With 32% of UK organizations experiencing a cyberattack in 2022, it’s not surprising most businesses don’t have the internal resources to manage cybersecurity safely. Organizations simply don’t have the manpower to handle the surge in threats, alerts and attacks they face daily, so outsourcing to service providers is often the safest option, especially when it comes to managing labor-intensive, but highly critical, security operations centers (SOCs).

SOCs are one of the most important functions of an organization’s security defenses, but they are also a heavy drain on resources. Their analysts investigate and act upon hundreds of alerts every day, while they tirelessly work to reduce risks and keep threats at bay. The hours are long and the work is hard, and SOC analysts are placed in the critical position of identifying and preventing attacks before they occur, which places significant pressure on them both mentally and physically. This means they are often required to work 24/7, 365 days a year. But when thinking about a typical SME, very few have the bandwidth to manage such an enormous task. Furthermore, with SOC analysts at the coal face of threat activity, they must have expert knowledge of today’s threat landscape. They must understand every vulnerability and threat actor tactic, so they have the knowledge and technical depth to guard attackers out of networks and implement defenses to protect against adversaries. But, considering the digital skills shortage, this type of expertise is also extremely hard to come by for the average SME.

As a result of the requirements needed to run an efficient SOC, many organizations believe it is more sensible to outsource the function to SOC-as-a-service providers. These SOC-as-a-service providers are experts in the field of cyberdefenses and attacker activity, which allows organizations to take advantage of their digital expertise, without draining resources or putting pressure on in-house teams.

However, given that SOCs are first in line with an organization’s defenses, finding a provider that has the skills and competence to meet today’s cyberchallenges is essential. Organizations must ensure when they are recruiting a SOC-as-a-service partner, they offer a robust service to suit their needs and that their analysts have the expertise and skills required to keep their assets safe in the ever-evolving threat landscape.

So, what are the top features organizations must look for in a SOC-as-a-service provider to ensure they find a partner with the skills required to keep their business safe?

24/7 + 365 Days Coverage

Cybersecurity is a full-time job, so organizations must ensure their outsourced SOC is always on guard. Hackers don’t take holidays, and neither should a business’s cybersecurity. This means the SOC must always be on and have a function where analysts can be alerted to issues in real-time, so they can be investigated before they escalate into breaches. The SOC-as-a-Service provider must offer always-on cover, and this must be agreed upon before contracts are signed.

Tooling

Compatibility with an organization’s technology architecture and existing security tools is essential. This will allow the SOC to get up and running quickly without the need to rebuild systems and train in-house employees on new appliances and technology. The tooling must also be best-of-breed and capable of detecting advanced malware and threats as they continue to evolve.

Collaborative Approach

Even when outsourcing, an organization must always know what is happening within its cybersecurity. Has threat activity increased? Are any employees deemed a risk? The outsourced SOC must collaborate and communicate with the organization regularly, so they have a clear understanding of all security issues. The timescales of communication should be agreed on in advance, but monthly check-ins should ideally come as standard, while there must also be an agreed channel for communication in case of emergencies.

Business Understanding

There is no one-size-fits-all in business – every organization is different, and each has its crown jewels. The outsourced SOC must take time to understand its customers and know exactly what is of most value to them. By understanding the organization, the SOC will be able to offer a bespoke service to suit their specific needs, while adapting and adjusting as the business grows. The SOC-as-a-Service provider must carry out this due diligence in the early stages of the relationship so it can build out the security program effectively.

Cyberexpertise

Having a good understanding of threat activity is undoubtedly the most important feature of an outsourced SOC. Analysts must possess an in-depth knowledge of threat actors, they must understand attacker techniques, and they must know which vulnerabilities must be patched as a priority. The outsourced SOC analysts must be experts in the field of cybersecurity – possessing the skills to think like a hacker and effectively defend against them.