An SOC is a centralized security function within your organization. It encompasses people, processes, and technologies that serve to monitor your organization’s computing environment. A SOC also detects, prevents, analyzes, and responds to cybersecurity incidents.
SOC teams are usually staffed by engineers, analysts, and managers. They are responsible for analyzing and monitoring your organization’s security posture, and they work alongside incident response teams to address security issues quickly once they are discovered.
Traditionally, a SOC might have looked like an office in a company building that was staffed with security personnel and technology, all of which work together to perform a security function. But SOCs today are increasingly remote and virtual, relying on automated software, AI, and remote experts to protect a network.
An SOC at your organization would do the following:
1. Act as a central point for monitoring your company’s security posture
2. Identify, analyze, and prepare a response to threats
3. Prevent cyber attacks from impacting business continuity
4. Ensure fast recovery in the event of a loss of data
5. Provide insightful reporting on compliance and risk
6. Keep other sectors of the business informed about relevant cyber attacks
Many SOCs can also conduct incident management in the event of a breach. They can even conduct forensic investigations to determine the results of a breach or attack.