As security threats continue to get more and more advanced,
there is a growing demand in the global industry for organizations to start
building Security Operations Centers (SOCs).
Relying on standard firewalls and antivirus software
programs is simply not enough in the modern world; it’s the equivalent of
protecting the National Bank with just one guard standing at the front door.
Effective cybersecurity requires layers of defenses, active
real-time detection of threats, and measures put in place that can deal with
these threats quickly and efficiently.
Ideally, it is recommended that you outsource the business
security entirely to a managed SOC; a professional third party company that can take full responsibility
for securing your networks using the latest software and techniques.
However, it is understandable that the data at some
organizations are far too sensitive to be seen by any outsiders. In this case,
your best option is to build an in-house operations center.
Here is a 4-step guide to the process:
The first phase of the planning process is to assess the capabilities
of your staff and technology. This assessment will give you a good baseline to
work with, and allow you to determine what the objectives of the future SOC
will look like.
Once you know where your business stands, gather all the
parties responsible for developing the operations center, and create a common
goal that everyone understands and is willing to work towards.
The second phase is the development of a thorough strategy,
which should include the mission statement, the scope of work, the goals, the model
of operation, the services, and the metrics that will be used to judge the
SOC’s success.
Do keep in mind that the new General Data Protection
Regulations (GDPR) will come into effect in May. A GDPR risk assessment
analysis should help you save your company
from millions of Euros in potential fines.
The next step in the process is to design and build the
operations center.
An important area of focus here will be determining how the
SOC will collect data. Typically, this is done through a centralized data
collection tool like a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
solution.
Other security tools like firewalls and intrusion detection
systems simply feed data into the SIEM, giving network safety analysts a
complete picture of what’s going on in the network.
The recommended practice here is to make sure there are
multiple layers of defenses, each capable of detecting and preventing an attack
if the first layer fails to do its job.
An excellent example of this layered approach is to have a
firewall or VPN guarding the network’s entry points, an antivirus or an IPS
detecting and attacking threats that make it through, and breach detection
software mitigating any damages done by applying remedial measures.
The important thing to keep in mind is that you will need to
ensure that the level of security is consistently high throughout all
areas of the network. That includes securing
traditionally common weak points like mobile devices, user desktops, and the data
center.
Have a professional conduct a vulnerability test on your
networks to identify where potential loopholes lie and make sure you include
all of these breach points in the SOC’s scope of work.
Once the design is finalized, your last action will be to
assess the people. In the modern job market, there are more jobs available than
there are qualified professionals, and you’ll need to go through a thorough
hiring process if you want the best specialists in the industry.
With the design finalized and built, it’s time for the SOC
to go live.
There are some things you’ll need to ensure before the
operational date:
- All the new processes have been tested
thoroughly
- The technology has been checked to make sure
everything works properly
- All of the staff has received any training that
was required and is aware of their responsibilities.
Once the SOC is operational, you can go about monitoring any
threats and holding weekly or monthly review sessions to gauge how well the
operations center is doing using the objectives list established earlier.
And there you go!
Your business now has proper protection against any and all
cyber threats that may arise in the future! No SOC will ever be perfect, but a well-built
solution does evolve with time for the better.
