From the way we store data to the way an entire business operates, the world has moved online. Unfortunately, this has increased the number of cybercriminals who are waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Over time, cybercriminals have become more sophisticated and organized, and they are also using more advanced and high-tech tools. Many businesses and organizations are dangerously exposed to ransomware, data breaches, and other cyberattacks, and they are in dire need of effective security services. 

This rise in demand is being met with a worldwide shortage of cybersecurity talent. Over 3.5 million people worldwide are needed to fill cybersecurity positions. Many businesses and organizations are turning to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to help address the gaps in cybersecurity. Yet the utter demand for cybersecurity services has proven to be a challenge in many ways. 

Many MSPs are finding themselves in situations that do not allow them to provide the proper services because they no longer have the adequate resources and financial capacity to ensure their security services can meet the current rise in demand. These factors are changing the landscape of how security services are met and delivered in the market.

SOC Services

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) take on the responsibilities of maintaining hardware, software, and a business’s entire network infrastructure. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) provide a beneficial service by enabling businesses and organizations of all sizes to outsource their critical information technology processes. As more businesses and organizations face more threats and attacks, many who are looking to partner with an MSP may ask whether the MSP has a managed security operations center (SOC).

Question: What is a security operations center (SOC)?

A security operations center (SOC) is a center that is responsible for monitoring, preventing, detecting, investigating, and responding to cyber threats. A security operations center (SOC) can be used to enhance a business’s efficiency and effectiveness. Properly implementing a Security Operations Center (SOC) is often a complex task, that will require significant financial resources, time, and staff. Given the recent shortage of cybersecurity talent, organizations can face significant challenges. As a result, many MSPs are considering outsourcing some or all of their SOC services to SOC service providers.

Question: Why are more MSPs considering SOCs?

More MSPs are looking for a greater sense of control over their security monitoring and response processes, which results in them wanting to increase their overall internal security operations. The impact of a security operations center (SOC) makes it one of the critical initiatives that an MSP can implement. 

Features to look for in SOC Providers

SOC vendors are able to provide the following:

• Monitoring and Risk Management
• Control and Digital Forensics
• Network and System Administration
• Threat Intelligence
• Vulnerability scanning
• Monitoring and/or management of advanced threat defense technologies

What is the Best SOC Service?

It is anticipated that the SOC as a Service market will reach 1,656 million by 2025. North America currently has several major players offering SOC as a Service solution to end-users in the region.  The United States and Canada are expected to contribute heavily to the growth of the SOC as a Service market.

There are major vendors worldwide, such as AlienVault, Arctic Wolf Networks, Binary Defense, ChannelSOC Fortinet, Proficio, Radar Services, SOCs also provide support to properly assist their customers in using and maintaining the SOC. SOC vendors offer a variety of services, such as consulting, training, and maintenance.

SOC service providers offer a variety of capabilities that can be beneficial to any MSP. However, we understand the variety of services can be immense. One of the best ways to determine what SOC provider will be best for your MSP is to identify the services that you feel will be valuable to your MSP. When asked how MSPs could pinpoint the best SOC service for their needs, Carl Fransen of CTECH Consulting Group shared the following:

The two key factors any SOC service needs to accel at are 24×7 prevention and remediation.  The prevention service needs to cover all possible attack vectors to be completely effective. If servers are monitored and desktops are not, there would be an obvious hole in security landscape.  Along with prevention are the real-time monitoring of any possible known and even unknown hack attempt.  Behaviour AI needs to be deployed to learn and determine if a set of actions could constitute a threat to then create an alert for both security staff and the AI to take action.

 Matt Bullock of Accelera IT Solutions shared that his company uses services provided by an SOC provider, and he said the following:

”No system is 100% secure and no prevention system is perfect.  The SOC team needs to have the trained staff to work with the MSP to properly advise and assist in the proper removal of a successful attack and the correct changed to mitigate any further attacks”

Bullock added,  As an MSP, we find the most useful service provided by a SOC to be internal network scans.  With most hacking attempts exploiting open ports in servers, routers, and desktop computers, a monthly scan is necessary to ensure no programs were loaded that may have opened a port in a firewall.  With regular scanning, we can spot user trends which results in who we need to train on the proper computer and online usage among our various clients.  The more data we can gather to minimize human error and human maliciousness, the better we are prepared to defend and restore our clients after an attempted or successful malware attack.

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When SOC services are properly implemented, they can be an integral part of an MSPs strategy. Partnering with a SOC vendor or provider can be a great way to efficiently and effectively improve an MSPs security operations center. However, it is important to carefully and fully evaluate the SOC service providers you are considering so that you will have a partner that understands your MSPs’ needs and will provide the right services and resources.