The Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025: 

On January 3, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology introduced the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 for public consultation until February 18, 2025.

Softenger India Pvt. Ltd. Logo

Best Practices for Running an Effective SOC Team

Cyber Security

SOC

Cyber Security SOC's Best Practices by Softenger

Running a Security Operations Center (SOC) is no small feat. With the rise of cyber threats, businesses must ensure their SOC teams operate efficiently to detect, prevent, and mitigate security incidents. However, many organizations struggle with alert fatigue, skill shortages, and operational inefficiencies.
A well-structured SOC team not only improves security incident response but also enhances overall cybersecurity posture. In this blog, we’ll explore the SOC best practices to build and run a high-performing SOC team.

1. Build a Well-Defined SOC Structure

A SOC should have a clear structure with well-defined roles and responsibilities. The three-tier model is commonly used to optimize workflows.
SOC Team Roles:

  • Tier 1 – Security Analysts: Monitor security alerts, conduct initial triage, and escalate incidents.
  • Tier 2 – Incident Responders: Investigate security threats, contain incidents, and provide remediation steps.
  • Tier 3 – Threat Hunters & Engineers: Proactively hunt for threats and improve security measures.
    SOC Manager: Oversees operations, ensures compliance, and manages the team’s efficiency.

Why This Matters:

  • Ensures quick response to security threats.
  • Reduces alert fatigue by streamlining tasks.
  • Enhances collaboration between security experts.

2. Implement AI & Automation for Threat Detection

Manual threat detection is no longer sustainable. AI-driven SOCs leverage machine learning and automation to detect and mitigate threats in real-time.
Benefits of AI-Powered SOCs:

  • Faster threat detection, reducing response times significantly.
  • Automated alert prioritization, minimizing false positives.
  • Proactive security posture, enabling predictive analytics for threat mitigation.

Key AI-Driven Tools for SOC Teams:
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) – Centralizes and analyzes logs.
Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) – Automates security responses.
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) – Identifies unusual user activity.

3. Prioritize Continuous Training & Skill Development

With cyber threats evolving, SOC analysts must undergo regular training to stay updated.
Recommended Training Programs:

  • Incident Response Drills – Simulate real-world attacks to test SOC response.
  • Threat Hunting Workshops – Enhance skills in identifying unknown threats.
  • Certifications – Encourage team members to pursue CISSP, CEH, or GCIA.

Why It Matters:
✅Improves incident response efficiency.
✅ Reduces reliance on external consultants.
✅ Keeps SOC teams ahead of emerging threats.

4. Establish a 24/7 Monitoring Strategy

A SOC must provide round-the-clock security monitoring to detect threats in real-time.
How to Achieve 24/7 SOC Monitoring:

  • Shift-based staffing model – Ensure teams work in rotations to cover all hours.
  • Leverage MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers) – If in-house monitoring is not feasible, outsourcing can help.
  • Use AI for automated alerts – Reduce manual workload with smart automation.

📢 Pro Tip: Ensure log management is efficient to avoid critical alerts being overlooked.

5. Improve Incident Response & Reporting

A well-documented Incident Response Plan (IRP) helps SOC teams respond efficiently.
Key Components of an IRP:
🔸 Detection & Analysis – Identify, assess, and prioritize security incidents.
🔸 Containment & Eradication – Prevent escalation and remove threats.
🔸 Recovery & Lessons Learned – Restore operations and analyze response effectiveness.

📢 Pro Tip: Standardized IRP ensures compliance with frameworks like ISO 27001 & NIST.

6. Foster Collaboration & Communication

A SOC does not work in isolation. Collaboration between security teams and other departments is crucial.
Ways to Enhance Collaboration:

  • Regular security briefings with IT and leadership teams.
  • Use a centralized SOC dashboard for real-time visibility.
  • Encourage cross-functional training between SOC, IT, and development teams.

Stronger collaboration leads to quicker threat detection and better security resilience.

An efficient SOC team is the backbone of a strong cybersecurity defense. Implementing automation, AI-driven monitoring, continuous training, and clear communication ensures optimal performance. By adopting these best practices, organizations can minimize security risks, enhance operational efficiency, and stay ahead of cyber threats.

Want to stay ahead of evolving threats?
Our cybersecurity specialists can help fortify your cloud security strategy. 

Get in touch today! 🚀

More Cyber
Security Resouces

Share blog on

X-twitter Linkedin

Join our newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

📢 Need help optimizing your SOC?
Let’s talk! Our cybersecurity experts can guide you in building an effective SOC team. 🚀

Get in touch today! 🚀

More Insights

Insights, analysis and research

Explore Blogs
Scroll to Top