Imagine a bustling control room, lights flashing, data flowing across screens, brains scanning through the data, and machines working. That pretty much sums up a modern-day Security Operations Center (SOC).
But it wasn’t always cutting-edge technology. The journey of SOCs from their origins to the present is a saga of technology and tactics.
The Beginnings of Traditional SOCs
The traditional SOCs were fully dependent on manpower. The analysts had to manually sense through data and find out the anomalies (even mentioning it sounds tedious). This, although a great way to pass the time, was not a sufficient option. The traditional did provide some kind of security, but it was slow, time-consuming, and brain-boggling.
Plus, traditional SOCs had to deploy “reactive” methods. By the time analysts were able to do anything, the damage had already taken place. What’s more, the amount of information to process was so overwhelming. Sure, they were finding countermeasures but not fast enough to really prevent attacks and safeguard information.
The Transition to Next-Generation SOCs
Next-generation SOCs were armed to the teeth with state-of-the-art gadgets. The vanguard of this tech battle was machine learning and big data analytics. Machine learning, in general, means to feed the system tons of information.
After this, the prey, let’s say the algorithm in this case, finds patterns. Ultimately, the system can predict what’s going to happen next. A predictive perspective on threats gives an upper hand to consumers.
When we know they are coming, we can always stop them before it’s too late. Big data analytics binds multiple data points together to chalk out the complete blueprint of the network. Any hidden anomalies are quickly discovered, destroyed, or countered.
Advantages of Next-Generation SOCs
These new-age SOCs come with many other features. Real-time monitoring provides an edge in response time. When a threat is detected, it can automatically evoke remediation techniques and lessen the impact. If the need arises, the window can be minimal, too.
These systems were also built to be scalable. Once an entity grows, data accumulation frequency increases. A sizable next-generation SOC should be able to accommodate all without any interruption.
SOC Service Providers: Partners in Security
Shifting to the new big thing can be cumbersome and that’s where SOC service providers come in. They have the expertise and the resources to operate, as well as, manage digital assets. As a result, companies can focus on what they are good at, pressure-free and stress-free.
Talking of SOC service providers, no one fits all. Always go for those who have a good track record and are persistent in operations. They should be customer-friendly and have provisions for a tailor-made solution.
In Summary
From SOCs to next-gen SOCs, we have come a long way. From machine learning to big data to advanced security processes, it has all made us rethink the term security. And now, we wait to see how much we can secure with ‘next-gen SOC.’
