it from the network. First, the incident is prioritized by determining its type, scope, and severity. The affected system or application, or data centre is identified and isolated. Next, the root cause of the detected incident is identified by inspecting the people, processes, and policies.

   The incident response and containment are either made manually or automatically, depending upon the severity of the incident.

4. Auditing and Logging

   The team of SOC audit all the processes, systems, and services to determine their functioning. The entire network functions by security regulations, where the services and systems are updated and maintained regularly. And the entire auditing process is documented for future reference.

   Every alert analysis and incident response are recorded during the threat analysis process. The root cause of the alert initiated is determined, whether it is through malicious activity, system failure, or human error is noted. It helps in the prevention and remediation of future threat incidents.

5. Threat hunting

   Threat hunting or cyber threat hunting is a proactive investigation process in and around the organization network to determine the signs of attack.

   When the organizational network is functioning normally, the security analyst monitors the activities external to the organization. The connection and data entering the organization network are reviewed.

   The customer data and third-party activities associated with the network are analyzed for threat signature. The security analyst analyses all possible resources of the organization to determine the security events. It helps to identify the weak spots and systems that need up-gradation to secure from attacks. Thus, the possible event is identified, and one can take preventive measures to secure the organization.

A well-designed SOC provides centralized support and proactive protection against cyberattacks. Its basic functions is to monitor and analyse.

The remedial step followed by basic functions depends on whether the SOC is outsourced or internally built. The internally built SOC directly works upon the alerts to produce a remedial action. The outsourced SOC gives two types of services: notifying with alerts and responding to the alert with remedial measures.

Depending upon the service taken by the organization, the organization proceeds with the alerts, response, and remediation.

Importance of Security Operations Center

The Security Operations Center is built to shield the organizational network from all possible threats and vulnerabilities. Each Operations is carried out to secure the organization’s function and provide a threat-free working environment.

• The visibility of the entire organizational resources is obtained to monitor data flow in and around the organizational network. Thus, the possibility of data breaches occurring through any means can be identified and eradicated.
• The hardware, software, and virtual services are taken into the centralized network. Therefore, the compatibility and effectiveness of the physical devices, software, applications, and virtual components are audited regularly. Furthermore, the centralized network shields the threats from approaching through system failure, authentication errors, and other network component weaknesses.
• It also analyzes whether the organization meets security policies and regulations. It helps the organization meet the legal issues and reputational damage arising from the leakage of confidential resources.
• It provides all-around protection round the clock to effectively prevent threats. Thus, it provides effective organizational function and contributes to its growth.
• It helps to reduce the cost of system failure, cyberattacks, and other remediate solutions. Thus, effective investment in the Security Operations Centre pays tremendous growth to the organization.

Functions Performed by Security Operations Center

Security Operations Center is a primary source of organizational defence against organizational threats and vulnerabilities. Cyberattacks take a different form to interrupt the functionalities of the organization. Therefore, it is a nerve line to secure organizational functions.

• Proactive Inspection of Organizational Resources

  The SOC provides complete visibility of all organizational resources and services. Hence, it helps determine the existing, unwanted, and required assets. The new one can replace the older one. You can eliminate non-functional resources from the network. Thus, it helps to work on organizational resources efficiently.

  It monitors the organizational networks, servers, endpoints, databases, applications, and appliances round the clock to gain complete visibility of the organization. Thus, threats, cyberattacks, system failures, and human errors are initially detected to rectify their effects.

• Shielding and Eradication of Threats

  The organization must install new security tools to combat rising cyberattacks. The security tools provide limited features to shield against certain types of attacks. For example, the Security Operations Center protects against data breaches, virus attacks, spyware, and social engineering attacks. Hence, the organization remains safe and secure from all sorts of vulnerabilities.

  The latest technology and artificial intelligence tools identify threats and alert associates. It recognizes the abnormalities from the normal organizational function. It also determines the weak spots in the organizational network to strengthen the network infrastructure. Finally, it helps carry out regular system maintenance, updates, and backups. So, the network infrastructure is maintained to date to provide secure and efficient customer service.

  It eliminates the direct and indirect costs due to the effects of cyberattacks and system failures. It monitors system downtime and internet traffic to remediate abnormal situations. The privacy and security of the data enhance customer satisfaction to improve the business.

• Alert Notification and Compliance Management

  Security Operations Centre inspects each alert generated by the monitoring platform. It is ranked based on the past threat pattern recorded to prioritize the threat response. Then, the processed alerts are notified to the professional to proceed with the remedial actions. Thus, false and duplicate alerts are discarded from the network, and a quick solution is provided to the required ones.

  It monitors whether the function, policies, and services work per business standards and regulations. Thus, it helps the organization avoid compliance, legal, and privacy issues due to cyberattacks and data breaches.

• Defence Mechanism Against Threats

  Once the attack is confirmed, the analyst isolates the affected system to restore the organization’s functions. The professional takes remedial measures based on the type of attack. The affected system or the compromised database is identified to recover the data and process without disrupting the system’s functions.

  The system data is backed up at a regular period to retain the business functions during the time of attacks. Defensive action against threats includes responding to the threats, recovering the system and data from the attack, and remediating the resources.

• Record Creation and Root Cause Investigation

  The details of each event are documented for future reference. It helps frame security policies and develops strategies for the efficient working process.

  Each security incident is audited to identify the weak spots of the network. The clear root cause of the problem is analyzed and recorded to rectify the issues.

• Creation of Security Strategy

  Regular security refinement and improvement help in the effective functioning of the SOC. The valuable data obtained through the analysis and auditing process helps frame the organization’s security. It helps install new security tools and services to defend the organization from cyber-attacks.

Security Operations Center Model

It aims to provide continuous security across the organization. The adaptive security operations model utilizes people, processes, and technology to provide services to its customers.

The effective Operational model of the Security Operations Center includes the integration of security tools and solutions to the threat intelligence to process the daily requirement. The automation tools reduce the hours of threat identification, analysis, auditing, and response labor. In addition, the effective management of the above processes helps eradicate the threats entering the organizational network.

The size and requirement of the SOC vary on the organization and the type of function performed. However, the basic model includes discovery, analysis, triage, remediation, and response.

The SOC has a team of professionals working on the processes to deliver efficient services to the organization. Threat management starts with the discovery of all the organization’s data sources.

The visibility gained across the organization provide a pool of data to be investigated and analyzed for threats. Asset Discovery and Security Information Event Monitoring tools are used to gather and monitor data from organizational assets. The data is collected from the networks, servers, endpoints, databases, applications, and appliances to identify security incidents or compromises.

The obtained data is an input to the threat intelligence tool for analysis. Behavioral analytics, anomaly analytics, and deception technology are used to identify the threat pattern in the data. The analysis process helps filter out the threats’ true indicators from the false and duplicate ones. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics tools are used to prioritize threats. The prioritization process is based on the past attack history, severity of the attack, and available security tools.

The alert notification is raised to the professionals to work on the identified threats. Thus, the identified affected resource is quarantined to take remedial actions. The root cause of the identified attack is investigated. The details obtained are recorded to stay secured in the future.

The Security Operations Centre is not only responsible for external threat detection and prevention but also manages the organization.

The regulation and policies are properly followed to maintain the secure functioning of the organization. The complete visibility of the organizational system, function, and services is gained to enhance the governance of organizational resources. The system up-gradation, repair, and disposal are appropriately monitored to shut the door to incoming threats.

The Security Operations Center integrates all the services and uses automation tools to implement those services efficiently. Therefore, the right process for a suitable event increases its benefits.

Best Practices to Develop a Security Operations Center

It is necessary to develop a best SOC practice to enjoy its exclusive benefits. Therefore, the organization follows 5 effective steps in creating the best Security Operations Center that fits its requirements.

1. Planning

   Planning is the initial step in effectively implementing the Security Operations Center. The planning includes strategies to satisfy all the security needs of the organization.

   • Initially, the organization understands the resources that need to be protected. Then, the organization chooses the confidential resources security or the entire infrastructure security.
   • The cyber risk factors of the organizational infrastructure are calculated to determine the workforce and security tools needed to be installed.
   • The work nature of the organization decides whether the security service works round the clock or only during working hours.
   • The working SOC varies with the organization’s size and needs.

2. Organizational Visibility

   To implement the efficient SOC, the organization gains complete visibility of its assets and resources. As a result, the appropriate tools and services can be installed to gain complete knowledge of the assets associated with the organization.

   It includes hardware, software, virtual tools, services, and staffing. The knowledge gained through the research helps improve the organization’s Operational efficiency. In addition, it helps in utilizing the resources and updating the required ones to the latest technology.

3. Install Effective Security Tools

   Security tools help to shield against the incoming threats entering the system network. Each organization invests in the right security tools and services to effectively secure the organization.

   The potential investment in security tools saves the organization from losses due to cyberattacks. Some of the effective tools to protect against virus attacks include firewalls, antivirus software, SSL Certificate and antispyware software.

4. Create a Skilled Workforce

   As new technology is booming daily, the organization must update its process to the latest trends. The human resource trained with critical skills helps tackle all hazards entering the organization. It is achieved by hiring skilled professionals or training the team with the latest skills. It ensures effective organizational functions.

5. Choose the Right SOC Options

   The organization’s size, needs, and work vary from one another. Adopting the SOC increased the organization’s security against incoming threats.

   • The organization can choose a single security analyst in the in-house Security Operations Center.
   • It can hire trained professionals with the latest trends and technology to work round the clock.
   • It can outsource the security function to a managed security service provider to manage the security functions.
   • It removes the difficulty in hiring a skilled professional and choosing the right security tools.

   The following are the different SOC options for the organization to acquire its capabilities.
   

6. Internal Security Operations Center

   It is suitable for a larger organization capable of adapting its tools and services for detecting threats.

   It develops an infrastructure that comprises an efficient skill force to work all round the clock to tackle the problem. The organization’s complete function is achieved by gaining complete visibility and governance. The alerts are initiated within the organization, and the response is carried out to take remedial action. The right investment in adequate tools and services provides an efficient Security Operations Center.

7. Managed SOC, MSSP, and MDR

   Some organizations cannot afford the expenses of building an effective Security Operations Center. In addition, the lack of a skilled workforce and knowledge affects small organizations from building their SOC. To tackle the above challenges, you can outsource the SOC to experience the benefits.

   The Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) consists of skilled professionals and proficient tools to monitor the organizational function continuously. Depending upon the necessity of the organization, it chooses to take alerts and work on them or outsourced SOC work to respond to the alert. The incident response is also initiated when the analyzed alert is an attack. The alert is notified directly to the organization to take remedial measures and tackle the threats.

8. Hybrid-Small Internal and Managed SOC

   Hybrid Security Operations Center is a combination of both internal and outsourced SOC. The organization uses expert knowledge to put forth remedial actions against prevailing threats. The organization also contains a group of analysts to perform relevant security tasks. The medium-sized organization can follow this Hybrid SOC to gain the benefits of the SOC.

Complete visibility and governance are obtained to report the emergency or alerts directly to the organization. The organization concentrates on the business outcome from the benefits of the SOC.

Tools Used in Security Operations Center

Data breaches are one of the serious cyberattacks encountered by organizations. An organization encounters financial and reputation loss due to the leakage of sensitive customer data. The sensitive data and confidential files are recognized to protect them from cyber-criminals. The sensitive information database is closely monitored to determine any malware or spyware to leak sensitive data.

1. Asset Discovery

   Asset Discovery is the automation process that identifies, catalogues, and monitors organizational assets. The organizational asset includes hardware, software, and external information systems. The physical devices and systems that are connected to the organizational devices, cloud-based components, authorized, and unauthorized software

   Asset Discovery uses network scanners to discover all the components present in the network to create a complete record. It helps to identify the traces of the vulnerability present in the network. It also updates the record with the new components introduced in the network. Thus, complete visibility of the organizational assets is obtained to utilize and upgrade the resources efficiently and securely.

2. Security Information and Event Monitoring (SIEM)

   Security Information and Event Monitoring is software that collects and analyzes data from organizational network infrastructure to detect potential vulnerabilities and threats.

   First, it obtains data from the organizational network. Second, it compares the resource’s wellness to detect network abnormalities. Third, the collected information is processed and compared with the previous threat records available in the database. Finally, it initiates alerts based on recorded threats’ behavioral patterns.

3. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

   Endpoint devices are the physical system and devices connected to the organizational network. They include laptops, desktops, mobile phones, servers, virtual environments, and entry points to cyber threats and attacks.

   Using endpoint security tools provides timely detection and recovery of the organizational network from cyberattacks. It ensures that the organizational network data is secure and free from threats.

   Some endpoint security services provided include antivirus, email filtering, web filtering, and firewall services. Endpoint Detection and Response tools included in the Security Operations Center identify and alert the vulnerabilities entering through these endpoints, providing secure functions.

4. Intrusion Detection System (IDS)/ Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

   An intrusion Detection/ Prevention System is a reactive and proactive means of securing the organizational network from cyber vulnerabilities and social engineering attacks.

   The Security Operations Center uses these systems to defend and eliminate the threats and vulnerabilities in the network. The former detects the signs of vulnerabilities in the network and responds immediately to reduce the severity of the threats.

   It monitors the system files, unauthorized users accessing the network, and security policy violations and initiates alerts based on the attack history available in its database. It is also used to defend against ongoing attacks on the network. The latter scans the network traffic to block malicious requests from the network. It uses web application firewalls and traffic filtering solutions to defend against unauthorized network packets. It also alerts the security professional about the identified threat signature. It is used to defend the organizational network against incoming attacks.

5. Vulnerability Assessment

   Vulnerability assessment is the process of detecting the weak spots of the organizational network. For example, it helps identify SQL Injections, insecure system settings, and unauthorized user permissions.

   It uses specialized scanners to monitor servers, databases, applications, and networks for vulnerabilities. When a potential threat is detected, the root cause is determined through an analysis process.

   In addition, it provides the severity of the vulnerability present in the network. Thus, the security analyst initiates remedial efforts to secure the network. It updates the system configuration and introduces new security procedures to work effectively against detected weak spots.

   The vulnerability assessment process is carried out at regular intervals to ensure the secure functioning of the organization.

Benefits of Security Operations Center

Security Operations Center works to defend against internal and external vulnerabilities approaching the organization. It also helps in maintaining and working on business functions. The benefits of the SOC start from defense and go through effective organizational strategies.

Data Security

Data security is important in the effective functioning of any business. Data Breaches result in severe losses to the organization by leaking sensitive customer data and personal and organizational assets.

Security Operations Center proactively secures confidential resources and monitors the actions using these sensitive resources. Hence, the data breach or any attack on these resources is detected, and remedial measures are taken in real-time.

Organizational Security

The SOC helps maintain the security of the organization. The hardware, software, and virtual environment related to the organization are continuously monitored to detect abnormalities, spyware, and threats.

In addition, the SOC provides complete protection round the clock over the year. Hence, the signs of threats are detected, analyzed, and eradicated to secure organizational functions.

Increases Organizational Reputation

The more secure the organization, the more customers are attracted to its services. You can gain Customer satisfaction by improving their data’s security, availability, and confidentiality. In addition, it helps improve the business reputation and growth of the organization among its competitors.

The SOC provides continuous threat detection, prevention, and response through effective monitoring and analysis. Hence, the organization has less stress on cyber-attacks and concentrates on other growth factors.

Increases the profit of the organization

The installation of the Security Operations Center works effectively to detect and respond to cyber-attacks. The effects caused by cyber-attacks bring severe loss to the organization. The unknown threat in the network causes potential damage to the systems and organizational reputation.

The right investment in SOC enhances the security features eradicating the cost through breaches, digital forensics and incident response, legal counsel, and reputation damage. It enhances the growth of the business by gaining more profit through effective functioning.

Educate the Employees Through Security Training

The SOC team coordinates all the organization’s functions to secure the organization effectively. Hence, the analyzed alerts are communicated to the respective teams to work against the detected threats.

Security awareness programs educate employees, clients, and third-party contractors to function proactively during threat detection. The new security policies and services are communicated to other teams in the organization to mitigate the threats. The steps to be followed during security alerts are communicated to increase the response against the threats.

Helps in Effective Organizational Functions

The SOC coordinates all the sectors of the organization. They include systems, software, application, virtual system, and services. Which helps maintain the organizational systems, update the latest technology and provide regular resource backup.

It monitors the network traffic and prevents system downtime. It monitors whether the organizational functions and policies follow the rules and regulations. It prevents different groups from working in duplicating tasks of the same security incidents. Hence, it contributes to the effective functioning of the organization.

Challenges in Adaptation of Security Operations Center

The organization with the Security Operations Center enjoys various benefits in implementing the right strategies against threats. It also provides some challenges in implementing and maintaining to experience the complete effectiveness of its function.

Its benefits are achieved by choosing the right people with the right resources and processes. The lack of any of these results in poor functioning of the Security Operations Center. Some of the challenges faced by the organization include,

Lack of Skilled Professional

The Security Operations Center requires expert professionals in the latest technology, cybersecurity tools, and services. Therefore, the organization hires skilled personnel or trains its workforce.

However, the rapid organizational infrastructure and technology shifts made it difficult for organizations to hire skilled professionals.

Lack of Adequate Tools and Services

The SOC operates round the clock to monitor and detect threats and vulnerabilities. The repetitive tasks and workloads may cause human errors in handling cyberattacks.

The installation of the right tools and services improves the efficiency of the inspection and detection process. Adapting the threat intelligence and automation will increase the overall efficiency of the Security Operations Center.

The automation tools continuously monitor the organization’s function. The abnormalities in the process are immediately notified to the security professionals. In some instances, remedial measures are taken by automated tools.

Poor Analysis and Filtering

Cyber threats are always on the doorsteps of any organization. The alerts are initiated to every suspect detected by the system.

Depending upon the size and function performed by the organization, there may require the latest analysis and filtering tools to prioritize the alerts.

The absence of the right analysis and filtering tools results in the analyst handling a pool of alerts simultaneously. It causes a significant problem in identifying and eradicating the true alerts from the duplicate ones.

Poor Budget Allocation

The organization should allocate a reasonable budget to undertake functions in the SOC. A detailed study of the functions and necessity of the SOC is made to allocate the budget.

The management monitors the their performance and contribution to uplifting the organization. If the organization does not allocate appropriate resources, it fails to function effectively with the latest threats. It significantly affects the quality and function of the organization. It also experiences loss due to the incoming threats and their ill effects.

Hence, the right budget allocation is necessary for running a successful Security Operations Center.

Lack of Knowledge About the System Environment

People with sound technical knowledge of security tools and services can fail to respond the alerts and threats. It is due to poor knowledge about the protected system environment.

As a result, the increasing number of false positive and negative responses can flood the system. On the other hand, the professional with the right organizational knowledge can choose the required alert and filter out the false ones.

Hence, the right knowledge and technical skills are necessary for working in the SOC.

Process Latency

Process Latency is the organization’s critical challenge in implementing the Security Operations Center. Process Latency is the delay between the user’s action and the application response in handling the threats.

The delay may be due to processes, system environment, and human resources. The tools and services in the SOC need to adapt to changing system environment to meet the latest trends.

The professional must understand the process required to work in the new system environment. The lag in the above criteria results in process latency in the SOC, resulting in slow and failed responses to the threats and vulnerabilities.

Complex Framework

The installation requires time and resources. The benefits of SOC are obtained through constant maintenance and up-gradation of the tools and technology.

The Security Operations Center works continuously to determine the signature of threats and vulnerabilities. It works with many alerts to determine the attacks and their severity. The organization requires true skill and advanced techniques to handle the huge volume of alerts and complex SOC framework.

Conclusion

Security Operations Center changed the security team to a unified workforce contributing services to benefit the entire organization. Many organizations are benefitted while the adaptation of the SOC is critical in securing organizational functions and services to provide effective services to its customers.

It secures the business function and improves the organization’s growth. It increases the business reputation and customer satisfaction to help the organization reach a higher level. The challenges in the skill force are balanced by the latest security tools to provide incident threat detection and response.