Podcast 🎧 & blog: Security Operations Centres Are a Boon to Cybersecurity

With cyber threats growing in sophistication and scale, organisations must rethink their strategies to safeguard digital assets and operational continuity. Security Operations Centers (SOCs) stand at the forefront of this effort, acting as centralised hubs where cybersecurity professionals monitor, manage, and mitigate threats. 

The rise in cyber threats – estimated to have grown by 25% annually over the past half-decade – has amplified the importance of SOCs. In this podcast hosted by Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, Margus Vaino and Martin Paas from Telia discuss the evolution, challenges, and opportunities surrounding SOCs – from the point of view of a major telecommunications player.  

Acknowledging the rising importance of SOCs is only the beginning: the increasing complexity of cyber threats, and the essential steps required to build and sustain effective cybersecurity infrastructures, are all part of the roadmap to effective cyber defence. 

It Goes Beyond Alert Management 

Traditionally, SOCs were seen as entities that handled alerts, but the scope of their operations has expanded significantly. “But it’s no longer just about that. We are creating a safety net that works 24/7, ensuring organisations can operate without disruption,” Vaino says. “Building an infrastructure that anticipates and thwarts them before they escalate is key. This means employing advanced analytics, integrating threat intelligence from multiple sources, and maintaining a strong connection between SOC teams and organisational leadership to align strategies and business goals,” Paas adds. SOCs today focus on understanding the root causes of threats, and preemptively mitigating risks. 

One of the critical advancements has been the integration of AI and machine learning into SOC operations. Boosting threat detection, it enables predictive analytics and better discovery of anomalies. In fact, AI-powered tools can analyse patterns across vast datasets to identify subtle indications of an attack – something that otherwise might go unnoticed. And despite of design and implementation challenges, it emphasises overall the role of automation.  

Building a SOC – People, Strategy, Technology 

Automated responses help reduce the time to contain incidents, but also free up human resources to focus on more complex tasks. Keeping well in mind, though, that technology alone cannot replace skilled professionals. “Automation enhances efficiency, but the value of human intuition and expertise in navigating the nuances of cybersecurity remains unmatched. While AI and machine learning can process massive amounts of data quickly, it’s the human analysts who spot anomalies, understand context, and make critical judgment calls that protect organisations from catastrophic breaches,” Maigre explains. 

The creation of a SOC, indeed, is something that requires a good alignment between technology, talent, and organisational objectives. One of the key considerations, on the latter aspect, is deciding between an in-house SOC and an outsourced model. In-house SOCs provide greater control and alignment with internal processes, while outsourced SOCs offer scalability and access to specialised expertise, which may amplify a SOC’s capabilities. 

Nevertheless, a successful SOC always relies on its team, with roles ranging from incident analysts to forensic specialists. As Vaino points out, “The human element is the heart of any SOC. Without skilled and motivated professionals, even the best technology will fall short. A hacker mindset is encouraged – one based on curiosity, continuous learning, and the ability to think like an adversary. These are all qualities that make a difference between an average response, and truly effective threat mitigation.” 

SOCs in Action, and a Dynamic Threat Landscape 

Effective SOCs sport adaptability in responding to emerging cyber threats. So, with the increasing sophistication of attackers, SOCs are naturally adopting advanced strategies to stay ahead. From siloed operations, they’re now moving to more collaborative ecosystems, where they can leverage further threat intelligence to counteract offenses.  

“The future of SOCs lies in their ability to act as interconnected nodes in a larger cybersecurity framework. The need is for collaboration across sectors and even between nations, no single organisation or country can tackle cyber threats in isolation. SOCs must then evolve to be both adaptive and collaborative, utilising shared insights to stay ahead of attackers,” Paas remarks. 

Adding to the complexity is the proliferation of hybrid work models on the one hand, but also IoT devices on the other – they have expanded the attack surface, for organisations. SOCs must then remain vigilant, ensuring secure access controls and network monitoring. 

Another pressing challenge is the ethical use of AI in cybersecurity. AI provides immense potential for enhancing defense mechanisms, but it also raises concerns about biases and unintended consequences. SOCs must steer through these complexities, and ensure that their AI tools are transparent, accountable, and observant of ethical standards. 

As follows, “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, but SOCs are at the center of this ecosystem. While protecting individual entities, they contribute to the resilience of entire sectors and societies overall. When governments, businesses, and communities work together, SOCs can serve as the backbone of a collective defense mechanism in the face of a dynamic threat landscape. And ensure a safer digital future for everyone,” host Maigre concludes. 

Author: Federico Plantera

Responding to increased cybersecurity concerns, the governments of Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have embarked on increasing their technical and operational capabilities for large-scale cyber crisis management, both through increased risk mitigation and incident response in EU-supported Cybersecurity Rapid Response projects (2022 – 2025). Together with eGA, the operational cyber capacities of Security Operations Centres and Computer Security Incident Response Teams will be increased and improved inter-institutional information sharing and incident response coordination. Read more >>> https://ega.ee/project/western-balkan-rapid-2-0/ 

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