The Plain English Guide To: SIEM and SOC

Introduction 

When it comes to growing a business, the focus is often on the end result: improved revenue, larger headcounts, bigger premises, and so on. 

But a rapidly expanding business can suffer growing pains, too.  

As a company grows, it’ll quickly become a target of cybercriminals looking to breach systems, poach customer data or financial records, and put the entire organisation at risk. Because of this, cybersecurity monitoring is an absolute necessity for any small-to-medium sized business looking to grow.  

While there are a suite of measures available, including dedicated platforms like Endpoint Detection and Response, there are two components of a cybersecurity strategy which we’d like to focus on in particular with this article: SIEM and SOC.  

What is SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)? 

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is an IT security platform designed to provide organisations with real-time visibility into their cybersecurity status. A properly configured and deployed SIEM platform enables organisations to detect, investigate, and respond to any and all cyberthreats. The SIEM platform will aggregate, correlate, and analyse security data from multiple sources – including network, endpoints (i.e. employee laptops and workstations), user authentication, and application logs. 

SIEM solutions can quickly become invaluable for small businesses in the UK, as they may lack the resources to build their own dedicated in-house cybersecurity resource as a larger enterprise-level company might. SIEM opens the door to organisations having the ability to detect and respond to cyber-attacks quickly, as well as to monitor user activity and identify potentially malicious behaviour. 

So, how do SIEM platforms work in practice?  

SIEM software will collect and store data from multiple sources, including network and application logs, user authentication logs, and system and device logs. This data is then analysed and correlated within the SIEM platform to provide an instant, real-time view of security events at that precise moment in time. 

A SIEM platform can be used to identify suspicious activities such as unauthorised access attempts, malicious software downloads, and external connections to the network. Of course, without the type of monitoring afforded by SIEM, this type of suspicious activity may go entirely unnoticed – and that can rapidly snowball into a security hole and, in time, a successful cyber-attack.  

A SIEM platform will also enable organisations to analyse, detect, and respond to cyber-attacks quickly, meaning mitigative measures can be taken quickly and decisively to limit potential risk and data loss – often before attacks have taken place.  

The benefits of SIEM for a business 

The benefits of a SIEM solution might seem obvious, but let’s dig a little deeper.  

Here are just some of the reasons SMEs in the UK might decide to invest in a SIEM solution:  

• Improved visibility of security events: Because SIEM platforms can offer real-time views into current cybersecurity threats, organisations can respond to threats quickly and effectively.  
• Automated compliance reporting: Running a business always involves a lot of strict regulation, and compliance might not be fun, but it’s essential. SIEM offers a solution for organisations looking to automate compliance reporting and ensure they remain compliant with industry regulations. 
• Enhanced organisational cybersecurity: If you don’t actively monitor for potential threats, you’ll never see a cyber-attack coming, and the results could be disastrous. A SIEM solution helps mitigate this risk and improves your overall security posture.  
• Proactive security monitoring: SIEM solutions can monitor user activity and detect suspicious behaviour, allowing organisations to take corrective measures before it is too late. 

What is a SOC (Security Operations Centre)?  

Now that you’re familiar with SIEM, you might be wondering: whose job is to actually manage all of that data and monitoring? 

Here’s where a Security Operations Centre, or SOC, comes into play.  

A SOC is a dedicated team of security experts and technology designed to protect an organisation’s IT infrastructure and data from malicious threats. As the risk of cyber-attacks continues to rise, the need for a comprehensive security strategy has become increasingly important. A SOC – especially when deployed in combination with an effective SIEM solution – is a proactive approach to security that involves monitoring and analysing an organisation’s networks and systems to detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time. 

A SOC works by monitoring and logging all activity on a company’s IT infrastructure, including data, applications, and devices. This information is then analysed and assessed for any suspicious or malicious activity, such as malicious code or unauthorised access to data. If suspicious activity is detected, the SOC team will take action to mitigate the risk or respond to the threat. 

SOCs are often integrated into an organisation’s existing IT infrastructure, and can be managed either in-house or through an external provider, like a Managed Service Provider (MSP). A SOC can be customised to an organisation’s specific needs, and typically includes technologies such as intrusion detection systems (IDS), security information and event management (SIEM) solutions, and threat intelligence platforms. 

The benefits of a SOC for a business 

There are various benefits to establishing a Security Operations Centre within your small business, especially as a means of enhancing the value of a SIEM platform. Here are some of the most important: 

• As organisations become more digitised, their IT systems and data become increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Implementing a Security Operation Centre (SOC) can help to reduce these risks, increasing the security of a business’s data and IT infrastructure. A SOC is a centralised security team that is responsible for monitoring and responding to security threats in real-time. 
• By implementing a SOC in a small business, IT security professionals can have a more strategic and proactive approach to security. The SOC team can monitor the business’s IT systems in real-time, allowing them to detect and respond to potential threats quickly and effectively. This proactive approach can help to reduce the risk of a cyber-attack, as well as minimising the damage caused by any attack that does occur. 
• The SOC team can also be responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures that are tailored to the individual business’s needs. This will ensure that all staff are aware of the security protocols that need to be followed to ensure the security of the business’s data and IT infrastructure. Additionally, the SOC team can monitor the effectiveness of these policies in order to continually improve the security of the business. 
• By implementing a SOC, small businesses can also benefit from improved efficiency. The SOC team can streamline the security process, automating the monitoring and response to security threats. This can free up resources that would otherwise be spent on manual security processes, allowing the business to focus on its core operations. 

How do SIEM and SOC work together? 

As mentioned above, it’s possible for both SIEM and SOC to operate independently of one another – but they really work best when deployed together. 

That’s because the data which the SIEM system collects, analyses, and correlates from multiple sources will always need a human to process and mine the key insights – and that’s just what a SOC team will do. The SOC team can also use the SIEM data to create reports that provide insight into the security posture of the organization.  

While it’s true that SIEM and SOC are more commonly associated with large enterprise-scale businesses, these are still important options to know about for SMEs who are looking to grow.  

Does your business need a SIEM and SOC solution? 

The bottom line here is that the combination of a SIEM and SOC solution provides organisations with a comprehensive, end-to-end security solution that can help them detect, investigate, and respond to threats as quickly and efficiently as possible. In addition, these solutions are designed to be scalable, so they can grow with the business. 

As businesses grow, and their store of valuable customer data also grows, the need for solutions like SIEM and SOC will become more of a necessity – so it’s never too early to start considering this type of system in your company.  

Boost your organisation’s cybersecurity with Get Support 

We know that topics like SIEM and SOC can get complicated – and fast – so if you’re still wondering which strategy is best for improving your company’s cyber-security defences, our team is here to help. 

As a Managed Service Provider with decades of experience working with SMEs in the UK, we’re ideally positioned to assist with the selection, configuration and deployment of cyber-protection systems for your business. 

For a no-obligation consultation and to find out how our team of IT experts could assist your organisation, just call us today on 01865 594 000 or drop your details into the form at the bottom of the page.