Security Operations Centre (SOC) Service Framework
November 4, 2025
8 min read
1. Introduction
The Security Operations Centre (SOC) Service Framework defines the structure and processes to monitor, detect, respond to, and mitigate security threats in an IT environment. This framework ensures robust cybersecurity practices to protect systems, data, and users.
2. Threat Monitoring and Detection
Centralizes log collection, applies analytics, and integrates intelligence to detect and alert on potential threats.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Log Collection and Analysis | Gather logs from systems, applications, and devices for centralized monitoring. |
| Anomaly Detection | Use advanced analytics and machine learning to identify unusual activities. |
| Threat Intelligence Feeds | Leverage external sources to stay informed of emerging threats. |
| Real-Time Alerts | Notify SOC analysts of potential threats or anomalies immediately. |
3. Incident Response and Management
Establishes a robust response strategy, ensuring timely handling of incidents with detailed reporting and analysis.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Incident Classification | Categorise incidents based on severity and impact. |
| Response Playbooks | Define predefined procedures for handling various types of security incidents. |
| Forensic Analysis | Investigate and identify the root causes of security breaches. |
| Incident Reporting | Document the details of incidents for post-mortem analysis and compliance. |
4. Security Monitoring and Analytics
Leverages SIEM tools and analytics to gain insights into the security posture and proactively address threats.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| SIEM Systems | Utilise Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools for centralized event management. |
| Behavioral Analytics | Track user and system behaviors to identify deviations indicating threats. |
| Data Visualization Dashboards | Present security metrics and trends for actionable insights. |
| Threat Hunting | Proactively search for hidden threats in the environment. |
5. Vulnerability Management
Identifies, prioritises, and resolves weaknesses in systems and applications to prevent exploitation. These ensure comprehensive vulnerability identification, prioritisation, and resolution processes to maintain robust security postures.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Vulnerability Scanning | Conduct automated and manual scans of systems, networks, and applications to identify weaknesses. |
| Patch Management | Apply security patches, software updates, and hotfixes promptly to address identified vulnerabilities. |
| Risk Prioritization | Use a risk-based approach to classify vulnerabilities based on criticality, business impact, and likelihood of exploitation. |
| Remediation Tracking | Monitor and document the status of remediation efforts to ensure risks are addressed within defined timelines. |
| Awareness and training | Provide training to staff on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities as part of their daily responsibilities. |
6. Threat Intelligence Integration
Utilises global threat intelligence to anticipate and mitigate attacker Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) while strengthening the organisation's security posture.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Threat Intelligence Aggregation | Centralised collection of actionable intelligence from diverse and reputable sources, including commercial feeds, open-source platforms, industry groups, and government agencies. Real-time updates and integration with security tools ensure proactive threat detection. |
| Indicators of Compromise (IOC) Management | Systematic identification, tracking, and prioritization of Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), such as malicious IPs, domain names, URLs, file hashes, and unusual behavioral patterns. Automated updates to detection systems enable real-time threat blocking. |
| Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) Analysis | In-depth analysis of attacker methodologies to understand their motives, capabilities, and targets. Leverages frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK for mapping observed behaviors to known techniques and uncovering emerging threats. Develops countermeasures and strengthens defenses. |
| Threat Correlation and Contextualisation | Correlates disparate threat data to uncover relationships and patterns across incidents. Links threats to known campaigns, actors, and geographic regions, enhancing detection accuracy, reducing false positives, and enriching incident response with actionable insights. |
7. Compliance and Reporting
Ensures that SOC processes align with regulatory standards and provides transparency through detailed reports.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Audit Trail Maintenance | Ensures that all security events and responses are logged for accountability. |
| Compliance Monitoring | Verify adherence to regulatory frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. |
| Policy Enforcement | Implement security policies to ensure compliance across systems. |
| Compliance Reports | Generate reports for audits and stakeholders. |
8. Automation and Orchestration
Leverages Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) capabilities to enhance efficiency and speed by automating repetitive tasks and orchestrating complex incident response workflows, enabling proactive and coordinated responses to security events.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Automated Threat Detection | Utilise SOAR to enable 24/7 monitoring, detection, and correlation of threats for timely incident identification. |
| Workflow Automation | Automate SOC tasks such as alert triage, incident prioritization, and report generation to reduce analyst workload. |
| Playbook Orchestration | Employ SOAR playbooks to integrate tools and processes, ensuring consistent and efficient incident response workflows. |
| Self-Healing Systems | Deploy scripts or SOAR integrations to auto-remediate common security issues, reducing mean time to recovery (MTTR). |
9. SOC Team Management and Training
Effective management and continuous development of the Security Operations Center (SOC) team are critical for maintaining a high standard of security operations. This involves strategic staffing, targeted skill-building, and proactive management practices.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Role Definition and Staffing | Clearly define roles like SOC Analysts, Incident Responders, Threat Hunters, and SOC Engineers. Align staffing levels with organizational needs and risks. |
| Continuous Training Programs | Establish structured training to cover emerging threats, new tools, and advanced techniques. Include red team-blue team simulations and certification support. |
| Shift and Availability Management | Design robust schedules for 24/7 coverage. Implement rotation policies, use automated alert management, and maintain an on-call roster for escalations. |
| Performance Metrics | Track KPIs such as response time, resolution rate, false positive ratio, and threat detection efficiency. Conduct periodic performance reviews for improvements. |
| Team Collaboration and Communication | Foster collaboration through regular cross-team meetings, defined communication protocols, and the use of collaboration tools for knowledge transfer. |
| Well-Being and Retention Strategies | Promote well-being with mental health resources, recognize high performers, and create a positive work environment to retain top talent. |
10. Contact
For more information, please contact soc@cil.support
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