What to Avoid When Planning a SOC
In a security operations center (SOC), security operators focus on preventing, detecting, analyzing, and responding to security incidents. A retail organization’s SOC might handle investigations, including theft and suspicious transactions. A SOC for a school district may safeguard its students and faculty, while a casino’s SOC might focus on catching cheaters or potential money laundering.
Regardless of the overall goal, building a successful SOC to manage these activities involves more than implementing cutting-edge technology. It requires a strategic focus on unification, clarity, and collaboration.
Avoid the Common Pitfalls
Most organizations implement a SOC with a specific purpose in mind. A company may want a centralized location for monitoring safety and security, streamlining investigations, or safeguarding against cyber threats.
Once stakeholders experience the benefits of centralizing options, they will likely gradually expand a SOC. However, reactively implementing disparate solutions can silo operations, limit visibility, and lead to duplicate efforts.
Disjointed systems often produce a volume of information that can be overwhelming to operators. The operators must then switch between systems and various interfaces to locate, manage, analyze, and act on information. The extra time and resources spent on alternating between systems can add up, resulting in slower response times and lags in an investigation.
Unification and Automation
Unified solutions help SOC teams cut through volumes of data produced by an organization’s security technologies, parsing the information and allowing it to flow seamlessly between systems. Operators can manage all security technology as one, with unified solutions allowing them to be proactive, focus on what’s important, and capable of quickly responding. Built-in tools can even help the team monitor the health of their technologies so emerging threats are quickly addressed.
Automation also plays a key role in enhancing efficient SOC operations. By automating the collection and analysis of data, a SOC team can efficiently sift through vast datasets, identify patterns, and highlight anomalies. Teams can remain focused on tasks that require critical thinking and immediate action. To further enhance efficiency, organizations may implement automated workflows that can guide operators and ensure any related compliance with regulators through specific procedures during investigations or responses.
Broaden the SOC
With the vast amount of data available through SOC technologies, it’s important to not limit a SOC to security. Organizations may implement a SOC for security goals, but the data gleaned can also benefit other business operations. Recognizing these opportunities can increase a return on investment (ROI).
A SOC based on a unified platform, complete with mapping tools and automation, allows teams to visualize and address various issues within a facility. In addition to security systems, SOCs can connect to industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors for a better understanding of a facility’s environment. This unified approach allows operators to respond to broader environmental changes that could impact an organization.
For example, the SOC team can set up automated alerts that notify the facilities team about maintenance issues, such as lights left on, doors left open, or failing HVAC systems. For data centers, SOC staff often monitor for overheating or air conditioning malfunctions. In retail settings, operators may alert staff to the detection of suspicious activity or transactions. Unification within a SOC drives all of these operational efficiencies.
Collaboration is Key
A SOC can be viewed as an aggregator of information. Its success depends on seamlessly bringing together data from various sources, along with effective collaboration.
When multiple SOC operators are working in the same space, each person may be focused on different workflows. A unified platform allows them to quickly exchange information, enhance their situational awareness, and make decisions. Operators don’t need to switch between systems to retrieve information and can easily add new technology and sensors as needs evolve.
Scott Thomas is the national director or sales for signature brands, Genetec, in the United States. In this role, Thomas and his team are responsible for sales to the retail, financial, hospitality, gaming, and cannabis vertical markets via the company’s network of system integration partners.
