So, you want to build a SOC (Security Operations Center) team? It’s like building a superhero squad—each member has a special power, and together, they save the day (or your network). Getting the SOC team structure: roles and responsibilities right isn’t just nice to have; it’s essential. From the analysts to the engineers, every seat counts. Ready to learn how to build your dream team and keep those bad guys at bay? Let’s get started!
SOC team meaning explained
A SOC (Security Operations Center) team is your frontline defense, monitoring and responding to cyber threats 24/7.
What is a security operations center?
Now that we’ve talked about what a SOC team is, let’s zoom out and tackle what a Security Operations Center (SOC) actually is. Spoiler alert: it’s more than just a room full of screens. Think of a Security Operations Center as your digital command center. It’s where experts keep watch 24/7, hunting down cyber threats before they become disasters.
Why businesses need a SOC: 5 key benefits
Now that we know what a SOC is, let’s talk about why you need one. Here are the top reasons every organization needs a Security Operations Center:
- 24/7 Threat Monitoring: Threats don’t punch out, and neither does your SOC.
- Rapid Incident Response: Detection is faster, containment is faster, less damage.
- Proactive Threat Hunting: SOC teams don’t wait for threats; they look for them.
- Compliance: A SOC helps you meet security requirements and avoid fines.
- Business Continuity: Your business keeps running no matter what with a SOC.
What does a security operations center do?
Here’s what a SOC handles—and why it matters:
- Threat Monitoring – Keeps constant watch for suspicious activity to stop attacks before they start.
- Incident Response – Handles breaches in real time to minimize damage and downtime.
- Vulnerability Management – Spots and patches weak points before attackers can exploit them.
- Log Analysis – Sifts through mountains of data to detect patterns that reveal potential threats.
- Compliance Management – Ensures your business meets security regulations, avoiding hefty fines.
SOC team functions
A well-functioning SOC team acts as the organization’s cybersecurity backbone. By effectively executing their monitoring, analysis, detection, response, and remediation core functions, they protect critical systems and data from cyber threats around the clock. A strong SOC team is an investment in the organization’s overall resilience, ensuring business continuity and minimizing the impact of security incidents.
Here’s the list of core SOC functions:
- Proactive security measures
Think of this as your preemptive strike. It’s all about gathering threat intelligence, managing vulnerabilities, and training your team to stay sharp and aware. Because prevention is way better than dealing with a full-blown attack. - Real-time monitoring and detection
This is your 24/7 surveillance system. SOC teams keep an eye on all security tools and logs, using systems like SIEM to detect anything fishy before it spirals out of control. - Incident response and resolution
When things do go south, this is your emergency response squad. They jump in to investigate, contain threats, recover data, and make sure your incident response plan is locked and loaded for the future.
Proactive Security Measures | Threat Intelligence Gathering and Analysis: The SOC team actively gathers and analyzes threat intelligence to stay ahead of potential attacks. This involves collecting data on emerging threats, attacker behaviors, and vulnerabilities. |
Vulnerability Management and Patching: They identify and prioritize vulnerabilities in systems and applications. They then ensure timely patching or mitigation steps to address these weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. | |
Security Awareness Training: The SOC team (or a dedicated security awareness team) may also be responsible for educating employees on cybersecurity best practices. This can help minimize risks associated with human error, such as phishing attacks. | |
Real-Time Monitoring and Detection | Continuous Monitoring of Security Tools: SOC analysts constantly monitor many security tools, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems. These tools generate alerts when suspicious activity is detected. |
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): An SIEM system is a powerful tool that collects logs and events from various security tools across the network. The SOC team uses SIEM to aggregate, analyze, and correlate this data to identify potential security incidents. | |
Incident Response and Resolution | Identifying and Investigating Security Incidents: When a security incident is suspected (e.g., a triggered IDS alert), the SOC team investigates to determine its scope and impact. |
Containing and Eradicating Threats: The team takes steps to contain the threat, prevent further damage, and eradicate the attackers from the system. This may involve isolating infected systems, shutting down compromised accounts, or deploying antivirus/anti-malware tools. | |
Recovering Systems and Data: After containing the threat, the SOC team focuses on recovering affected systems and data. This may involve restoring backups or rebuilding compromised systems. | |
Developing and Maintaining a Well-Defined Incident Response Plan: The SOC team plays a key role in developing and maintaining a well-defined incident response plan (IRP) that outlines handling security incidents effectively. |
These core functions ensure that SOC teams play a vital role in safeguarding an organization’s data and maintaining business continuity in the face of ever-evolving cyber threats.
If you’re considering whether to build or hire a vendor for SOC services, we suggest you read the article “Outsourced SOC vs. In-House SOC: Making the Right Choice“, in which we examine both options in detail.
Key SOC team roles and responsibilities
Although the roles at any company may have different names, all organizations have similar responsibilities when it comes to cybersecurity. Here are the more common roles within a SOC team and the individual responsibilities that are associated with each role.
SOC Principal
The SOC Principal is the big-picture thinker, ensuring the team operates smoothly and aligns with the organization’s security goals. They set the strategy and oversee critical security initiatives, making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
SOC Manager/ SOC Lead / SOC Director
Think of the SOC Manager as the team captain. They manage day-to-day operations, coordinate workflows, and ensure the team responds to threats quickly and effectively. They’re the glue that keeps everything (and everyone) together.
Security Engineer
It is your tech wizard. Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain the tools and systems the team relies on, from firewalls to SIEM platforms. They ensure the tech is bulletproof so the team can focus on catching threats.
Tier 1 SOC Analyst
The first line of defense. Tier 1 Analysts monitor alerts, sift through logs, and flag potential issues. They’re like the security guards of the digital world—keeping an eye on everything, 24/7.
Tier 2 SOC Analyst
These are your investigators. Tier 2 Analysts dive deeper into the alerts flagged by Tier 1, analyzing data to determine if it’s a real threat or just noise. When it’s serious, they escalate it up the chain.
Tier 3 SOC Analyst
The threat hunters of the team. Tier 3 Analysts proactively search for hidden threats and analyze advanced attack patterns. They’re the detectives, always looking for the bad guys lurking in the shadows.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
The CISO is the security visionary, steering the organization’s overall cybersecurity strategy. They ensure the SOC aligns with business objectives, manages risks, and communicates with leadership about security needs and priorities.
Additional SOC Roles
Compliance Auditor
This role ensures the SOC meets regulatory requirements and standards. They review policies, procedures, and reports to keep the organization compliant and audit-ready.
Threat Responder
The rapid reaction force. Threat Responders jump in when incidents occur, taking action to contain and neutralize threats before they cause damage.
Forensic Investigator
The digital crime solver. Forensic Investigators analyze breaches to understand how they happened, who’s responsible, and how to prevent a repeat. They’re the ones digging into the “who, what, and how” after an attack.
Each role is a crucial piece of the puzzle, working together to protect your organization from cyber threats.
SOC team roles comparison table: Responsibilities at a glance
Check out this table for a quick breakdown of each role and what they bring to the table (literally).
SOC Principal | |
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Security Engineer | SOC Manager |
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Tier 3 analyst: Threat Hunter | Tier 2: Incident Responder |
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Tier 1: Security Analyst | |
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SOC team structure: Getting it right
A solid SOC team is the backbone of your cybersecurity defense, handling everything from 24/7 monitoring to incident response. While the basics apply to everyone, SMEs need to get creative—focusing on the must-have roles and making the most of their resources. Let’s break down how SMEs can build a SOC that works without overcomplicating things.
The SOC team structure outlined here is based on the extensive experience of UnderDefense in managing successful SOC operations.
Your trusted partner for level 5 SOC excellence
Years of experience and much effort put into the SOC team have allowed UnderDefense to grow to a level 5 security center. The impressive maturity level of “Predictive Analytics” offers many advantages if you decide to look into our Managed SOC service. If you even already have your own team or decide to build one, we could take a second seat, augment your SOC, filtering through the noise and presenting only true, confirmed offenses
Our trained and award-winning team of experienced security professionals can provide the expertise and resources needed to keep your organization safe around the clock. Choosing UnderDefense for your SOC-as-a-Service means opting for a reliable, innovative, and client-focused SecOps partner dedicated to fortifying your digital defenses fast and effectively.
How to build a SOC team: Best practices
A SOC team is your cybersecurity A-team—always on guard and ready to tackle real-time threats. Let’s get down to building a strong SOC team’s best practices:
Define roles and responsibilities
Think of it as casting for a heist movie—every role matters! Analysts, engineers, threat hunters, and even awareness trainers need clear duties so they don’t step on each other’s toes. Bonus tip: Tier your analysts like a cake—Tier 1 watches, Tier 2 investigates, and Tier 3 hunts the sneaky threats.
Recruit and retain the best
Your dream team doesn’t just walk in off the street. Look for certified pros (CISSP, CEH, etc.) and keep them happy with growth opportunities and a healthy work vibe. Nobody wants a burnt-out defender on the front lines.
Use cutting-edge tools
Equip your team with tools like SIEMs, threat intel platforms, and automation (SOAR is your friend). A unified security & compliance automation platform like UnderDefense MAXI? Even better—it’s all your security tools in one place, making life easier and bad guys more miserable.
Train like you’re in cyber boot camp
Threats evolve, so your team should too. Workshops, courses, and regular practice drills keep everyone sharp and ready for real-world challenges. Don’t forget to track KPIs, such as how fast your team detects and responds to threats—it’s like their scorecard.
Communicate and collaborate
A SOC isn’t a bunch of lone wolves. It’s a team sport! Open communication, cross-training, and regular huddles keep everyone in sync and ready to go.
Simulate and drill
Repetition is the mother of skill. Run regular simulations to test your team’s response skills, find weaknesses, and fine-tune your playbook. The more they practice, the better they’ll perform under fire.
By implementing the best practices outlined in this chapter, you can establish a strong foundation for effective security operations. From clearly defined roles and skilled personnel to advanced security tools and a culture of continuous learning, each element is crucial in optimizing your SOC’s effective operability.
Conclusion
A good SOC is your first line of defense against cyber threats. Whether you’re building in-house or teaming up with a trusted partner like UnderDefense, the key is having the right people watching your back. With UnderDefense Managed SOC services you get all the benefits of a top SOC team – without the hassle of managing it yourself. It’s a game changer for protecting your data and reputation and staying ahead of the bad guys. Want to make your life easier? Let’s talk and find the right fit for you!
FAQ
1. What does a SOC operator do?
A SOC operator is the first line of defense in cybersecurity. They monitor systems, analyze alerts, and respond to potential threats. Their job involves identifying suspicious activities, escalating serious issues, and ensuring that your organization stays protected 24/7.
2. How big should a SOC team be?
The size of a SOC team depends on the organization’s needs and size. For small to medium-sized businesses, a lean team of 3–5 roles (analysts, engineers, and a manager) can be effective. Larger organizations may require tiered teams with dozens of members, covering specialized roles like threat hunting and forensic analysis.
3. What are the main SOC challenges?
SOC teams face several challenges, including alert fatigue from too many false positives, difficulty in finding and retaining skilled talent, and staying ahead of ever-evolving threats. Budget constraints and integrating advanced tools can also add to the complexity.
4. What are security metrics for SOC teams?
Key metrics for SOC teams include:
- Mean Time to Detect (MTTD): How quickly threats are identified.
- Mean Time to Respond (MTTR): How fast incidents are mitigated.
- False Positive Rate: How often alerts are incorrect.
- Incident Closure Rate: How efficiently the team resolves incidents.
These metrics help measure the effectiveness and efficiency of a SOC team.
