{"id":2611,"date":"2019-06-07T14:34:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T18:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/security-information-event-management\/?p=2611"},"modified":"2019-11-20T15:15:10","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T19:15:10","slug":"a-successful-security-operations-center-soc-framework-in-6-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/security-information-event-management\/a-successful-security-operations-center-soc-framework-in-6-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"A Successful Security Operations Center (SOC) Framework in 6 Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

What constitutes a successful security operations center (SOC<\/a>) framework? Why does your enterprise need a security operations center? How do best practices inform a comprehensive SOC framework? <\/span><\/p>\n

A SOC offers enterprises a resource to help monitor, detect, investigate, and respond to digital threats. Ultimately, SOCs help manage security risks; often, this proves enormously helpful for small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) struggling with cybersecurity staffing. However, enterprises also benefit from utilizing a dedicated SOC<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t

\"Download<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n

We answer 6 questions on the key factors to a successful enterprise SOC framework.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is a Security Operations Center (SOC)? <\/b><\/h2>\n

No effort to initiate a successful SOC framework can begin without first defining a SOC.<\/span><\/p>\n

A security operations center refers to a team of cybersecurity professionals dedicated to preventing data breaches. Additionally, they perform security monitoring and handle incident response plans. A SOC can use a wide range of technological solutions including SIEM<\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Critically, SOCs can perform network vulnerability scans on a continual basis. Most in-house cybersecurity teams can\u2019t address threats on a 24\/7 basis; unfortunately, as the hacking threat becomes globalized, 24\/7 monitoring becomes outright essential. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, your SOC can evaluate and enforce your security policies and respond to digital incidents. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Who Makes Up a SOC Framework?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Surprisingly, a SOC doesn\u2019t just involve a cybersecurity solution or technologies (although those remain vital). In fact, a successful SOC framework relies on individual InfoSec professionals who make up the team. <\/span><\/p>\n

As such, your enterprise\u2019s security team should consist of the following members, at a minimum: <\/span><\/p>\n

SOC Manager<\/b><\/h4>\n

This individual leads the teams\u2019 operations. Usually, they manage the team (and work to help prevent potential burnout). Also, they help determine the cybersecurity budget and the team\u2019s agenda. The SOC Manager most often interfaces with other managers and C-suite executives in your enterprise. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Security Analyst<\/b><\/h4>\n

The Security Analyst works to organize and interpret security data from generated reports and security audits. Moreover, this analyst conducts risk management assessments and vulnerability assessments; they use threat intelligence generated by the enterprise\u2019s cybersecurity solutions to provide actionable insights. <\/span><\/p>\n

Forensic Investigator & Incident Responder<\/b><\/h4>\n

Often, these two titles work simultaneously during an actual cybersecurity incident. The Forensic Investigator analyzes incident to collect intelligence, evidence, and behavioral information on the intruding threat. Meanwhile, the Incident Responder conducts the handling of the incident response plans, conducts initial evaluations, and threat assessment of security alerts. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compliance Auditor <\/b><\/h4>\n

While no longer the major concern of most SIEM or cybersecurity solutions, compliance still matters. Almost all enterprises and SMBs must comply with at least some kind of compliance mandate. Thus the Compliance Auditor ensures the processes carried out by the SOC comply with the relevant regulations. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. What Solutions or Technologies Form a Strong SOC Framework? <\/b><\/h3>\n

Of course, your security operations center needs the right cybersecurity solutions to supplement their efforts. Critically, you should select a SIEM or security analytics solution; these provide the necessary log management and security visibility to discovering dwelling threats. Additionally, it can help with security correlation between seemingly unrelated events and security alerts. <\/span><\/p>\n

The latter helps direct security team investigations. Thus it can speed up threat discovery and remediation efforts. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, on the non-explicitly-technology side, your enterprise should also have an explicit incident response plan. This can help your employees recognize threats and to keep the lines of communication open during an incident. <\/span><\/p>\n

4. What Styles of SOCs Exist? <\/b><\/h3>\n

Actually, several different formats of security operations centers exist for enterprises. For simplicity’s sake, we comment only on the 4 most prominent. <\/span><\/p>\n