Security operations service is a center that keeps cyber threats out of an organization. According to UnderDefense, it aims to provide and maintain the security of a company. A SOC not only prevents cyber threats but overlooks all the security-related events of an organization. This includes hiring new employees, detecting threats during events, and responding accordingly.
It works like the center that manages all things related to security. A SOC oversees the IT infrastructure of an organization. This includes all data, networks, and software. With more cyber attacks online, having a SOC puts you at a huge advantage. Every event that is logged into your organization will be monitored closely to avoid threats. So what does a soc-as-a-service do? Let’s find out and see why you may need to invest in one!
What are the main functions?
Security operations centers have so many functions that make them a necessity for many organizations. Most of these are dedicated to ensuring that security is maintained at all times. Here are some important functions of a SOC:
1. Avoiding security gaps
There is always a risk of attackers getting through your security. Some of the most common reasons why people may break into your company include:
- outdated software
- lack of an appropriate infrastructure
- lack of skilled experts
- unavailability of equipment
A SOC helps you overcome all the challenges that come with maintaining a secure environment in a business. This is the primary role of security operations service. This system is designed to examine your security and detect any areas with gaps. These are places that hackers may target to o access important data.
By detecting gaps, it becomes easier to find potential solutions. Once you have a solution, the threat will be eliminated, leaving a more secure network.
2. Enhancing security
A SOC works with tools that monitor networks and data. If the tools detect any irregularities or issues, they will notify the security operations center. The SOC then has to analyze each threat and rank it according to the most imminent problem. This ranking system helps you determine which threat to focus on first.
It is also a good way of detecting false alarms. This triaging will help you focus on the most pressing issues urgently. Discard any false positives as they can delay teams from focusing on the most important issues.
3. Meeting standards
All security operations centers are governed by certain regulations. Many use best practices when operating. You have to make sure to meet compliance regulations.
A SOC helps organizations meet up with the set regulations. It carries out audits regularly to ensure compliance. By complying with regulations, it is easy for a business to protect its data. This also serves as a great way to avoid legal issues in the event of a security attack.
4. Managing threats
Because cybercriminals are always coming up with new ways to corrupt data, SOCs use the latest technology to counter this. Through continuous improvement, it guarantees security at all times. Managing threats doesn’t just end at elimination.
Teams make sure to identify the root cause. This could be a result of a weakness in the security system which makes it prone to attacks. By looking at the lig data, teams can identify when and how a breach occurred. This is an effective way of preventing similar attacks in the future.
Once a threat has been identified, the SOC is the first to respond. It can respond in several ways such as:
- shutting down
- separating endpoints
- blocking harmful events
- deleting harmful files
The aim is to eliminate the problem with minimal impact on data. The level of the response varies depending on the extent of the breach. A SOC tries to eliminate the threat while allowing businesses to operate with minimal disruption.
5. Improve data recovery
If an attack happens, a SOC will not only remove the source of the problem. It also provides a way to recover lost files. There is an attempt to restore corrupt data. Data recovery aims to restore your files to the state they were in before any corruption.
This can be done in several ways such as:
- restarting networks
- adding new configurations
- using backups
Once this is successful, a business can continue operating as it was before the threat. Because of this, the value of security operations services for organizations should not be underestimated according to UnderDefense. Data Recovery will save you a lot of trouble trying to restart. It saves time and money as you won’t have to recreate new files.
6. Continuous monitoring
A SOC uses tools that can monitor a network 24/7. Continuous Monitoring allows you to detect any abnormalities or unusual activities. These will be flagged immediately as potential threats. Early detection gives the software the best opportunity to eliminate threats. It is far easier to remove threats at the beginning before they infiltrate an entire network and corrupt data.
Another function of a security operations center is that it collects data from a network. It has a log of all the activities on a network. This also includes communication and everyone that logged onto a network during a certain time.
By doing this, it becomes easier for businesses to understand what is normal and abnormal activity. Log management provides details to track users should there be a security breach. You can use it to see if any of the users was a source of the threat.
Final thoughts
Every organization needs an effective way of overcoming the constant threats from criminals. Criminals are always looking for ingenious ways of overcoming even the most expert security systems. A security operations center is a great option for organizations. It provides an effective way of detecting security breaches at all times.
Through constant monitoring, it becomes easier to detect potential issues. Once a threat has been identified, the SOC will remove it immediately. This will prevent further corruption of a network and data. There is also the possibility of recovering lost or corrupt data through various tools. With cyber-attacks on the rise, it’s better to invest in a SOC to keep your organization safe.