Cybersecurity: The benefits of an outsourced SOC to protect your business
Every minute, critical data flows through interconnected networks, fueling both opportunities and risks. In this digital landscape where unpredictability is the norm, a Security Operations Center (SOC) is more than just a safeguard—it’s the strategic conductor of proactive vigilance. Far from being a mere technological choice, opting for an outsourced SOC is an innovative alliance between specialized expertise and budget optimization, addressing modern business challenges.
What is a SOC?
A SOC, or Security Operations Center, is a centralized unit that monitors, analyzes, and responds to cybersecurity incidents 24/7. It enables rapid threat detection, incident management, and continuous protection of the company’s systems and data.
Why Outsource Your SOC?
According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach 2024 report, the average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024. Given the financial stakes and the increasing complexity of cyber threats, outsourcing your SOC offers numerous advantages:
- Instant Access to Expertise: Entrusting your project to a specialized provider grants you immediate access to cutting-edge expertise and technology.
- Cost Reduction: Outsourcing eliminates the need for significant investments in infrastructure and human resources while ensuring optimal protection.
- Flexibility and Scalability: An outsourced SOC adapts seamlessly to your company’s size and specific needs, whether in retail, e-commerce, healthcare, or insurance.
- Focus on Core Business: By delegating cybersecurity to experts, you can focus on your core operations and growth.
How to Choose an Outsourced SOC Provider?
To make the most of outsourcing, you need to select a trusted partner, like be ys outsourcing services. Key criteria to consider include experience, the quality of infrastructure and processes, as well as the ability to adapt to your business challenges.
By choosing an outsourced SOC, you are opting for enhanced, agile, and cost-effective cybersecurity. It’s a strategic decision to ensure lasting protection for your business in an ever-evolving digital environment.
I. Challenges in Modern Cybersecurity
In today’s digital landscape, businesses are facing unprecedented cybersecurity challenges:
The rapid evolution of cyber threats in 2024
- Cyber threats continued to advance at a staggering pace in 2024, leaving digital environments increasingly vulnerable to attacks.
- According to the Hiscox Report 2023, 53% of businesses experienced an attack, compared to 48% the previous year, marking a 5-point increase in just one year.
- Attackers are already leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to bypass traditional protections. Experts anticipate these methods will become even more sophisticated over time.
The global shortage of cybersecurity experts in 2024
- The cybersecurity sector continues to face a critical shortage of skilled professionals in 2024, further complicating efforts to protect businesses.
- The Global Cybersecurity Forum and BCG report, published in November 2024, reveals that there are currently 7.1 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide, but 2.8 million positions remain unfilled—a vacancy rate of 28%.
- This talent shortage makes it even harder to build effective in-house security teams, undermining businesses’ ability to defend against cyber threats in 2024.
II. Benefits of an Outsourced SOC
The Outsourcing of SOC Provides Key Advantages to Address Modern Cybersecurity Challenges:
Continuous 24/7/365 Monitoring
An outsourced SOC ensures uninterrupted vigilance over your IT infrastructure. This approach significantly reduces Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), two critical cybersecurity metrics.
Access to Specialized Expertise
Outsourced SOC providers employ highly skilled cybersecurity experts. These professionals, exposed to diverse environments and configurations, constantly enhance their expertise to stay ahead of evolving threats.
Resource and Knowledge Sharing
An outsourced SOC leverages a global view of threats, drawn from working with multiple clients. This shared knowledge allows for:
- Faster detection of emerging threats
- Better anticipation of attacks
- Access to the latest security technologies
Flexibility and Scalability
An outsourced SOC offers the flexibility to quickly adjust resources in line with the organization’s evolving needs, bypassing the complexities of hiring or downsizing internal teams.
III. Cost Efficiency: Outsourced SOC vs. In-House SOC
Cost Comparison
- In-House SOC: Requires significant initial investment, representing 20%-40% of the annual cybersecurity budget, with additional operational costs of 10%-20% for personnel, tools, and maintenance.
- Outsourced SOC: Accounts for only 5%-15% of the total annual budget, with no high initial investment. Resources are shared, significantly reducing costs while providing access to specialized experts and advanced technologies.
Return on Investment (ROI)
- Faster Deployment: Operational within weeks
- Predictable Costs: Subscription-based model
- Risk Reduction: Faster detection and response minimize the potential cost of data breaches, which averaged $4.45 million in 2023.
Impact on the Budget (OPEX vs. CAPEX)
Outsourcing a SOC transforms a capital expenditure (CAPEX) into an operational expenditure (OPEX), offering:
- Greater Financial Flexibility
- Reduced Risks Linked to Technology Investments
- Easier Budget Approval from Top Management
IV. Implementing and operating an outsourced SOC
Key steps for a successful transition
- Assess your IT security needs.
- Choose an experienced, reliable SOC provider.
- Integrate monitoring and threat detection tools.
- Train internal teams to collaborate with the outsourced SOC.
- Plan a smooth transition phase.
The outsourced SOC handles security incidents comprehensively:
- Rapid Threat Detection: Continuous 24/7 monitoring ensures early identification of threats.
- Efficient Triage: Critical incidents are prioritized for swift action.
- In-Depth Analysis: Expert cybersecurity professionals thoroughly analyze threats to understand their scope and origin.
- Coordinated Response: Actions are taken to contain and eliminate threats promptly.
- Recovery and Remediation: Systems are restored and fortified to prevent recurrence.
Transparent communication is key to the success of an outsourced SOC:
- Detailed Security Status Reports: Regular updates on the state of cybersecurity within the organization.
- Dedicated Communication Channels: Direct lines for efficient, ongoing communication with the service provider.
- Regular Performance Review Meetings: Routine meetings to assess the SOC’s performance, ensuring goals are met and identifying areas for improvement.
V. Considerations for choosing an outsourced SOC
Select your SOC provider based on:
- Proven expertise in incident detection and response
- Advanced technology for optimal monitoring
- Tailored solutions for your specific business needs
- Strong client references in your industry
The SLA is a key element in your relationship with your SOC provider:
- Guaranteed response times for a quick reaction to incidents
- Clearly defined service levels for each stage of the process
- Well-established escalation procedures for major incidents
- Performance indicators and regular reports to track the SOC’s effectiveness
Ensure your SOC provider complies with regulations and protects your data:
- Strict compliance with security and privacy standards
- Rigorous protocols for managing and securing sensitive information
- Contractual guarantees for the protection of your company’s data
By choosing the right SOC partner and establishing a strong collaboration, you reinforce your cybersecurity and ensure the continuity of your operations.
Conclusion
Outsourcing the SOC: A strategic solution for strengthening cybersecurity
Outsourcing the SOC represents a strategic solution for companies seeking to strengthen their cybersecurity effectively and cost-effectively. In the face of rapidly evolving threats, the shortage of skilled professionals, and the high costs of an internal SOC, the outsourced model offers numerous benefits:
- Continuous and expert monitoring 24/7/365
- Access to specialized and diverse expertise
- Better profitability and faster ROI
- Increased flexibility to adapt to changing needs
In the future, the role of outsourced SOCs is expected to continue growing, adapting to new technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation to provide increasingly effective protection against ever-evolving cyber threats. According to a MarketsandMarkets study, the global managed security services (MSS) market size is expected to increase from $30.6 billion in 2023 to $52.9 billion by 2028.
For companies seeking a reliable partner for outsourced SOC services, be ys outsourcing services positions itself as a trusted player. With its expertise in managing and securely processing sensitive data, be ys outsourcing services offers tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each industry, whether retail, e-commerce, healthcare, or insurance. By choosing be ys outsourcing services for your outsourced SOC, you choose a partner committed to accelerating your digital transformation.
Adopting an outsourced SOC is not just a security decision but a strategic choice that can significantly strengthen your company’s overall posture in the face of challenges in the modern digital world. In an environment where cybersecurity has become a critical issue for business continuity and customer trust, outsourcing the SOC offers a promising path to staying ahead in protecting against emerging threats.
Sources :
https://www.securityhq.com/reports/cost-of-a-data-breach-report-2023/
https://incyber.org/article/penurie-mondiale-main-oeuvre-cyber-accentue-encore/
https://www.trellix.com/security-awareness/operations/what-is-soc
https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach
https://www.exodata.fr/blog/choisir-entre-soc-interne-et-soc-externe
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/managed-security-services-market-5918403.html
