cybersecurity
Managed SOC Services Provider - Security Operation Center as a Service
Analysis, Detection & Response to potential threats
Definition of Managed SOC Services
Managed SOC services are a type of cybersecurity service where an organization outsources the management of its Security Operations Center (SOC) to a third party.
The word center means a “point from which an activity or process is directed”. So in this context, a security operation center is the point from which the security activities of an organization’s IT infrastructure are directed. Traditionally, this center used to be in-house. But with the rise of cybersecurity threats, many organizations find outsourcing more efficient and cost-effective.
The core managed SOC service is detection & response and combines technology, processes, and expertise. This typically involves Exeo deploying a combination of an on-demand team plus specialized tools that monitor the agreed client’s IT environment 24/7*365, collect and analyze data from all components – both internal and external, hardware and software. This way, any incident or threat can be dealt with efficiently.
Importance of Managed SOC Services
Establishing an in-house SOC requires a considerable investment in expertise, software, hardware. This cost is not only financial but also in terms of the lengthy process it would take to build a competent team, acquire the necessary tools and mandatory licenses, and configure the SOC to professional standards. These processes can pose a significant threat to your organization’s security posture if not executed correctly and timely.
However, a managed security operation center services gets rid of these barriers. This means that you can focus on your core business activities while leaving the complex task of managing IT security to the experts, whose core business is exactly that – security.
There is this misconception among some organizations that using managed SOC services equals losing control and risking their data. This is not true. When you outsource your SOC, you only outsource the routine operational tasks of ensuring that your Infrastructure is safe. You are not outsourcing your business or customer data. A managed SOC provider will never see the contents of your data. Also, serious SOC as a service (SOCaaS) Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) like Exeo are certified by organizations like ISO, meaning we adhere to strict security and privacy requirements.
Benefits of hiring a Managed SOC Services Provider
These are the key benefits your enterprise will gain when you go for managed SOC as a service:
SOC-as-a-service provides organizations with access to a team of trained security professionals who have deep knowledge of the latest threat landscape. These professionals use advanced tools to monitor the organization’s IT infrastructure for security threats, and they can quickly respond to any incidents that may occur. This level of expertise is often beyond what most in-house IT teams can provide.
- Reduced infrastructure costs: A managed SOC provider typically invests in the latest security technologies required to monitor and defend against threats. So when you use managed SOC, you automatically avoid the upfront capital expenses associated with purchasing and deploying these technologies, as well as ongoing maintenance and upgrade costs.
- Lower staffing costs: Hiring and retaining skilled security professionals is expensive, especially given the current shortage of qualified cybersecurity talent. A managed SOC provider already has experienced security analysts and engineers, eliminating the need for organizations to recruit, train, and retain specialized security staff. The providers also have access to a huge network of top professionals in this space, a resourceful ecosystem that takes a long time to nurture.
Managed SOC service providers offer 24/7 security monitoring and threat detection capabilities. This means that any security incidents are detected and responded to promptly, minimizing the impact of the incident on the organization.
SOC management services can scale up or down based on clients’ needs. This means that organizations can benefit from a flexible, customizable security solution that meets their unique requirements.
This level of scalability allows organizations to avoid the expenses and inefficiencies linked to maintaining tools they don’t need or being caught unprepared in the face of sudden spikes in threats.
Managed SOC providers have the advantage of working with multiple clients, allowing them to swiftly apply insights gathered from a broad range of sources to safeguard against emerging threats.
When they encounter an emerging threat within one client’s infrastructure, they can utilize this knowledge to enhance the security of all other clients and defend them against the new threat in a timely manner.
Managed SOC as a service offers flexible pricing options to meet the varying needs and budgets of different organizations.
These flexible options allow organizations to choose the level of security they need, based on their risk profile, size, and budget.
Managed Security Operation Center (SOC) Services
A layered approach
Preventive Services
Risk management, procedures, compliance and system hardening and protection services.
Detective Services
24x7 advanced monitoring and real time detection based on sophisticated anomaly detection.
Response Services
Isolate attacks and respond to threats in order to protect operations and maintain business uptime
Managed SOC Services
Services offered by Exeo as a Managed SOC Services Provider
Exeo is certified by ISO, SOC Type 2 and Expert Cyber, making us a trusted cybersecurity services company. Our SOC-as-a-Service is built on the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) methodology for detection and response.
The Exeo SOC team is responsible for managing the daily operational activities relating to the security of your IT infrastructure. Specifically, we’ll detect, analyze, respond to threats, and utilize our extensive experience to help you develop a robust security strategy.
Exeo is presently safeguarding thousands of users and assets, including those in environments such as:
Productivity
Microsoft 365
Google Workspace
Cloud Platforms
Azure Google Cloud Platform AWS Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
Systems Infra
Windows
Unix/Linux
VMware
HyperV
Citrix
Proxmox
Apps
Business Applications
Systems Applications
Databases
PAAS
On-premise
Network
LAN
WAN
Firewalls
Security devices
These are the key managed SOC services that organizations enjoy from Exeo:
Management of the security environment, including patches and updates
Risk analysis
Securing and hardening the resources
Protection of systems and maintenance in optimized condition
Rapid threat detection through endpoint detection and SIEM technology
Response to incidents remotely or on site
24/7 event log monitoring for suspicious activity
Real-time alerts
Collection and sharing of the latest cyber threat intelligence
Attack Isolation
Recovery of the initial configuration
Cyber forensics when necessary.
The ever-changing cyber threat landscape is a treacherous sea, where threats are as vast and unpredictable as the digital universe itself. Things can spiral out of control quickly.
Fortunately, our managed SOC services will keep these threats at bay through ongoing monitoring and analysis that is driven by trusted experts in the industry including security managers, analysts and engineers.
To entrench full transparency, all Exeo clients get full and secure access to the cybersecurity management tools that are used in their security operations center.
managed SOC
Technology services
As a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), Exeo will use different technology services in order to deliver our managed SOC service:
EDR/XDR/CDR
Next generation endpoint, VM, server or Cloud security using AI based anomaly detection on endpoints. For more information, you can check our MDR service.
SIEM
Next generation Security Information and Event Management.
UEBA
User and Entity Behavior Analytics that uses machine learning algorithms and statistical analysis to detect abnormal behavior from users and entities.
Vulnerability Management
Continuously detect known vulnerabilities
CSPM
Cloud Security Posture Management: manage the security posture of cloud environments by continuously monitoring vulnerabilities and configurations.
CNAP
Cloud Native Application Protection: protect cloud-native applications that are built using microservices architecture.
Here is a blog post on this topic
Managed SOC Services FAQ
Managed SOC (Security Operations Center) is a service provided by a third-party organization, like Exeo, that specializes in managing and monitoring an organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure. A Security Operations Center is a centralized facility where a team of security experts monitors, assesses, and defends an organization’s information systems, networks, and data from cybersecurity threats.
The following services are usually part of the Managed SOC:
- Identifying managed assets and managing their risks;
- Strengthening the security of workstations and servers by detecting and stopping attacks through Managed Detection & Response (EDR / MDR);
- Vulnerability Management: continuous monitoring of the fleet and the level of vulnerability of software and configurations;
- Web and dark web tracking to monitor activities relating to the managed park;
- Detection and response to security incidents through advanced analysis and monitoring of infrastructure and users using technologies such as SIEM (Security information and event management) or UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics).
The cybersecurity specialists of the Exeo managed SOC are located in Paris – France, Beirut – Lebanon and Dubai – UAE.
