Outsourced SOC versus Internal SOC: Which One is best and why?

SOC services are primarily and essentially geared towards the prevention of any kind of cybersecurity threat to organizations by continuously monitoring and evaluating all kinds of minor and major incidents. From identifying, analyzing, defending, investigating and reporting every potential cyber-security risk or threat SOCs play an integral part in a business�s stability and progress.

However, when it comes to choosing the best Outsource SOC service in Singapore, can it be external or internal to avail secure IT infrastructure at all times? So, between these two which one is better and why? Below, we examine each critically and find the differences and X-factor and above all difficulties in both SOC aspects.

Fundamental Differences Between Outsourced and Internal SOC

Internal Security Operations Centre (SOC)

• Committed Cyber-security Team: Internal SOC avail the privilege of having from committed experts at all times who know the organization's IT ecosystem and its challenges. This enables a high-level alert to solve security issues.
• Event Logs: Records, captures, and follows alarms or incidents that are stored internally. This minimizes the risk of external data transfer.
• Faster Communication in Attacks: since internal means of communication are adapted. This means solutions personalized methods that back organization needs.

Internal Security Centre (SOC) Difficulties

Internal Security Operations Centres require permanent management experts for several elements:

• Skills and Training: internal SOC needs experts in every area tackled. Getting SOC analysts and cybersecurity experts is tough and requires time. Moreover, maintaining and developing skills of the experts on new technologies, standards, or processes takes time and high cost.
• Maturity Duration: internal resources are needed by the internal IT ecosystem. Yet the process of getting a functional SOC takes a while.
• Business Expertise: Unseen and unknown complicated risk management. Internally it's hard to find threats that are obvious to organizations specializing in tracking malicious behavior. Internal SOC needs first to engage with new threats to be able to deal with them in the future.
• Internal Process Documentation: knowledge is limited to a few experts. This poses a risk factor in case loss of consciousness or if it departs.
• High Costs and Expenditure: The practical use of internal SOC means high initial investment plus the extra expense. Internal SOC leads to more costs that may complicate the demonstration of results.

External Security Operations Center (SOC)

Going for an external SOC or through a third-party source may be a great option as it simplifies adaptation at a lower cost.

• Lower Transparent Costs: external SOC uses transparent costs and easies promotion of a SOC project in the organization. Outsourced SOC is done by the tender process and validation of budgets by the management.
• Image and Communication Enhancement: external SOC lets management be reassured. The use of an external expert is perceived as better than in-house SOC. Also, the technical elements by external SOC help management know the issues and needs, limit conflict of interest in the departments of the organization as genuine technical advice and reports are submitted.
• Cybersecurity Skills: competent and operational skills are on standby minus long hiring procedures. Experienced analysts monitoring skills with proven success.
• Easy Implementation: less complex to adapt as tool setup and finding experts, mastering the tools, analyzing incidents and forensic examination are all possible.
• High Service Level: organized and mature as it offers high-level services ( i.e. 24/7,365). Besides, the Service Level Agreement (SLA), of the entire service is defined and precise.
• Intelligent Threat Access: monitoring of threats and incidents is quite hard alone. SOC operators use several information sources (external and internal).
• Affordable Costs: external SOC is affordable as solutions and experts are shared for 24/7 monitoring and analysis using outsourced SOC.

External Security Operations Centre Difficulties

• External experts: dedicated experts can't know the organization�s infrastructure as well as they do, and their skills are often shared.
• Data Exposure and Risk: outsourced SOC analyzes data items outside the company means risks if security steps aren't well adapted.
• Complex Reversibility: especially if the service provider relies on proprietary solutions.
• Mentality Change: required acceptance of handling of security by third-parties isn't natural.

What is Best Between Internal and Outsourced SOC?

Given all the above comparisons and studies of the structure, organization, make-up, and management of both internal and external SOC the answers are pretty much dependent on the nature of the business involved. Both have strengths and difficulties that can drive the best choice for the security operations center.

Summary

As we have discovered all the data assets, infrastructure is subject to immense risks from time to time. With the best of Outsourced SOC service add an extra layer of assured protection and prevention of all kinds of cyber-security risks and threats.