Key Challenges Facing SOC Teams in Modern Cyber Security
In the contemporary cyber security landscape, Security Operations Centres (SOCs) play a pivotal role by defending against increasingly advanced cyber dangers. Given the persistent changes in tactics being adopted by cybercriminals, SOC teams have to face a blend of challenges to counter any cyber incident.
Evolving Threat Landscape
The biggest challenge for most SOC cyber security teams? SOC cyber security teams often have an issue with the changing nature of the threats that they face. Just as one method fails, cybercriminals will constantly adapt and develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) in their quest to overcome existing, reactive defenses. This means that SOC teams must also adapt and change continuously to remain relevant for the latest-generation threats.
Volume and Complexity of Alerts
SOCs generate a massive amount of security alerts every day. It doesn’t help that most of those security alerts are false positives. That’s overwhelming for even the most seasoned SOC team — and it poses a big problem. SOC teams need to be able to prioritize real threats and respond, while also not getting fatigued responding to everything. They need to make sure they’re not wasting time while they do it.
Skills Shortage and Workforce Burnout
The cyber security industry is currently experiencing a massive skills gap and Security Operations Centre (SOC) teams are no exception. As the need for cyber security experts grows, there simply aren’t enough of them to go around — and SOCs are beginning to feel the pinch. A talent drought combined with the high-stress environment of SOC operations can quickly lead to team burnout.
Integration of Advanced Technologies
Though AI and analytics can revolutionize SOC activity, particularly in threat detection and automation, implementing this transformation is far from plain sailing. SOC teams need the right skills to get the most out of complex and sophisticated tools — but with tools that hinder rather than help if they’re not aligned correctly, teams must also exercise caution and deploy the right relationships.
Maintaining Regulatory Compliance
Then there are the thorny issues of industry standards, data privacy regulations, and country-specific laws that SOC teams must also contend with. As the first line of defense in the battleground of today’s cyber security landscape, teams are already heavily occupied with winning and losing ground every day — without needing to also contend with the local lands themselves.
Balancing Proactive and Reactive Security Measures
SOC teams are required to manage a constant balance between taking proactive security actions such as threat hunting or vulnerability management, and reacting to real-time incidents. Striking the appropriate balance between dealing with immediate incidents and ensuring that the SOC has the means to protect itself against future incidents is far from an exact science.
Building Resilience in SOC Cyber Security
By evolving and growing, making critical investments in technology and expertise, and balancing reactive and proactive responses, SOCs can continue to defend against even the most innovative threats. Supercharge your business’ cyber strength with DigitalXRAID — visit their website or contact the team directly to discover how to secure your future.