Navigating the 2024 cybersecurity landscape: Key trends in SOC security

Every organisation wants to have state-of-the-art protection against cyberattacks, especially since such attacks are becoming more complex and are increasingly common. Lagging in the security department can cost an organisation millions of euros and could potentially result in serious reputation damage.

A well-managed security operations centre (SOC) offers the security tools and knowledge needed to keep your IT environment safe and resilient. A SOC can be seen as the centralised unit encompassing the physical location, personnel, and tools dedicated to monitoring, detecting, responding to, and mitigating cybersecurity threats for an organisation.

To carry out its security tasks, a SOC uses a combination of technology and a set of cybersecurity processes. Since the field of security monitoring is constantly evolving, SOC trends and best practices are subject to change. This article will explore the most important SOC security trends in 2024. Read on to find out what you can expect on the SOC security front in the upcoming year.

Important SOC security trends for 2024

The latest cybersecurity and SOC trends reflect a shift towards more advanced and proactive approaches to threat detection and response. Let us take a look at the SOC security trends that matter in 2024.

A shift to MDR

Traditionally, organisations have mostly relied on in-house security teams to monitor their networks and systems for potential threats. However, the increasing complexity of IT environments and the proliferation of advanced cyber threats have made it more challenging for these teams to keep up with the latest security threats. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services provide organisations with access to specialised expertise and advanced tools that can help them more effectively monitor their systems and detect potential security issues.

The rise of SOAR

Another key SOC trend is the increasing popularity of Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR). SOAR tools are designed to help organisations automate and streamline their security response processes. By using SOAR tools, organisations can quickly and efficiently respond to potential security threats, such as malware attacks or data breaches.

One of the key ways that SOAR tools can automate security response activities is by providing a centralised platform for coordinating and managing the various steps involved in responding to a security incident. For example, SOAR tools can automatically gather and analyse data from multiple sources. Examples of such sources are network devices, servers and applications. Data from these sources is amassed and used to identify potential security threats and determine the appropriate response to a specific threat or security incident.

Once a potential threat has been identified, SOAR tools can automate the execution of response actions, such as isolating hosts or setting blocks on a firewall. The result? Organisations can quickly contain and mitigate the impact of a security incident, and prevent it from spreading to other parts of their IT environment. Thus SOAR tools provide organisations with the ability to automate and accelerate their security response processes, enabling teams to detect and respond to potential security threats more effectively.

SIEM, NDR and EDR

SOAR can be used in conjunction with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Network Detection and Response (NDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR). The approaches are not in conflict but complement each other's strengths. SIEM, NDR, EDR plays an important role in the frontline of SOC security, filtering and detecting security incidents. SOAR takes SOC security to the next level by offering appropriate remediation for real threats. Continue reading our blog 'SIEM, NDR, EDR or SOAR' for more information.

In our SOC we are currently using Vectra NDR as our platform to collect, detect and prioritise high-fidelity alerts in real-time and respond with automated enforcement or alerts to our security personnel. What we like about Vectra is that the platform is developed with AI-driven cybersecurity. This way it can detect attacker behaviour to protect hosts and users from being compromised, regardless of location.

Embracing automation and AI

Another key trend in security monitoring is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (a specific subset of AI) to detect unknown threats. While traditional security monitoring tends to focus on detecting known threats, AI-powered tools can help organisations identify and respond to new and emerging threats that may not have been previously identified. We can actually say it's not a trend anymore. With the sheer volume of threats on the rise, AI-driven solutions are stepping in to aid in rapid detection and response. This takes some of the burdens of human analysts.

For example, machine learning algorithms can analyse large volumes of security data to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate the presence of a potential threat. This can enable organisations to proactively detect and respond to security incidents well before these threats cause significant financial, operational or reputational damage.

The increasing popularity of managed SOC services

Staffing a dedicated and professional SOC is a huge challenge in our current times. The job market for IT professionals is incredibly tight. Qualified, specialised and talented IT professionals are in high demand but hard to find. Vacant IT security vacancies are plentiful, whilst available IT security experts are scarce.

Due to the mismatch between demand and supply, more and more organisations are looking at managed SOC solutions. Managed SOC, also referred to as SOC as a Service, allows you to utilise the services and expertise of external cybersecurity experts who monitor your cloud environment, devices, logs and network for threats. Managed SOC is based on a subscription model. You pay a monthly or yearly fee to ensure that threats are detected and responded to accordingly.

With managed SOC, you reap the benefits of around-the-clock monitoring of your IT infrastructure, without having to make a significant investment in security software, hardware, security experts, and training.

Keep protecting your organisation in 2024

Overall, the latest trends in security monitoring share one common denominator: they reflect a shift towards more proactive and advanced approaches to threat detection and response. By leveraging the expertise and advanced tools provided by MDR services in combination with SOAR, and applying AI to detect unknown threats, organisations are able to better protect themselves against the dangers that the constantly evolving threat landscape harbours.

How Nomios helps

Are you looking for a dedicated SOC that combines threat detection and incident response? Here’s what you can expect from Nomios:

• 24/7 full security monitoring. The SOC monitors advanced cyber threats on networks, on-premises, public cloud environments, SaaS applications, and endpoints.
• Nomios SOC analysts identify and validate threats, working with your incident response team to guide and automate both response and remediation.
• The SOC detects emerging and evolving threats with continuously updated threat intelligence.

Would you like to know more about Nomios’ managed SOC service? Then don’t hesitate to get in touch.