What is security operations (SecOps)?

• Continuous network monitoring: Careful monitoring of a network includes everything in the IT environment, including public, private, and cloud infrastructures.
• Incident response: Any sign of unexpected activity on a network can be indicative of a security event. It is the role of the SecOps team to implement incident response protocols and take the appropriate steps to contain any damage or take preventative measures.
• Forensics and root cause analysis: Post-incident analysis is a crucial responsibility of the SecOps teams. This is the opportunity to assess and analyze security incidents and other unexpected events to find the root cause, whether there was a breach and loss of data or if there was just a software performance issue.
• Threat intelligence: The process of gaining knowledge about possible security threats, and planning methods to prevent or respond to events.

SecOps is continually evolving, which often leads to more complexities. Now, more than ever, organizations are facing a more sophisticated threat landscape from across the globe, and security vulnerabilities are becoming more and more prevalent. But, many organizations still haven’t implemented a sophisticated SecOps team. 28% indicated that SecOps teams are only brought on at the beginning of crucial IT projects. 15% say that they are brought on for every new project. The remaining 54% indicated that they are merely consulted on a few projects, if even at all.

72% of companies indicated that security operations have become increasingly more difficult, even when compared to two years ago. However, companies that have implemented SecOps have found it beneficial and great for ROI. Operations are improved and processes are more efficient across the security landscape and the rest of the IT infrastructure.

• Security threats grow and become more and more creative every day. It almost seems like there won’t ever be enough people in an IT security program to dodge every attack and prevent every security incident from occurring. A more robust team can help with the deployment of applications and help oversee the security during all phases of deployment in order to grow a team and put more hands on deck.
  
• Speed and tool adoption are prioritized over security. Often, operations and development teams are concerned with the speed of applications and their usefulness as a tool. When there isn’t enough emphasis on security, an application can be vulnerable to attacks and become compromised.
  
• Innovation has outpaced security and it is crucial to keep security side by side with innovation. Otherwise, an innovation can just be a liability and a vulnerability.
  
• Time to exploit vulnerability has decreased as cybercriminals are becoming more and more creative with their attack methodologies. Faster security responses are crucial to protecting data and the integrity of a company’s information.

Return on investment: there is a greater ROI when SecOps is implemented as opposed to a traditional security environment.

Security and operations become streamlined: priorities are better managed and consolidated, communication and information are integrated, and tools and technology are joined together.

Reduced resources: key security procedures are automated, and effective responses are orchestrated for an all-around streamlined security plan.

Fewer cloud security issues: fewer security breaches, fewer vulnerabilities, and fewer security distractions for a safer security environment.

Fewer app disruptions: fewer configuration errors are made, and changes in application code are tied together with rules of deployment.

Better auditing procedures: known vulnerabilities can be proactively addressed. Policies for compliance with appropriate standards are automatically checked and enforced.