There are a few big differences between an in-house SOC and a SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS), but the most obvious is the location of the security personnel and the technology used to monitor and respond to potential threats.
An in-house SOC is a security operations center that is run by the organization itself, using its own security personnel and technology. This means that the security team is located on-site at the organization's premises (onPrem) and has direct access to the organization's hardware, systems and networks. This can provide the organization with greater control over its security posture and allow for more customized security solutions. In-house SOCs are most effective for organizations with a main location and large security team, usually 12+ cybersecurity specialists. In-house SOCs are very good at understanding their organization's systems and threats. They can, however, be slower to identify new emerging threats; that is, until their organization is attacked.
On the other hand, a SOC-as-a-Service is a security operations center that is provided by an external provider and usually services multiple clients virtually. In this model, the security personnel and the technology are located off-site, while the organization contracts with the provider to monitor and respond to potential threats on its behalf. SOCaaS providers may still require some onPrem support in some cases, and usually that support can be handled by an internal IT team member. The SOCaaS approach can be a more cost-effective option for organizations that do not have the resources or expertise to run an in-house SOC. SOCaaS providers usually have a larger set of attacks that they are monitoring across many different clients and are able to apply their learnings across the board. SOCaaS providers are also set up to be scaled more quickly to match your organization's growing needs. In these ways, SOCaaS can be more agile than in-house SOC solutions.
Both implementations of a SOC are able to handle onPrem and offPrem endpoints, as well as provide monitoring services for remote or traveling users.
The choice between an in-house SOC and a SOC-as-a-Service will depend on the specific needs and circumstances of the organization. In-house SOCs can provide greater control and customization, while SOC-as-a-Service can be more cost-effective. Connect with the experts at MindPoint Group to learn about SOCaaS, SOC Optimization, and more!
