A security operations center, or SOC, is a team of cybersecurity professionals, either in-house or outsourced, dedicated to monitoring your organization’s IT infrastructure for threats. They’ll also address threats when they find them and practice proactive security procedures to tackle vulnerabilities in your network and its assets.
But do you need a SOC? In today’s threat landscape, every business should have one. SOC as a Service (SOCaaS) has made having a SOC team much more accessible and affordable for small businesses, and that’s a good thing. Forty-three percent of cyber attacks each year target small businesses, so you need to make cybersecurity for your small business a priority. Here’s why you need a SOC.
You Can Have Your Network Monitored 24/7
Don’t think you need your business network monitored 24/7 against cyberattacks? Think again. Cybercriminals are most likely to strike when you’re not doing business because they figure you’re less vigilant then. And they might be right.
The last thing you want is for cyber attackers to have hours to spend gallivanting through your network, doing god knows what with your data, for hours before you realize there’s been a breach. A SOC can provide round-the-clock monitoring of your network so that when a cyberattack comes at 3:00 a.m., you’ll be ready. The SOC team can respond to the threat in real-time and prevent too much damage from being done.
You’ll Get Comprehensive Security Using Modern Technology
When you use a SOCaaS provider to outsource your SOC, you’ll get access to the best, most comprehensive security methods and the most up-to-date technology. That means you’ll get access to automated tools that make the SOC team more efficient and effective for less money. You’ll get access to machine learning (ML) software tools that can learn to recognize new threats and aren’t as reliant on outdated threat definition libraries. You’ll also get access to the best artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can recognize threats instantly.
You’ll Get Proactive Security Protocols
SOC teams are proactive about their network security protocols because they know that the best way to manage risk is to take all possible steps to prevent it. SOC members will educate you and your staff on the best ways to mitigate your organization’s cyber risk. They’ll check up on you to make sure you change your passwords often enough to maintain security, and they’ll make sure access controls are limited to those who actually need them. They’ll also use robust tools to prevent attacks. These will include intrusion detection tools, firewalls, and anti-malware solutions that can help you avoid expensive cyber attacks.
Risk Management Will Get Easier
Implementing an effective cybersecurity risk management framework is a big ask for most small business owners. You might be able to handle some security procedures, like requiring employees to use secure passwords and to change them every 90 days, or even configuring permissions so that they’re only available to those who need them. But there’s a lot that goes into cyber risk management and you really need a team of experts to handle it.
When you work with a SOC team, you can just hand over your cybersecurity needs to the team and just worry about holding up good security practices on your end, such as using strong passwords and being suspicious of phishing emails. You’ll have greater visibility into what happens on your network, and you won’t have to worry about falling victim to every cyberattack that comes your way – and with cybercriminals ramping up their efforts post-COVID, that could be a lot of cyberattacks.
A SOC Team Can Help with Regulatory Compliance
If you’re in an industry where you need to consider regulatory compliance, a SOC team can help with that, too. Regulatory compliance is often complex, and it can be helpful to have access to experts who can guide you through the paperwork and the process to bring your company into compliance. A SOC team can also monitor your company’s compliance to notify you of any potential or occurring regulatory issues and how to remedy them.
If you’re running a small business, you need to take the risk of cybercrime seriously. Many more small businesses are targeted than you might expect. You need to start using a SOCaaS service to protect your company from phishing attacks, malware, and other cyber threats – even internal vulnerabilities. It’s worth it just for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your business is protected.
The content Team Writer is one of the writers from our team of content writers. The Business Goals blog is expanding day by day and we need more writers and brand ambassadors for promoting our media website. If you are interested contact your portfolio through the Write for Us page.
