Security Operations Center (SOC)

The Security Operations Center (SOC) represents the organizational function dedicated to protecting an enterprise from cybersecurity threats through continuous monitoring, detection, and response. While the term is often used interchangeably with SOC as a facility, modern SOCs may operate as distributed or virtual teams, especially with the growth of remote work and cloud-native security tools. The SOC's mission is to maintain the security posture of the organization 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

SOC operational models vary based on organizational needs and resources. An in-house SOC provides full control but requires significant investment in personnel, tools, and infrastructure. A managed SOC or MSSP model outsources monitoring and response to a third-party provider. A hybrid SOC combines internal staff for critical functions with external support for extended coverage. Co-managed SOCs share responsibilities between internal teams and external providers. The choice of model depends on factors including budget, organizational maturity, regulatory requirements, and risk tolerance.

Building an effective SOC requires investment in three pillars: people, processes, and technology. Skilled analysts are essential for interpreting alerts and investigating incidents. Well-defined processes, documented as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and playbooks, ensure consistent and efficient handling of security events. Technology platforms including SIEM, SOAR, EDR, NDR, and threat intelligence tools provide the data and automation necessary to operate at scale.

Key performance indicators for SOC operations include alert volume and triage rates, Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), false positive rates, incident closure times, and coverage metrics. Mature SOCs continuously refine their detection rules, automate repetitive tasks, invest in analyst training, and measure performance against these metrics to demonstrate value and drive improvement.