What do Security Operations Centers really need—today…and tomorrow | CIO>
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The current state of Security Operations Centers (SOCs) is struggling to keep up with well-funded threat actors who are utilizing innovative tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Legacy technologies such as security information and event management (SIEM) solutions are not adequately equipped to handle the increasing complexity of security data generated by expanding enterprise attack surfaces.
SOC analysts are burdened with manually analyzing complex and siloed data, leading to alert fatigue, delayed investigations, and missed threats.
To transform the SOC and address these challenges, there are three wishes or key areas of improvement:
1) Automation: Legacy SOCs require manual research and lack automated remediation capabilities, leading to analyst exhaustion and a lack of trust in the alerting systems.
Security orchestration automation and response technologies can automate initial research, saving time and effort for analysts.
These automated systems also help gather and merge context from different technologies, simplifying access to information for more efficient preliminary research.
Automation is crucial for scaling the SOC and enabling analysts to focus on high-risk incidents, freeing them from tedious manual tasks.
2) Incident Distribution: SOC analysts often face repetitive tasks, hindering their growth and engagement.
Allocating incidents to analysts in a varied and diverse manner allows them to expand their knowledge and expertise.
Empowering analysts with responsibility for different types of alerts enhances their understanding of various use cases and encourages continuous learning.
Keeping analysts challenged and exposing them to unfamiliar alert types enhances problem-solving capabilities and overall team effectiveness.
3) Comprehensive Training: Thorough training is essential for maintaining consistency, reducing risk, and fostering growth within the SOC.
New analysts require formal guidance and onboarding programs that include shadowing opportunities and up-to-date content.
Existing employees also need continuous training to develop skills, keep up with the evolving landscape, and ensure effective incident response and threat protection.
Regular training instills confidence and keeps the organization aware of the latest technologies, tactics, and trends.
By fulfilling these three wishes through the implementation of efficient processes, resources, and training, organizations can build modern, effective SOCs.
Providing analysts with the necessary tools and support is crucial in meeting the ever-changing cybersecurity challenges and ensuring a secure operational environment.
Link: https://www.cio.com/article/656770/what-do-security-operations-centers-really-need-todayand-tomorrow.html