SOC (Security Operations Center)

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Why a SOC?

Due to current events involving cyber attacks, both public and private organizations must take increased measures to protect their IT systems.

Modern antivirus suites and the most basic measures, such as setting up a firewall and a spam filter, to prevent data theft, ransomware and phishing, for example by perpetrators from inside (e.g. a subcontractor or disgruntled employee) or from outside (Malware/DDoS attacks and industrial espionage) are no longer sufficient, as many cybercriminals have already reached a level where they can overcome such measures. The weak points of the systems are also regularly apparent in the work we carry out Penetration testing.

SOC as a solution

In order to better counteract these dangers, it makes sense to form a team that acts as a central contact point for all IT security and IT organization-related topics and resources. The SOC (Security Operation Center) is primarily responsible for ensuring ongoing operations and is therefore the primary contact for questions regarding the IT security budget. In addition, the SOC is an active source of information for data protection and company management in order to be kept up to date on possible risks at all times.

Since all relevant events and measures to be taken are documented in a SOC, there is a further synergy for data protection and data security with regard to legal regulations and contractual obligations.

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Structure of information sources &
Components of a SOC

A SOC can vary from company to company, but often includes the following areas of focus:

The support and organization of the security systems of the company or the location, i.e. ensuring that the systems are kept up to date (patch management).

It is also important to configure the existing systems according to the requirements (configuration management) and to minimize any disruptions to the devices themselves. A web application firewall or an intrusion detection system can only be a valuable support for the company if it has been sensibly configured and adapted to that company.

Another important point is monitoring and reporting, from classic firewall and SPAM notifications to all events that may be security-relevant. All of these reports must be carefully monitored, analyzed and processed in order to detect potential attack attempts and suspicious behavior before (further) damage can occur.

The SOC is also the first point of contact when it comes to security-related events, be it for acute damage containment (incident response), as well as the proactive search for vulnerabilities in the company network and its systems, as well as the analysis of forensic data or telemetry in order to detect threats. that were not recognized by the system (threat hunting). Threat hunting in particular is less common in company SOCs.

The increasing threat situation and the demands placed on the SOC make it mandatory to work in shifts to ensure rapid response around the clock.

The regular operation of a SOC primarily consists of “triage”. This means that the security analysts monitor the incoming log messages from all devices, all network traffic and all security systems in a situation room, similar to the integrated control center of the emergency services or the police, across several monitors at their workstations and in the room. Best supported by a SIEM and an Endpoint detection as well as response systems to recognize suspicious activities and possible indications of APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats) in the context of the overall situation.

If an anomaly is identified in the reports, the analyst investigates it and collects further information in order to start an escalation.

As part of the escalation, an investigation will now be started to determine the nature of the threat posed by the anomaly and its degree of spread within the company network. As a result, measures to contain and ultimately eliminate the incident are taken and coordinated.
The root cause of the anomaly is also searched for in order to adapt and optimize the security measures. In the course of red teaming, the process check is ideal.

The “SOC types”

A distinction is made between an in-house SOC, which acts as an independent department within the company, and an outsourced SOC, which means that the department is managed by an external service provider who specializes exclusively in cybersecurity. The main advantage of an external SOC is that the service provider can start work immediately and the employees are already specialized in a wide variety of areas.

The team of a SOC also deals with investigating possible anomalies related to the company in order to avoid serious consequences.

Based on the findings, risk analyzes can be carried out, as with an ISMS, to prioritize which topics have priority and which are covered by risk acceptance.

For future improvements and for reasons of traceability, it is essential to record the activities of a SOC and introduce a ticketing system. The quality and performance of the SOC should be regularly reviewed to enable future improvements.

While the SOC acts as a headquarters for all IT security-related issues, a Network Operations Center (NOC) only serves to provide central operational support for a network. One can also speak of a central point for troubleshooting and troubleshooting within a network.

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CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team)

Should there be a special security incident, a CERT (CIRT - alternative spelling) team will be formed within the SOC to restore operational capability.

The CERT is part of a SOC in order to optimize processes and thus be able to intervene more effectively. For example, recommendations for action are formulated to relieve the team. Data protection and sales, among other things, should also provide employees to follow the processes.

Depending on the size of the company and taking the manpower into account, the CERT can function as an independent department.

While the SOC is essentially designed to detect threats and initiate initial countermeasures depending on the severity of the incident, the CERT only comes into play when it comes to detailed analyzes and resolutions of security incidents, which consist of precise recommendations for action. SOC and CERT complement each other and form a powerful unit for IT security.

CERT association

The CERT association is an association of German CERTs. This is mainly responsible for the general exchange of information between the associated teams. However, the individual teams act independently and on their own responsibility for their assigned area.

Soc as a service

The company's requirements for network security and the associated support of SOCaaS depend on the relevance of IT systems and data for operations and the ability of employees to work.

SOC as a Service can complement your company's IT security and information security: In contrast to traditional protection measures, it is not a purely automated technical solution, but effectively combines the advantages of technology and personnel.

SOCaaS focuses on the attack surface, which in most cases cannot be penetrated firewalls and viruses: If a network attack is carried out using cleverly disguised data traffic or unknown malicious code, the malware can pass through the firewall and is not detected by the virus protection.

That's why various providers offer the variant of SOC Managed Services, also known as SOC as a Service, as outsourced SOC specialists.

What does the SOC as a Service include:

Detect:

SoC as a Service monitors your LOGS and examines events in your network for abnormalities and suspicious behavior

Protection:

Through the interaction of various technologies and components such as a firewall, virus protection and other mechanisms, the SOC forms a protection unit.

Response:

Based on the information content of the SOCS, suitable and coordinated measures can then be taken. The aim is to eliminate the vulnerability in the affected systems and networks.

The advantage of SOCs as a Service is that they can be quickly identified, analyzed and prevented by specialists. Due to the dynamics within a SOC, the current threat situations can be continually adjusted in the system. This means the system is always up to date and the network is optimally protected. Through the proactive work of a SOC, threats can be effectively prevented before they occur.

 
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