The need for a reliable and effective security infrastructure in enterprises is becoming increasingly urgent. Proof of this is the growth of the security operations center as a service marketwhich has shown a CAGR of 15.7% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

Many companies are turning to the Security Operations Center (SOC) for better information security and management strategies. In addition, the SOC can also help reduce costs and improve the reliability of your operations and can be managed internally by the company's own IT staff or managed externally by an outsourced security service provider.

The need for SOC is no longer new, the challenge now is to make it more efficient and financially viable

A successful successful attack can cost organizations not only large sums of money in reputational damage, but also lead to loss of customers and downtime.

But, the big question is how to maintain an internal SOC, increasing its efficiency in the face of security risks that evolve every day and at the same time maintain its financial viability in face of the high operational costs of personnel and technology.

By looking for a virtual SOC, companies have a feasible option that converges between latest generation security technologyadvanced specialized technical staff, and costs compatible with the companies' current reality.

Even with the well-known benefits of internally managed SOC, virtual SOC becomes an option for companies that optimize financial costs and improve reliability of operations..

Let's look at a comparison between the internally managed SOC and the virtual SOC:

Internally managed SOC:

• Improved security posture: a well-executed SOC can help improve an organization's overall security posture by providing better visibility into the organization's security risks and vulnerabilities.
• Efficiency in incident handling: an internally managed SOC can be more efficient than relying on a traditional security model, because it can be tailored specifically to the organization's needs.
• Costs accordingly: an in-house SOC requires an initial investment in infrastructure and personnel, but operating costs are generally lower than those of a traditional security model.

Virtual SOC:

• Advanced Specialized Expertise: an externally managed SOC provider will have a team of expert security professionals who can provide companies with up-to-date insight into security risks.
• Scalability: a virtual SOC provider can also offer a more scalable solution for enterprises, allowing them to easily adjust the service level according to the organization's security needs.
• 24/7 monitoring: an externally managed SOC provider can also offer 24/7 monitoring, which is ideal for companies that need a high level of protection against security threats.

There are many benefits to having a SOC, whether it is managed in-house or by a third party. Each approach has its specific benefits, but in the end, the goal of a virtual SOC is to provide businesses with an even more robust and reliable security infrastructure in the face of evolving cybercriminal attacks, as well as increasing a company's maturity in data protection and business continuity.

SOCs achieve their security objectives when financially viable and implemented efficiently

More than 80% of companies that have a SOC see it as an essential component in their cybersecurity strategy.

However, for most of them, especially SMBs, running an in-house SOC is a huge expense, as at least 8 to 12 security specialists are needed to ensure 24/7 operations.

The decision to manage a SOC internally or externally should be made based on the specific needs of the organization.

Opting for an internally managed SOC may initially be the best option for those aiming to minimize security investments. But if complexity and experience are concerns and a priority, an externally managed virtual SOC is the better option.

Virtual SOC improves enterprise cyber defense capabilities

In summary, SOCs are becoming an increasingly popular strategy for companies that want to improve their cybersecurity posture. They allow companies to secure their networks in a more organized manner and are working to create an effective way to manage and coordinate the efforts of multiple security teams.

This is a key strategy for organizations to improve their cyber defense capabilities while dealing with the increasing cost and complexity of cyber attacks.

Contact ISH's specialists specialists and learn how to implement the best SOC option in your company.