What Is a SOC Analyst?

In contemporary cybersecurity defense frameworks, the significance of a SOC (Security Operations Center) analyst cannot be overstated. Entrusted with the critical responsibilities of surveillance, identification, and swift response to cyber threats, SOC analysts stand as the primary guardians of organizational networks and valuable data repositories.

The essence of the SOC analyst position lies in actively surveilling network operations, pinpointing potential security threats, and promptly implementing suitable countermeasures.

This encompasses delving into alerts triggered by an array of security tools, scrutinizing their implications, and devising the most fitting strategies for addressing them.

In this article, we will explore what are the key roles and responsibilities of a SOC analyst, why this function is expected to be transformative and how you can reinforce your SOC with AI analysts

Primary Responsibilities and Functions of a SOC Analyst

Within a well-defined framework, SOC analysts function within hierarchical tiers, tailored to the intricacy of tasks and proficiency levels. 

Tier 1 analysts undertake preliminary incident assessment, gauging alerts for authenticity and immediacy. 

Tier 2 analysts delve into exhaustive scrutiny of substantiated security incidents, leveraging threat intelligence and forensic methodologies to grasp the breadth and ramifications of the threat, and to formulate appropriate response strategies.

Tier 3 analysts concentrate on sophisticated threat detection, configuring security tools, and formulating enduring security blueprints.

Beyond their technical duties, SOC analysts hold a pivotal position in incident management and communication. They foster close collaboration with fellow security personnel and engage with pertinent stakeholders throughout the organization to orchestrate a unified response to security breaches.

Sustained, ongoing learning and skill enhancement are imperative for SOC analysts to remain at the forefront of ever-evolving threats. Remaining abreast of trends in cybersecurity, emerging vulnerabilities, and novel technologies is vital for safeguarding their organization’s assets with efficacy.

While each SOC team, be it in-house or SOC as a Service (SOCaaS), might operate a bit differently, outlined below are several key responsibilities undertaken by SOC analysts:

The primary responsibility of SOC analysts is to monitor and respond to security alerts, serving as the initial line of defense against detected threats. Tier 1 analysts typically focus on reviewing the output of security monitoring and detection tools, assessing alerts for potential security incidents. While they may conduct preliminary investigations into flagged activities, significant or complex issues are escalated to Tier 2 analysts. Tier 3 analysts possess the expertise to handle more complex security incidents and may be involved in tuning and improving the detection capabilities of security tools.

Operating security tools is a critical aspect of SOC analysts’ responsibilities, as they are entrusted with safeguarding their organization’s most sensitive information. They are granted access to cutting-edge tools tailored to their organization’s needs, ensuring the protection of vital data. Each SOC analyst undergoes training to proficiently utilize specific security software and tools. Among the prevalent technologies are endpoint detection and response solutions, identity and access management tools, email security tools, SIEMs, etc.

Delivering holistic security solutions to the organization. A SOC serves as a centralized service hub within a company, tasked with delivering tangible value to key stakeholders and aligning its efforts with organizational objectives. Consequently, a SOC analyst assumes a multifaceted role, collaborating with professionals across diverse departments within the business to ensure comprehensive security measures are effectively implemented.

Addressing cybersecurity threats head-on, SOC analysts are quick to spring into action at the first sign of trouble. Initially identified by Tier 1 analysts during routine monitoring for suspicious activities, these threats are swiftly escalated to Tier 2 for thorough examination. Tier 2 analysts undertake a comprehensive assessment to ascertain the extent of the attack and determine which systems are potentially compromised. This involves collating data from various sources and engaging with stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Subsequently, analysts devise and implement strategies to mitigate the threat and facilitate recovery. In certain instances, Tier 3 analysts may also contribute their expertise, particularly in identifying and rectifying security vulnerabilities exploited by the threat. 

Minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity are paramount goals for any business. SOC analysts play a pivotal role in achieving these objectives by promptly responding to digital threats. In the event of a breach, for instance, SOC analysts are responsible for vigilant monitoring of the situation’s progression and timely notification of pertinent stakeholders within the organization regarding the critical incident.

Delving into suspicious activities is an inherent aspect of the SOC analyst role, characterized by proactive vigilance across the digital realm to preempt potential threats or vulnerabilities exploitable by malicious actors. While SOC analysts strive to  preemptively prevent threats from materializing, they may encounter situations where threats escalate beyond immediate containment. In such instances, these experts assume responsibility for promptly alerting fellow security professionals and engaging in collaborative efforts to neutralize threats, which may involve disabling compromised accounts, protocols, or outdated systems.

Facilitating communication and task allocation within the SOC team is another responsibility of the SOC analyst, who often assumes a leadership role within the team. With extensive experience and adept managerial skills, the SOC analyst orchestrates and coordinates among team members, ensuring everyone is well-informed about ongoing developments and the team’s current status. Additionally, they are tasked with delegating responsibilities as they arise, leveraging their leadership prowess to ensure optimal team efficiency and clarity regarding assigned tasks. 

Conducting security assessments – While Tier 1 analysts may undertake relatively basic vulnerability scans, Tier 3 analysts specialize in conducting thorough security assessments and testing. They proactively strive to detect and address vulnerabilities within systems, fortifying the organization’s cybersecurity posture. Given the substantial financial consequences associated with security breaches, this task holds paramount importance in mitigating risks such as legal liabilities, fines, remediation expenses, and customer attrition. One important aspect of security assessment is penetration testing, a process that entails simulating cyberattacks on the organization’s IT infrastructure to gauge the efficacy of its defensive mechanisms. Penetration testing aids in uncovering concealed vulnerabilities, facilitating the identification of areas necessitating remedial action to bolster overall security.

Staying on top of cyber trends is also imperative for SOC analysts. With cyber threats constantly and rapidly evolving, cybersecurity measures must evolve in tandem. Consequently, SOC analysts bear the responsibility of staying updated on emerging cyber trends and advancements in IT and security domains. This entails regular examination of novel cyber threat vectors and staying abreast of technological innovations and cybersecurity methodologies devised by experts to combat these threats. 

Offering guidance and executing new security protocols is another key responsibility, particularly those at the Tier 3 level who excel in identifying weaknesses and enhancing cybersecurity measures. Whether through combating threats, conducting security evaluations, or staying abreast of emerging cybersecurity paradigms, SOC analysts must communicate relevant findings to pertinent individuals within their organization. When a company intends to adopt alterations in cybersecurity policies, it typically falls upon Tier 3 analysts to effectuate these changes as well.

Assessing and reporting on all cybersecurity procedures is a core responsibility of SOC analysts. They are tasked with conducting ongoing evaluations of the company’s cybersecurity protocols, meticulously documenting the efficacy of each process and identifying areas for enhancement. These comprehensive reports are then disseminated to senior managers, typically the CTO, CIO, or CISO, for review and consideration of any necessary updates or improvements.

Performing audit and overseeing compliance is frequently within the purview of SOC analysts. They are often tasked with overseeing auditing systems to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements imposed by government entities, corporate standards, and industry regulations such as SB 1386, HIPAA, and Sarbanes-Oxley. Seamless access to threat intelligence, patch status, and identity and access control information is imperative for maintaining compliance. 

The Transformative Future of SOC Analysts 

The conventional security operations model, which heavily relies on the human effort of SOC analysts, faces a significant challenge amidst the backdrop of the most severe cybersecurity staffing shortage in history. With over 4 million vacant security roles in the U.S. alone and approximately two-thirds of organizations reporting insufficient staffing, while nearly a third anticipate resource cutbacks this year, the predicament is evident. Compounding this issue is the reliance of the current SOC model on manual processes. Despite some automation at the onset and conclusion of the SecOps process, particularly in detection with tools like EDR and XDR, and in response with tools like SOAR, the pivotal middle phase involving triage and investigation remains predominantly manual. This poses a critical concern as this middle phase consumes approximately 65% of the SOC’s time.

This setup, coupled with the relentless evolution of cyber threats in terms of sophistication and frequency, suggests that the SOC analyst’s future is poised to be both demanding and transformative.

Add to the equation the integration of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) technologies – each play a role in the ability to perform security operations tasks like triage and investigation, and it becomes apparent that the fusion of human expertise with cutting-edge technology will bring true transformation. SOC automation carries the potential to augment human SOC analyst capabilities. AI will not entirely replace SOC analysts but rather complement and enhance their endeavors and skills. 

The integration of AI within SOCs brings about significant transformation:

Through the automation of intricate and repetitive tasks, AI liberates SOC analysts from mundane activities, empowering them to dedicate their time to more strategic and rewarding aspects of cybersecurity

It facilitates the effective operation of AI-powered systems by individuals with varying levels of expertise, including interns, students, or general IT staff. Consequently, SOC teams can exhibit greater diversity in skill sets and experience, simplifying the process of staffing. 

The alleviation of tedious tasks like repetitive phishing or identity alert triage serves to enhance morale and foster higher retention rates among analysts. 

To summarize, AI represents a paradigm shift in the daily responsibilities of SOC analysts, reshaping the organizational structure and resource allocation dynamics within SOCs.

Final Words – Reinforce Your SOC With AI Analysts

With the help of AI, junior SOC analysts turn into ultra-productive expert analysts. Moreover,  less experienced team members can be taught how to triage alerts, conduct investigations, and respond to incidents according to industry best practices, using the security tools they already use and know.

Leveraging AI and automation maximizes the productivity of the SOC analysts’ team, reducing the need for additional headcount to achieve KPIs. Leveraging AI for autonomous triage, automated impact analysis, and automated containment and remediation significantly amplifies SOC analysts’ output, helping them reach new levels of productivity.AI-powered tools not only identify genuine threats and investigate them with enhanced precision but also equip SOC analysts with advanced tools for both automated and guided remediation. Once an alert is identified as a genuine, malicious threat, a comprehensive investigation process is automatically initiated. By the time a SOC analyst reviews the incident, it is ready for decision-making. Analysts are presented with the full story – a clear understanding of what happened, the cause, what needs to be addressed, and an actionable mitigation plan. This plan can be executed with just a mouse click, significantly streamlining the response process and ensuring swift, effective action. Explore more on AI analysts for the SOC.