Enhancing Cybersecurity: How SOC and VOC Work Together to Combat Threats

Traditional cybersecurity approaches focus mainly on detecting and responding to threats, with the Security Operations Centre (SOC) at the heart of these efforts. While this method is crucial, it often means we’re waiting for attacks to happen before taking action. Given that cybercriminals are constantly updating their tactics with advanced tools like AI and automated ransomware, it’s become more important than ever to be proactive. Unfortunately, SOC teams are often overwhelmed by a flood of vulnerabilities, making it difficult to manage them effectively.

To address the growing threat landscape, it’s essential to shift towards a Vulnerability Operations Centre (VOC), which focuses on managing security weaknesses and improving cyber resilience.

Why We Need a VOC

Traditional cybersecurity methods are primarily reactive, dealing with threats as they appear. This approach often results in a backlog of unresolved vulnerabilities, many of which have been known for years but remain unaddressed. Shockingly, over 76% of vulnerabilities exploited by ransomware gangs are more than three years old. This suggests that SOC teams are struggling to keep up with the sheer volume of potential threats.

A VOC offers a more effective way to handle this problem. Unlike the SOC, which deals with incidents as they occur, the VOC aims to prevent them from happening in the first place. It focuses on identifying, analysing, and fixing security weaknesses in a company’s systems. This allows organisations to concentrate on a smaller, more manageable set of vulnerabilities that pose significant threats.

How SOC and VOC Work Together

Combining the efforts of the SOC and VOC creates a comprehensive security strategy that not only reacts to threats but also works to prevent them. Companies need to view patch management as a core part of their overall security strategy. Establishing a VOC under the guidance of a top cybersecurity leader, such as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), is crucial.

The first step in creating a VOC is to use existing tools to assess the current security situation. The VOC team then organises and analyses vulnerability data to create a clear, actionable report. Integrating this data with the SOC’s tools improves the understanding of and response to potential threats.

The VOC changes the focus from merely identifying vulnerabilities to prioritising them based on the risks they pose to the business. Automation plays a key role here, helping to quickly identify, prioritise, and fix vulnerabilities with minimal human effort. This allows analysts to focus on more complex tasks that require their expertise.

Benefits of a VOC

Implementing a VOC simplifies vulnerability management and provides immediate benefits, including:

1. Centralised Data: By collecting and analysing vulnerability information, the VOC offers a unified view that makes it easier to prioritise critical vulnerabilities.
2. Automation: Using automation speeds up the processes of detecting, analysing, and fixing vulnerabilities, reducing human error and workload.
3. Risk-Based Prioritisation: Focusing on the most serious vulnerabilities ensures that resources are used effectively and critical threats are addressed promptly.
4. Improved Collaboration: The VOC encourages teamwork and keeps all relevant parties informed, leading to faster and more effective responses to vulnerabilities.
5. Clear Accountability: Centralising operations ensures that everyone knows their role in managing vulnerabilities, reducing risks and enhancing security.

In summary, it’s time to rethink how we handle vulnerabilities. A VOC reduces the pressure on SOCs and improves overall security by centralising and automating tasks and focusing on the most significant risks. Linking your SOC with a VOC ensures a proactive and responsive approach to security, leading to a safer digital environment.