The Critical Role of the Intelligent SOC
As threat vectors continue to increase in complexity and severity, the volume of data needed to be analyzed grows at an exponential rate. Tasked with implementing comprehensive risk identification, mitigation, and response plans to secure the enterprise, security practitioners must sort through data to identify actionable intelligence—while resources to manage, analyze, and react to it become more constrained. How to effectively and efficiently manage and examine all the data available has become a mission-critical task for today’s security leaders.
Deploying a physical security information management (PSIM) solution has traditionally been the response to this challenge. It can consolidate data from disparate sources and streamline the flow of information to key stakeholders.
Dealing with today’s challenges means CSOs need to create integrated security environments that employ technology tools, automating, and integrating a coordinated response.
THE INTELLIGENT SOC
The Intelligent Security Operations Center (ISOC) not only collects and manages data from disparate security subsystems and presents it to the operator, it also makes data available to the analytics layer.
Organizations can employ situation-specific tools to look across various subsystems to identify actionable intelligence. This frees up time for operators and delivers enhanced threat identification. Furthermore, the ISOC automates threat response—coordinating between operators and responders to provide an integrated threat management system.
By incorporating technologies that unify data collection, correlation, analysis, and response, security departments can correlate information and funnel that data to the right analytic engines, sharing it with the correct stakeholders. When all security domains—IT, physical, and cyber—collaborate, the business increases overall operational efficiency.
TRANSFORMING DATA INTO INTELLIGENCE
As the digital world evolves, CSOs seek to find new ways to capture data, correlate it, and then leverage it to make the most informed decisions. By collecting intelligence from digital sensors and systems such as video surveillance cameras, building systems, weather sensors, and more, operators can identify potential risks and efficiently respond to situations.
A centralized software platform also allows information to be shared with external agencies, employees, and first responders. With an enterprisewide view, organizations experience improved response times, lowered operational costs, and increased employee safety.
Automation and intelligent solutions, such as artificial intelligence, help organizations make sense of vast amounts of data. These integrated applications can automatically pinpoint potential breaches and significant events and send alerts to the appropriate personnel.
When traditional command centers rely mostly on call and radio updates, visibility can be limited. But centralized software solutions enable operators to oversee a situation and engage with and direct the response force.
LOOKING AHEAD
In today’s global business environment, opportunities, requirements, and regulations can vary widely, change quickly, and evolve over time.
Transforming the traditional SOC into a unified ISOC that combines cyber, traditional security, digital devices, and situational awareness technologies will mitigate advanced threats—either forensically or in real time. All of this contributes to a predictive risk model that prevents attacks before more significant damage is caused.
Alan Stoddard is vice president and general manager, situational intelligence solutions, at Verint.
