Why Outsourcing Your SOC is Critical
Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, posing significant risks to organisations of all sizes. According to The UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, 50% of businesses experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months - rising to 70% for medium businesses and 74% for large businesses.
A Security Operations Centre (SOC) acts as the frontline defence against cyber threats, operating 24/7 to detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents before they cause damage. Staffed by expert cybersecurity analysts, a SOC continuously monitors network and system activity using advanced tools like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) systems to identify and neutralise threats in real time.
Organisations must decide whether to operate an in-house SOC or outsource to a specialist provider. This article explores the key benefits of outsourcing your SOC and how it can enhance cyber resilience, reduce costs, and improve security posture.
1. Cost Efficiency
Setting up and maintaining an in-house SOC requires significant financial investment in:
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Infrastructure – SIEM platforms, threat detection tools, and security automation.
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Personnel – Recruiting, training, and retaining skilled cybersecurity professionals.
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Operational Costs – 24/7 staffing, security audits, and compliance measures.
Outsourcing converts these fixed costs into variable ones, allowing businesses to pay for services as needed. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends optimising resources to balance cybersecurity effectiveness and cost efficiency based on ever-evolving risks.
See a breakdown of SOC outsourcing pricing models and ROI metrics.
2. Access to Specialised Expertise
Cybersecurity is a constantly shifting field. Organisations face:
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A global cybersecurity skills shortage – The ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2024 reports that 60% of businesses struggle with skills gaps.
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Higher salaries for security professionals – Recruiting and retaining skilled analysts is costly and competitive.
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Sprawling hybrid IT environments - The complexity of configuring and integrating multiple technologies requires diverse specialist engineering skills.
Outsourced SOC providers employ specialists who continuously monitor global cyber threats and who can integrate diverse systems at scale. The UK government’s 2025 Cyber security sectoral analysis highlights the importance of intelligence-sharing to strengthen SOC operations.
3. 24/7 Monitoring and Faster Incident Response
Cyber threats do not operate on business hours and modern attacks are highly automated, often achieving their objectives within an hour. A 24/7 SOC ensures:
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Continuous real-time threat detection and mitigation.
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Rapid response to cyber incidents to minimise downtime and financial loss.
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Comprehensive follow up on automated containment actions to assess impact and confirm resolution.
Compare this to in-house SOCs and their operational constraints.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends proactive security monitoring and rapid response to prevent escalating cyber threats.
4. Advanced Tools and Threat Intelligence
Outsourcing a SOC grants businesses access to:
✔ SIEM & SOAR platforms.
✔ AI-driven threat detection and behaviour analytics.
✔ Integrated threat intelligence feeds from paid, closed and open sources for early warning on cyber threats.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) advises businesses to integrate advanced security tools and automate threat detection to improve SOC efficiency.
5. Scalability and Flexibility
As businesses grow organically or through acquisition, their IT environment and business requirements become more complex. Similarly, businesses who need to unbundle or divest in subsidiaries can be exposed to unnecessary expense. An outsourced SOC provides:
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Scalability – Growing (and shrinking) security operations based on the businesses requirements without significant internal investment and without getting locked into unfavourable contracts.
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Flexibility – Adapting security measures to changes in the environment, emerging threats and regulatory changes.
The NCSC recommends scalable security operations to support cloud migration and hybrid workforces. In addition, the DORA regulation mandates that contracts include specific clauses to safeguard businesses - Talanos fully complies with these requirements. You can read more about our DORA-compliant approach here.
6. Standards and Regulatory Compliance
Depending on the industry, there are a growing number of standards and regulations that organisations must comply with:
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ISO 27001 – International standard for information security management.
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GDPR and DPA – Data privacy regulations for handling personal information.
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PCI DSS – Payment security standards to protect financial data.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework provides guidelines to help businesses meet compliance standards and reduce legal risks.
7. Peace of Mind & Business Continuity
A cyber breach can damage reputation, disrupt operations, result in legal fines, and potentially destroy the business. Outsourcing a SOC provides:
✔ Proactive risk management that continuously improves security posture.
✔ Dedicated 24/7 incident response teams.
✔ Expert-led cybersecurity strategies to prevent cyber incidents.
The UK Government Cyber Security Strategy underscores the importance of cyber resilience and continuous monitoring.
If your business is experiencing cyber challenges, it may be time to take action. Find out if it's time to outsource your SOC and how to make the right decision.
Why Outsourcing Your SOC Makes Sense
From small businesses to large enterprises, SOC outsourcing offers real benefits
For enterprises – Access to specialised security and engineering teams, 24/7 monitoring, and compliance assurance.
For small businesses – Enterprise-grade security at a predictable cost, without the burden of hiring in-house staff.
One of the most important considerations when outsourcing a SOC is establishing how the SOC team and the business will operate together as a seamless extension of the internal IT function. At Talanos, we place a strong focus on designing this collaboration from the outset—investing time in understanding each customer’s environment to ensure a smooth and effective working relationship. With a trusted partner, you gain transparency, shared ownership, and tailored security strategies that evolve with your business.
Not sure outsourcing is right for you? See common misconceptions about SOCs debunked.
Talanos Cybersecurity provides customised SOC solutions that seamlessly integrate into your business operations, maximising your existing investment in people and security tooling.
