What Is a Security Operations Center (SOC)?

What does a SOC do?

The SOC continuously collects and analyzes security data from endpoints, networks, cloud workloads, identities, and applications. Analysts then evaluate this information for threats, triage alerts, and determine whether deeper investigation is required. While every SOC adapts its approach to the organization it supports, the core responsibilities are consistent across industries.

Daily work inside a SOC often follows a rhythm: initial alert review (usually performed by Tier 1 analysts), investigation and enrichment of suspicious activity (Tier 2), and advanced threat analysis or hunting (Tier 3). Alongside these responsibilities, SOC teams maintain documentation, tune detection logic, refine playbooks, and communicate findings to stakeholders. The goal is not only reacting to threats but improving visibility and cyber resilience over time.

Key components of a SOC

1. Attack surface visibility and monitoring

Visibility is essential for effective security operations. SOC teams are responsible for understanding what assets their organization relies on, where vulnerabilities may exist, and how threat actors could take advantage of gaps. This work includes ongoing vulnerability assessments, asset classification, authentication and access monitoring, and oversight of network and endpoint activity. By maintaining a clear view of the attack surface, SOC teams can reduce blind spots and identify issues proactively.

2. Incident response plan

A strong incident response plan provides structure when a threat occurs. It defines who needs to take action, how incidents should be validated and escalated, and what steps to follow during containment and recovery. The plan also outlines communication pathways and expectations – critical during moments when time, clarity, and coordination matter most. SOC teams rely on this plan to ensure responses are consistent and well-documented.

3. Disaster recovery integration

While disaster recovery plans are broad business documents, they directly influence SOC operations. Knowing how systems will be restored after an incident – and in what order – helps analysts understand impact, prioritize actions, and communicate accurately with stakeholders. Regularly tested backups, validated restoration procedures, and clear ownership roles all support smoother SOC-led response during high-pressure scenarios.

4. Governance and metrics

Measuring performance helps SOC teams track progress and communicate effectiveness. Metrics such as mean-time-to-detect (MTTD) and mean-time-to-respond (MTTR) provide insight into operational health. Additional indicators (alert fidelity, coverage completeness, and playbook adherence) help teams highlight areas for improvement. Over time, these measurements support SOC maturity, resource planning, and leadership alignment.

How to set up a security operations center

Establishing a SOC requires thoughtful alignment across three major areas: people, technology, and processes. While the specific shape of your SOC depends on your organization’s size and needs, certain considerations are universally common.

People

People are the core of any SOC. Building the right team means defining the roles and skills required for day-to-day operations. Tiered analysts typically manage alert review, investigation, and escalation. Threat hunters and detection engineers help uncover emerging risks and refine detection logic. SOC managers guide strategy, oversee reporting, and ensure coordination across departments. Strong communication skills, analytical thinking, and familiarity with common investigation techniques are essential traits across all roles.

Technology

The technology stack supports the SOC’s ability to collect, analyze, and act on security data. Most SOCs rely on a combination of log aggregation and security information and event management (SIEM) tools, threat intelligence sources, endpoint and network monitoring solutions, case management systems, and security automation, orchestration, and response (SOAR) workflows. Selecting the right mix requires understanding your environment, regulatory obligations, existing infrastructure, and the types of threats most relevant to your organization.

Processes

Documented processes help ensure SOC operations are efficient, predictable, and repeatable. These processes define how alerts are prioritized and escalated, how investigations proceed, what communication workflows look like, and how findings are documented or shared with other teams. Clear processes also support consistency during incidents, especially when analysts are under pressure and decisions must be made quickly.

SOC models and when to use them

Organizations structure their SOCs in different ways depending on available resources, internal expertise, and business priorities. An in-house SOC offers full control and deep familiarity with the environment but requires significant staffing and investment.

Virtual or distributed SOCs allow teams to collaborate across locations or time zones. Co-managed SOCs blend internal and external capabilities, while SOC-as-a-service models provide fully outsourced operations with defined service levels. Each approach has trade-offs, and the best option often depends on scale, staffing constraints, and risk appetite.

Common SOC challenges

Despite their critical importance, SOCs face several persistent challenges. Alert fatigue is common, especially when analysts sift through high volumes of low-fidelity or noisy alerts. Visibility gaps – particularly across cloud services, identities, and distributed networks – can leave teams unsure of what’s happening in key parts of the environment.

Many SOCs also struggle with limited staffing or disparate tools that don’t integrate cleanly, making investigations slower and more complex. Addressing these challenges requires strong operational discipline, ongoing tuning, and iterative improvements to tooling and workflows.

Additional Reading

Rapid7's 24x7 SOC Monitoring Solution

Staying Ahead of Attackers: What SOC Teams Are Doing Differently in 2025

Human Framework, Machine Speed: Scaling SOC Judgment Through Agentic AI

Key Trends in Cybersecurity: SOC Impacts & Emerging Threats

The First 24 Hours of a Cyberattack: What SOC Teams Can Learn

How Organizations Detect Suspicious Activity (Behavioral + Telemetry Signals)

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