In order to meet today’s security challenges, it is important for your organization to come to terms with and understand what tools, platforms, and cybersecurity models are available to them. Their pros, their cons’ and all the in-between.
SOC-as-a-Service Vs Cloud-Based SOC Platform: Which is Better?
In this blog piece, we’ll give you a quick, easy-to-understand rundown of two of their archetypes — a SOC-as-a-service model and a cloud-based SOC platform. What they are, how they work, and which one is better for your business.
What is SOC-as-a-service?
SOC-as-a-service is a cloud-based security service that allows for the detection of potential threats in an organization’s network. SOC-as-a-service provides a centralized platform for the management of cybersecurity. It also provides insights into the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
The service can be used by organizations to assess their security posture, detect and respond to cyberattacks, and analyze their existing cybersecurity infrastructure.
This is the industry standard. Your organization contacts a service provider and subscribes to their platform. The service provider meanwhile takes the baton of activities such as investigating threats, detecting them, and monitoring the system. Some, not only, but also include compliance awareness and remediation.
What is a cloud-based SOC platform?
Cloud-based SOC platforms are designed to collect and analyze data from multiple sources. They have the ability to monitor, detect, and respond to threats in real-time. A cloud-based SOC platform is software that can collect and analyze data from multiple sources. It has the ability to monitor, detect, and respond to threats in real-time.
It’s very similar to SOC-as-a-service with the difference that most of its tools are on the cloud, and that most activities are performed by software, AI, and humans have little to no oversight in its operation.
In the case of a cloud-based SOC platform, you’ll have to invest in hiring people out, folks that can control, configure, update, and basically serve as technicians to the software.
How does a SOC-as-a-service model work?
A SOC-as-a-service model is a security operations center that is delivered as a service. This means that the organization outsources its SOC to a third party and pays for it on an as-needed basis.
This model can be beneficial because the organization does not need to invest in expensive hardware or software, they just need to pay for the operational costs of running the SOC.
The benefits of this model are:
- The company can focus on its core business rather than spending time and money on security operations.
- The company saves money because they do not have to invest in hardware and software that they would otherwise need to maintain themselves.
- The company has access to a team of experts who are responsible for managing all aspects of its cybersecurity.
- The organization does not have to maintain its own staff and this allows for flexibility in HR requirements.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the SOC-as-a-service model?
The SOC-as-a-service model is a relatively new model for security operations. It has been gathering momentum in recent years and is now a viable option for organizations of all sizes. The advantages of this model are that it can be more cost-effective, flexible, and scalable.
The main disadvantage has to do with in-house personnel. You’re hiring a team, one with multiple clients, and one that any given day has thousands of threats to attend to.
No matter how customizable they might be, they will never be as focused on your needs as an in-house team. One you have with you and whose sole purpose is to protect you.
How does a cloud-based SOC platform work?
A cloud-based SOC platform is a software solution that offers a suite of tools to help security and operations teams manage the entire IT infrastructure.
It provides them with the tools they need to monitor and respond to any potential security threats, as well as identify trends and patterns in their network activity. This includes the ability to monitor data from all endpoints and servers in real-time, analyze traffic data for anomalies, set up rules and alerts, detect malware infections on endpoints, etc.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the cloud-based SOC platform?
Cloud-based SOC platforms are more cost-effective and flexible as they can be accessed from anywhere. They also offer better security and higher uptime. However, they are not as reliable as on-premise SOC platforms — or SOCaaS subscriptions.
The cloud offers a cheaper, faster, and more effective way to protect your company’s data and networks. With the cloud, you can have access to your data from anywhere at any time. Most importantly, it offers key security features that are missing in the traditional in-house or third-party supplier method. For example:
- It is not possible for hackers to get in if there is no network connection.
- The cloud offers a higher level of encryption
- The data is stored in multiple locations which makes it difficult for attackers.
Nevertheless, these features only work IF your security team has finely tuned the system, configured it properly, and the platform is constantly updated on all ends, particularly by the supplier.
How to decide between SOC-as-a-service and a cloud-based SOC platform?
SOC-as-a-service is a cloud-based service that provides SOC capabilities to businesses. It is generally easier to deploy and manage. For small businesses, this is the way to go. It’s simple and they don’t have to invest in personnel. It is easy to deploy and manage. It provides basic SOC capabilities. It has a low cost of ownership.