Security Operations
Monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents
Security Operations (SecOps) is the practice of continuously monitoring and analyzing an organization's security posture to detect, investigate, and respond to threats. It combines people, processes, and technology to protect critical assets and maintain operational resilience against cyber threats.
Core Functions
- • Security monitoring and event analysis
- • Threat detection and hunting
- • Incident response and management
- • Vulnerability management
- • Security reporting and metrics
Common Challenges
- • Alert fatigue and false positives
- • Skill shortages and staffing
- • Evolving threat landscape
- • Tool sprawl and integration issues
- • Maintaining 24/7 coverage
The Security Operations Center (SOC)
A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a centralized unit that deals with security issues on an organizational and technical level. It houses the security analysts and engineers who continuously monitor and analyze the organization's security posture.
People
SOC analysts, threat hunters, incident responders, and SOC managers with specialized skills
Process
Standardized procedures for monitoring, detection, triage, investigation, and response
Technology
SIEM, EDR, NDR, SOAR, threat intelligence platforms, and other security tools
Level 1: Initial
Ad-hoc processes, minimal tooling, reactive approach
Level 2: Developing
Basic monitoring, some documented processes, limited visibility
Level 3: Defined
Established SOC, standard procedures, integrated tools
Level 4: Managed
Metrics-driven, proactive hunting, continuous improvement
Level 5: Optimized
Advanced analytics, automation, threat intelligence integration
Certified Security Analyst
SOC analyst certification
Certified Incident Handler
Incident response certification
This comprehensive guide covers the essential components of building and operating an effective Security Operations Center, from team structure to technology stack.
Learn the fundamentals of incident response, including preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.
This guide explains how to implement threat hunting in your organization, including methodologies, tools, and techniques for proactively searching for threats.