Cetas Blog Post

How to Build a Security Operations Center on a Budget

November 20, 2022

The term security operations center SOC refers to a facility that serves as the central command center for information technology security activities.

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Introduction

Companies invest a significant amount of money into cybersecurity nowadays. But they need an overarching plan to get the most out of their investment in cybersecurity.

Building an efficient Security Operations Center SOC is the most cutting-edge strategy currently available.

This article is for you to help you increase your company's profitability while maintaining the confidentiality of the customer information you manage since both goals can be accomplished simultaneously.

What exactly is a SOC?

The term "security operations center SOC" refers to a facility that serves as the "central command center" for information technology security activities.

A team of cyber security experts utilizes cutting-edge detection technologies to detect, log, and prevent cyber intrusions.

The analysts use a process playbook that outlines the procedures they need to follow to keep their business safe to carry out their tasks.

SOCs have been successfully adopted by many big firms, particularly those companies that deal with sensitive data such as personally identifiable information.

These typically consist of financial and retail companies and those working with governments and organizations highly concerned about cybersecurity and looking to digitize services and use big data.

In addition, this category also includes those working with companies that are looking to use big data.

An increasing number of midsize businesses follow this trend, most of whom outsource their Security Operations Center SOC to reduce operating expenses.

Managed security service providers are businesses that make their cyber protection services available on an outsourced basis.

When an organization has hundreds of security technologies running on its network but needs help making sense of all the data these tools provide, it will often build a SOC.

Large businesses generally have products from forty to sixty different security suppliers, ranging from endpoint protection and intrusion detection systems to firewalls and scanning tools.

These solutions can be found in a variety of different categories.

Each security product can produce vast amounts of data on behavior on a network and any potentially malicious vulnerabilities.

Objectives of a SOC

One of the defining characteristics of a Security Operations Center is that it is geared toward enhancing businesses' cybersecurity.

The following is a list of its primary purposes:

  • Monitor an organization's information and communication systems to identify any dangers lurking in the organization's day-to-day operations and procedures.

  • Conduct a threat or attack analysis to learn about new technologies and cybercriminals to use and design relevant defensive mechanisms.

  • Restore broken hardware or retrieve data deleted from an attack by malicious software or a hacker.

  • Establish the right procedures so the company can react more rapidly and effectively to any assault, and establish these processes as soon as possible.

Why Do You Need SOC for Your Company

The fact that a SOC does more than only detect and respond to security problems is the primary benefit offered by such a facility.

Hunting for potential dangers is essential to a security analyst's work.

They want to compile a list of possible dangers in collaboration with providers of cybersecurity services.

In addition, they can collaborate with Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTS), organizations that cover an entire industry and investigate security concerns.

The objective is to compile data on what are known as indicators of compromise, which are another name for cyber risks, and to provide analysts the ability to compare the challenges they face with those faced by other businesses operating in the same industry.

Principal Responsibilities of the SOC

Any Cybersecurity Operations Center worth its salt will devise a methodology and a strategy consisting of a core set of operations to accomplish the goals it has set for itself.

Definition of Available Assets

To begin, every SOC worth it's salt must have a solid understanding of the tools at its disposal to defend against cyber-attacks and cyber threats.

SOC's members need to comprehensively understand these technologies and determine whether or not the company needs more resources to maximize cybersecurity.

Task Monitoring

The company's actions are under continual surveillance by the Security Operations Centers, intending to identify potential dangers at an early stage so that appropriate action can be taken to remove the risks and prevent similar ones in the future.

Threat Classification

The SOC generates a database it gets warnings in which the various risks are categorized according to the sort of danger they are, the level of harm they pose, or the effective measures that can be used to eradicate them.

A document containing a significant quantity of data that will prove beneficial in the future can be produced in this manner.

Defensive optimization

Implementing cybersecurity measures that minimize vulnerabilities and prevent cybercriminals from finding security gaps requires ongoing monitoring of tasks and analysis and classification of alerts and threats.

This is done to achieve the goal of implementing cybersecurity measures.

Check and follow up

On the other hand, a Security Operations Center, often known as a SOC, ensures that an organization complies with all relevant legislation and standards and stays current in cybersecurity.

How to Set up a Secure Operating Environment

Constructing a reliable SOC calls for strategic planning and foresight. When properly implemented, a SOC is an investment in protecting sensitive information and the business's credibility as a whole.

Keep a few things in mind while you create your company's cybersecurity strategy and choose the necessary tools:

When a company has hundreds of cybersecurity technologies on its network and needs visibility and context to detect threats and mitigate risk, it establishes a security operations center.

A Security Operations Center (SOC) does more than detect and counteract security breaches; it also actively seeks out and anticipates new attack vectors.

Answering the what, when, how, and who questions about a SOC team requires first articulating its purpose.

Organizations can use a SOC to shift their approach to managing threats from reactive to proactive.

Keep in mind that firms are placing more emphasis on cybersecurity, making it imperative to think about implementing a proper security and incident response strategy.

How does a SOC make its decisions?

A SOC is structured at several layers, which we will examine below, to ensure that it functions correctly:

Level 1 is where the alert analysts are located. The alert analysts' job is to identify and investigate the threats the firm receives. They are responsible for analyzing any possible security risks, and if such risks are deemed high according to SOC criteria, they are moved on to the next level.

The threat can pose security issues at the second level, or Level 2; this level investigates the probable harm caused or the systems impacted. Based on this assessment, a potential response to the danger is suggested.

This last level, known as Level 3, is comprised of cybersecurity specialists that have the most advanced degrees and certifications. They are ultimately accountable for addressing any security problems that can have occurred and developing preventative steps to ensure that such events do not happen again.

Factors to Consider Before Setting Up a SOC

Organizations with leaders considering creating a SOC should first answer five critical questions that will assist them in designing a specialized and efficient SOC.

Here are a few examples:

No. 1: Why build it

You must understand precisely what a SOC will assist us with.

The goal is to reduce cyber risks, protect critical information, and protect the company's reputation.

Is there a list of anticipated key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be used to assess success?

One such element might be response times during events. Contracts between the CISO and the board of directors should specify the extent of the SOC's services.

Service level agreements can go into considerable depth about response times and how severe threats must be disclosed.

No. 2: When to start your application?

There is considerable pressure to roll out all 30+ available SOC services simultaneously.

Services, on the other hand, should be phased in.

A capability maturity model, a standard framework for analyzing how software processes have evolved, might be utilized as a guide.

After the SOC completes the first stage, the CISO and board will review and assess it.

This means that before moving on to the next phase, the one before it must be fully established and working.

No. 3: How should it be applied?

You must determine the methods for the SOC to work properly.

The significance of playbooks and flowcharts is stressed.

No. 4: Who is responsible?

Who in the firm, other than the security department, is vested in the SOC's success?

Human resources, compliance, and public relations are just a few common departments in most businesses.

No. 5: What is the technological configuration?

Choosing the right SOC tools is critical.

This will be defined by the targeted goals of the security analysts and CISO, available resources, and personal preferences.

For example, SIEM (security information and event management) systems are often employed.

It is a control panel that monitors and evaluates all network security occurrences (threats) that a company encounters.

Benefits of Using Cetas Autonomous Cyber Security Platform

With Cetas's managed services, your business won't have to worry about administrative and maintenance burdens.

Its security operations will run more smoothly, letting you devote more time and energy to solving pressing problems and reacting swiftly to emerging threats.

Here are some of the benefits:

  • Reduced Operational Cost & Enhance Productivity
  • Simplified Security with AI-Driven & No Code Platform
  • 10x Threat Coverage & a 90% Reduction in False Positives
  • 24/7 Managed Detection, Investigation & Reporting Service

Request a demo today to see autonomous cybersecurity in action.