AI is here to help, but in the wrong hands, it can be used to perform highly sophisticated, never-before-seen cyberattacks. That’s why a resilient Security Operations Center (SOC) is more important than ever.
This article explores what it takes to build a “modern” SOC by examining the most prominent challenges organizations face today. We’ll show you how to overcome these hurdles with real-world advice, best practices, and actionable strategies.
Setting up a SOC in the modern world
The NCSC warns that “AI-enabled tools will almost certainly enhance threat actors’ capability to exploit known vulnerabilities.” This isn’t a future risk—it’s already happening. And that’s one of the many reasons building a truly “modern” SOC is so challenging.
To meet security demands, companies must recruit skilled professionals, integrate fragmented tools, enforce consistent procedures, and navigate high costs and compliance requirements. SOC initiatives also often face delays due to governance, risk, compliance (GRC) reviews, not to mention legal and budget approvals.
All of this reduces agility, while new vulnerabilities emerge daily and AI-powered threats continue to evolve. Rapid technological shifts and constantly changing regulations result in a high-stakes, high-friction environment.
Below, we delve further into the hurdles to setting up an effective SOC and offer trusted strategies for overcoming them.
Challenges, myths, and issues of a modern SOC
It’s time to uncover the core challenges behind a modern SOC and debunk some common myths. We’ll provide proven best practices and valuable tips for resolving each issue in a practical way.
Finding and managing security experts is difficult
One primary issue when building an effective SOC is the shortage of skilled security analysts. Anyone in the cybersecurity industry knows how rare highly qualified professionals are and how difficult it is to hire and retain them.
This talent shortage is further complicated by what many refer to as the “consistency crisis.” Simply put, not all analysts bring the same level of expertise. As a result, the response quality tends to vary based on shift timing, training, and seniority.
For example, a 3 a.m. alert handled by a junior analyst may receive slower or less accurate attention than an alert investigated during the day by a seasoned team member. These inconsistencies increase the risk of missed threats and place pressure on top performers.
The consequence is burnout. A recent BlackFog study found that cnearly25% of security leaders are considering quitting their jobs, with 93% saying stress and the demands of the role are pushing them to do so. Every such departure delays incident response and weakens SOC continuity. That’s especially problematic considering onboarding and training new security analysts can take months.
Actionable advice to address these people-related challenges includes cross-training teams and rotating responsibilities. The goal is to better balance the workload and prevent siloed teams.
Another option is to standardize triage with checklists and playbooks: Defining clear, repeatable workflows improves consistency and reduces decision fatigue.
Lastly, consider leveraging AI-driven automation, like offloading some tasks to AI—especially during off-hours. This way, analysts can focus on jobs that demand human expertise.
Buying the right tools isn’t enough
One of the biggest myths about establishing a SOC is that it’s all about procuring the “best” security tools. But the real challenge isn’t just selecting and purchasing tools. It’s about integrating and adopting them in ways that genuinely add value.
A 2024 CDW report reveals that 68% of companies use 10 to 49 security solutions. With that many in play, there’s a high likelihood of overlapping features. Each tool may generate alerts and logs, leading to alert fatigue and reduced visibility.
The result is that organizations may have dozens of tools in their SOC stack and still miss dangerous threats. Companies need the right combination of training, automation, and a well-defined operational strategy to make a SOC successful.
This is why an all-in-one SOC platform often outperforms a patchwork of vertical security solutions. Relying on a small set of tools and consolidating insights from them in one dashboard lowers operational friction and facilitates incident response.
SOC procedures aren’t forever
No, SOC strategies aren’t like diamonds. They’re not forever. A modern SOC can’t rely on a “set and forget” approach. Why? Because the threat landscape, like technology, is constantly evolving.
Suppose a company wants to stay ahead of emerging security risks. In that case, it must regularly test playbooks, procedures, incident response protocols, and all other aspects of a SOC operation against new threats, attack surfaces, and exploits.
Drills and tabletop exercises are the best way to verify that existing procedures hold up under pressure. These cost-effective, high-impact methods test emergency preparedness before a real crisis hits.
SOC procedures also need to be evaluated across shifts and teams. Miscommunication or siloed knowledge between shifts can lead to vulnerabilities. Unsurprisingly, 85% of security leaders surveyed by ISC2 identified communication as the top skill for successful leadership in security.
Lastly, consistency is fundamental. Known issues and threats must be addressed in a standardized way over time. This is possible by centralizing documentation and integrating properly configured SOC automation tools.
Cost, complexity, and the road to maturity
The main expense of implementing and maintaining a modern SOC isn’t software. It’s the hidden costs like downtime, fines, and delays in incident response. After all, if a company isn’t operational, it’s losing money.
Cutting corners on training or tool integration might seem like a good way to save money, but you can easily end up with even bigger losses down the road. A smarter way to save time and money is by integrating AI-powered threat detection and response tools into the SOC process to reduce the workload of human analysts.
Remember: Achieving SOC maturity requires careful planning and proper resources. Instead of aiming for perfection, it is far better to focus on measurable progress.
An in-house SOC isn’t always the answer.
Given the challenges of implementing an in-house SOC, ensuring continuous monitoring and around-the-clock incident response can strain a company’s resources quickly.
Because of this, many organizations turn to alternatives such as Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR).
MSSPs offer broad services, including incident handling, continuous threat monitoring, and compliance support. They let you scale security ops without a dedicated, large (and expensive) in-house team.
MDR entails advanced analytics, real-time monitoring, and sophisticated threat detection techniques. These work together for a proactive shield that detects and responds to threats, reducing the burden on internal staff.
For a clear comparison between an in-house and MSSP/MDR security operation center, see the summary table below:
| Aspect | In-house SOC | MSSP/MDR |
| Staffing | Requires hiring and retaining security experts | Fully staffed by the provider |
| Cost | High due to salaries, tools, and infrastructure | Predictable subscription or license-based pricing |
| 24/7 Coverage | Requires shifts, on-call staff, or overtime | Continuous monitoring included |
| Visibility | Complete internal visibility and control | Limited visibility and control |
| Compliance | Full responsibility of the organization | General assistance or even guaranteed |
Unfortunately, MSSPs and MDRs often operate as “black boxes,” limiting transparency and reducing visibility into day-to-day security decisions. They are also subject to alert fatigue and are just as likely to miss threats as an in-house SOC team.
Many companies opt for a hybrid model that combines internal SOC operations with automated tools and/or external managed services. This approach balances visibility and control with cost-effective scalability and 24/7 expertise.
Toward a modern approach to SOC that works
Building a successful SOC is not just about selecting the right tools, hiring a team, or following a fixed process. It’s about properly managing those people, processes, and tools simultaneously.
Success today requires organizations to continuously adapt to an ever-evolving threat landscape. That’s why forward-thinking organizations are adopting hybrid models that combine in-house teams with automated tools, like AI-driven security solutions, that help analysts work faster and more accurately. Radiant Security provides a feature-rich, AI-powered SOC platform that automates triage, accelerates incident response, and maintains visibility across your entire security environment. These capabilities free human analysts to focus on proactive security measures and transform your SOC into a robust, dynamic defense against today’s complex threats.If you’re considering an AI-based solution to strengthen your security processes, explore Radiant’s SOC automation solution today.
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