From small startups to global enterprise giants, businesses of all sizes from every industry are working to lock down their cybersecurity in an increasingly vulnerable digital world. At the core of any defense strategy is the SOC (Security Operations Center) analyst: cyber threat first responders on the front lines, shutting down modern cyberattacks across the globe 24/7.
This blog breaks down the importance of SOC analysts, the distinct role they play in threat detection and response, and tips on launching a SOC analyst career from the ground up.
A security operations center (SOC) is a central hub where skilled cybersecurity professionals like SOC analysts use tools and technology to hunt, detect, and respond to cyber threats on perimeters, endpoints, and identities in real time.
A SOC isn’t just a physical (or remote work) environment. It’s a modern, proactive threat hunting strategy that fills critical gaps for your security program, like:
Additional resources for small and overwhelmed security teams
Deep technical expertise in cyber threats and attacker tradecraft
Securing your security stack while you sleep
SOC technology can be outsourced to other vendors or custom-built, like our 24/7 SOC at Huntress. To keep the clock running against threat actors 24/7 and deal with threats in real time, SOCs often use a ‘follow the sun’ strategy with teams of globally dispersed SOC analysts stretching across continents. Hackers don’t work traditional 9-5 gigs, so neither do SOCs.
A SOC analyst is a cybersecurity professional embedded within a SOC. They’re responsible for monitoring, detecting, and responding to potential threats within networks. Essentially, they act as a pair of vigilant eyes on the digital frontlines, making sure systems, data, and identities are secure from threats, compromises, and breaches, often the first to respond to incidents.
SOC analysts are human force multipliers, verifying and analyzing incoming alerts from automated technology like Managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Managed Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR). They investigate initial alerts to find the who, what, how, when, and where of an incident. Their methodical threat hunting lightens the load on customer and partner security teams. When threats do sneak through defenses, SOC analysts work closely with partners and customers on remediation strategies and offer recommendations to avoid repeat infections.
With cyberattacks constantly evolving and the variety of customer environments they encounter, SOC analysts have to be adaptable and continuously learn to stay ahead of threat actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
The primary goal of a SOC analyst is real-time protection of an organization’s digital environment from a wide range of cyber threats. They are MITRE ATT&CK path pros and investigate all types of threats from brute force attacks to the less frequent, but high-severity zero day attacks and anything in between. They keep a constant pulse on the threat landscape, since they triage detections from sketchy threat actor activity day in and day out.
“We try to get the bad guys off the partner’s computers and make sure they don’t have any malware running.” - Tim Kasper, Senior Security Operations Analyst at Huntress
SOC analyst responsibilities usually include:
Monitoring alerts: constantly on the lookout for suspicious activity using monitoring tools and security software
Identifying threats: investigate alerts to determine whether they’re legitimate threats or false positives, giving context and analysis on each incident
Staying up-to-date on the threat landscape: SOC analysts are always adapting to the never-ending changes in cyberattack tactics, tools, and trends
Suggesting or taking remediation steps: once a compromise attempt is validated, SOC analysts recommend mitigation strategies or kick off automated remediation measures to neutralize it
“We provide a set of remediations customers can either follow themselves or, in some cases, use our automated remediations where the system will go through and do those steps for them as much as possible. We can’t do everything, but we can typically try and kick the bad guy out of the computer so they can’t continue doing malicious things in the environment,” says Kasper.
Figure 1 - Initial SOC incident report showing brute forcing from multiple IP addresses
While a SOC analyst isn’t a “traditional” offensive security role, like a penetration tester or red team analyst, knowing how to think and operate like an attacker is key for succeeding in this role because they’re always in the nitty-gritty of hackers’ operations. “We’re always having to learn and adapt to what the threat actors are doing,” says Kasper.
SOC analysts typically work during assigned shift hours that are part of a larger 24/7 coverage schedule. Depending on the size of the SOC and where teammates are located, shifts may be non-traditional work hours or weekends. They also may follow a compressed schedule with longer hours and fewer work days, for example, ten-hour shifts over four work days or twelve-hour shifts over three days.
Curious to know what a typical shift is like for a SOC analyst? Busy—and anything but boring! Here’s an insider look at threats hitting their radar on the regular:
Different kinds of malware downloaded by end users
Phishing attempts
Malvertising downloads
Compromised vulnerable devices and services: VPNs, firewalls, RDP
Brute force attacks
Attempted ransomware attacks
Sensitive data exfiltration
Figure 2 - Example of threat activity seen by Huntress SOC analysts
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. No matter what happens during any particular shift, the SOC analyst role is rooted in maintaining 24/7 reliable security, minimizing cyber risks, and helping maintain stability in a business.
Check out these resources to learn more about how SOC analysts keep businesses secure:
Within the SOC organizational hierarchy, there’s usually a structure of tiered analysts based on experience and expertise.
A Tier 1 SOC analyst usually represents an entry-level role in cybersecurity with opportunities to learn, grow, and move up the ladder. This is where many cybersecurity professionals launch their careers, getting the foundational knowledge and experience along with the chance to learn the ropes on the job and get mentorship from seasoned analysts. It’s a solid way to get a foot in the door with hands-on-keyboard experience before advancing into more specialized cybersecurity roles, like penetration testing, security research, or red teaming. It can also work well for IT professionals looking to shift career paths:
“I actually started here at Huntress on the support team, so I had a general understanding of security. And then I moved over to the SOC as a junior, Tier 1 analyst,” says Kasper.
The main responsibilities of Tier 1 SOC analysts usually include:
Initial investigation: Tier 1 analysts are often the first to review alerts. They analyze incident details to determine if further action is needed.
Escalation: When a threat exceeds the scope of their expertise, they escalate the incident to a more experienced SOC analyst for additional analysis
Monitoring and reporting: They consistently monitor systems, document incidents, and provide detailed reports for higher-tier teams if needed
While the Tier 1 role is entry-level, especially on the defensive side of cybersecurity, don’t let that fool you. It’s a critical role to make sure no alert goes unnoticed, especially when multiple critical alerts arrive within a very short time, even a few seconds. Tier 1 SOC analysts are stepping in immediately to help prioritize severity and timing of alerts so the team knows what should be handled first.
A Tier 1 SOC analyst should have foundational knowledge of IT systems, networking, and security concepts. Certifications like CompTIA Security+ or Network+ can be handy, especially for beginners. However, no specific certifications, academic degrees, or previous career path is required to become a Tier 1 SOC analyst.
A typical shift for a Tier 1 SOC analyst is fast-paced and dynamic. It can include things like:
Monitoring detection tools like SIEM for anomalies in real-time
Running initial analysis of alerts to rule out false positives
Sending incident response reports to clients or internal teams
Escalating incidents that are beyond their expertise, and getting mentorship on these incidents
Documenting findings and reporting patterns for the team to understand how certain threat actors operate
For example, a Tier 1 analyst might analyze a phishing email alert, confirm it contains malware, escalate the case to senior-level analysts, and work side-by-side with them to contain and remediate the malware in the partner’s environment.
If being a SOC analyst piques your interest and you’ve got a penchant for wrecking hackers, here are some actionable steps to kickstart your cybersecurity journey:
Learn the basics of networking, system administration, and information security. Tap into free resources like YouTube tutorials and community forums to get started. You don’t necessarily need a formal academic education to learn cybersecurity: the open-source community is a treasure trove of knowledge from practitioners and researchers who enjoy sharing, like our own John Hammond!
Certifications demonstrate your skills and commitment to potential employers. For entry-level SOC roles, consider:
CompTIA Security+: entry-level certification for knowledge and skills of threats, attacks, vulnerabilities, tools and technologies, architecture and design, implementation, operations, and incident response (IR)
Network+: intermediate-level for networking professionals to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot networks
Certified SOC Analyst (CSA): useful for current and aspiring Tier 1 and Tier 2 SOC analysts to level up from entry-level and intermediate-level operations
For those wanting to roll up their sleeves and dive deep into the offensive side of cybersecurity, certifications like the Practical Junior Penetration Tester (PJPT) may also provide valuable knowledge and experience with attacker tradecraft.
Participate in hands-on competitions like Capture the Flag (CTF) events, gamified cybersecurity simulations like CloudFox, Hack The Box, or TryHackMe. Local meetups and conferences, like your nearest B-Sides, are invaluable gateways for networking and building your foundational knowledge base, so get out there and meet people!
Document your findings and research on cybersecurity blogs or platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, or a personal blog page. This demonstrates initiative, creativity, passion, and expertise to future employers, leaders, and teammates.
Believe in yourself, take the plunge, and apply for the SOC Tier 1 role of your dreams! Remember, these roles are designed for beginners, so you don’t have to know everything. Take advantage of a mentorship-driven environment where you’ll continue learning on the job and eventually grow into a senior cybersecurity leader.
SOC analysts are often the silent cyber heroes, protecting nations, businesses, and individuals from cyber threats. These cybersecurity first responders are game changers, making sure organizations stay resilient in the face of cyberattacks. By understanding the role of SOC analysts in the cybersecurity ecosystem and taking proactive steps to build the necessary skills, aspiring SOC analysts can make major contributions with rewarding results.
