Cyberattacks do not only occur during the day between 9 am and 5 pm. Ransomware groups specifically target weekends and public holidays, when companies are at their most understaffed. This is precisely why the Security Operations Centre – or SOC for short – has evolved in recent years from a niche concern for large corporations into a central component of modern cybersecurity strategies. But what does the term actually mean, and what types of SOC are available for businesses of different sizes?
What exactly is a SOC?
A Security Operations Centre is a centralised unit where a company’s IT security is continuously monitored, analysed and defended. You can think of it as a sort of control room where security analysts monitor log data, network traffic and system events around the clock to detect and respond to attacks at an early stage.
Technically, a SOC is usually based on a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system, which aggregates and correlates data from a wide variety of sources such as Firewalls, endpoint systems, servers and Cloud services. This is often supplemented by SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) platforms, which automate recurring response steps.
A SOC is not a single piece of software, but a combination of processes, technology and trained staff. It is only the interplay of these three factors that enables the continuous detection and defence against threats.
Core tasks of a SOC
Regardless of the chosen model, a SOC essentially always performs similar tasks. These can be broadly divided into four areas.
Monitoring
Constant monitoring of networks, endpoints and Cloud environments for suspicious activity.
Threat Detection
Identification of attack patterns through the correlation of logs, signatures and behavioural analysis.
Incident Response
Containment and resolution of detected incidents, from the initial alert through to full resolution.
Reporting
Documentation of incidents and key performance indicators as a basis for audits, management reports and TISAX or ISO 27001.
What types of SOC are there?
Not every organisation needs, or can afford, its own fully in-house SOC. In practice, therefore, several operating models have become established, which differ primarily in terms of costs, control and staffing requirements.
In-house SOC
The company is the operator of the SOC, which is operated entirely with its own staff, infrastructure and processes. This offers maximum control and in-depth knowledge of its own environment, but involves high staffing and cost requirements, as 24/7 coverage necessitates multiple shifts and specialists.
Managed SOC (SOC-as-a-Service)
An external service provider handles monitoring, detection and, in some cases, incident response. Significantly lower initial costs and faster access to experienced analysts, but with less direct control over the organisation’s own processes and a degree of dependency on the service provider.
Hybrid SOC
A combination of an in-house team and an external partner. Typically, the in-house team takes charge of strategic management and critical decisions, whilst the service provider ensures round-the-clock Monitoring. A good balance between control and cost.
Virtual SOC
No fixed physical control room, but rather a distributed team that collaborates via centralised tools and Cloud platforms. Often a smaller-scale option for medium-sized businesses that do not require 24/7 coverage but still want structured Monitoring.
A common misconception: a SIEM system on its own does not constitute a SOC. Without trained staff to assess and prioritise alerts, a SIEM produces one thing above all else: alert fatigue caused by countless false alarms.
The SOC levels: from the first alert to forensics
Regardless of whether a SOC is operated in-house, externally or as a hybrid, the work within the team is usually organised into several levels. Each level plays a different role in the escalation chain, from the initial review of an alert to in-depth forensics.
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| L1 | First point of contact in the SOC. Monitors incoming security alerts, filters out false alarms and handles standard cases according to set guidelines. More complex incidents are escalated to Level 2. |
| L2 | Carries out in-depth analyses of escalated incidents, assesses the actual impact on systems and data, and initiates specific countermeasures. |
| L3 | Team of experts specialising in complex and targeted attacks. Analyses Malware in detail, carries out active threat hunting, develops new detection rules and provides technical support to Levels 1 and 2. |
| L4 | An optional level comprising highly experienced specialists or security architects. Responsible for Incident Response in emergencies, digital forensics, security strategy, red teaming or in-house research. Not every SOC has its own L4 team. |
With a managed SOC, the service provider usually takes full responsibility for Levels 1 to 3. Level 4 often remains an in-house function or one procured on a project-by-project basis, as it requires strategic decision-making and in-depth knowledge of the organisation’s own environment.
Which option is right for which organisation?
The choice depends heavily on the size of the organisation, its risk profile and regulatory requirements. Small and medium-sized enterprises are usually best served by a managed SOC, as setting up their own 24/7 team is rarely economically viable. By contrast, large corporations with high security requirements and their own compliance standards, such as TISAX or ISO 27001, frequently opt for hybrid or in-house models in order to manage critical processes themselves.
Tip: Don’t start by asking ‘in-house or managed’, but rather by asking which assets and processes actually need to be protected in the event of an incident. Only then can the appropriate operating model be clearly identified.
Mint Secure GmbH
How Mint Secure supports you
We help organisations find the right SOC strategy for their specific risk profile and ensure effective implementation.
SOC strategy consultancy
Assessing whether an in-house, managed or hybrid approach best suits your organisation and your budget.
Incident Response Preparation
Playbooks, incident response plans and tabletop exercises to ensure your team responds in a structured manner rather than panicking in an emergency.
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Conclusion
A Security Operations Centre (SOC) is the central hub that brings together Monitoring, threat detection and Incident Response, thereby significantly improving a company’s ability to respond to cyberattacks.
The choice between an in-house, managed, hybrid or virtual SOC depends primarily on resources, risk profile and regulatory requirements. For most small and medium-sized enterprises, a managed SOC or a hybrid model offers the best balance between protection and cost-effectiveness.
Mint Secure supports you from strategy development right through to technical implementation.
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