In an age where data breaches and heavy fines for non-compliance have become part of the daily news, keeping operations, data, network, and reputation secure is one of the top worries for business owners.

A Security Operations Center serves as an effective way through which organizations can get the dedicated people, technology, and processes they need to keep their infrastructure, data, and identities secure.

However, setting up SOC in-house can be highly challenging, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, as it requires a significant investment in people, processes, and technology. Finding and retaining cybersecurity experts alone can be highly challenging, let alone the costs associated with solutions.

SOC-as-a-service offers a viable option for organizations by providing them with the benefits of SOC at a fraction of the cost of setting it up. They get the expertise they need to commission, configure, manage, and monitor their security and offer on-demand incident response without having to take up the associated costs.

Let us explore the benefits of SOC-as-a-service along with a closer look at some of the top SOC-as-a-service providers.

Here are some other benefits of SOC-as-a-service:

• Experts help configure solutions and tailor playbooks for automated response to reduce alert fatigue
• Helps manage security risks
• Insights for improvement of posture
• Round-the-clock monitoring of infrastructure
• Offers threat intelligence
• Assists in meeting compliance requirements
• Reduces the chances of a breach
• Gives the scalability to grow or reduce the security team based on the organization’s needs
• It can help a company improve its security posture in a short period of time
• Offers a standby team for Incident Response

Top SOC-as-a-service providers

Choosing the right SOC provider can be challenging. Before you pick a provider, create a detailed scope of your cybersecurity and compliance goals. We have compiled a list of some of the top providers globally to help you narrow down the right provider for you.

1. SharkStriker

Overview

SharkStriker is a global cybersecurity vendor with a mission to empower MSPs and businesses by helping them address their cybersecurity and compliance gaps through human-led, tech-driven, holistic services. Its services are delivered via its purpose-built, compliance-centric, open architecture platform STRIEGO. Through its SOCs in more than 30 countries, it is helping organizations address some of the most immediate challenges like widening skills gap, rising cost & complexity of solutions, limited visibility, and evolving compliance needs.

Services included

• AI-driven, vendor-agnostic, open-architecture, compliance-centric security platform – STRIEGO
• 24/7 SOC Monitoring with real-time alerting, expert-based triaging, and response
• Continuous monitoring of status quo security controls
• Multi-sourced threat intelligence
• Vendor and domain expertise in cybersecurity
• EDR/XDR Protection
• Network Detection & Response (NDR)
• Managed Security Services for the Microsoft Security stack
• Managed SIEM (for getting SIEM managed by experts) and Complete SIEM package (industry-leading SIEM + SIEM Management) 
• Full-Cycle Incident Response
• Host-Based Vulnerability Assessment
• Network Vulnerability Assessment (Internal & External)
• End-to-end Compliance management services for regional and global regulations, standards, and certifications, including proactive risk assessments, audits, and comprehensive security recommendations
• Complementary 3rd party integration
• Ransomware readiness assessments
• Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing services for web, network, applications, APIs, IoT, and overall infrastructure
• Security Audit of Controls (EDR, EPP, Cloud)
• Security Advisory & Continuous Posture Review

Strengths

• Dual expertise in cybersecurity and compliance
• Global data centers for superior localized threat detection and data sovereignty for compliance
• Purpose-built, white-labeled, vendor-agnostic, platform STRIEGO with dedicated interfaces for security teams, partners, and customers
• Well-rounded 24/7 SOC team with domain and vendor expertise
• Rapid incident response team
• White-labeled compliance expertise – helps MSPs offer compliance management services
• Global data centers for localized threat detection and data sovereignty
• Versatile partner program designed to offer technical, sales, and marketing support to MSPs with a white-labeled team, security platform, and teams designed to help MSPs

Weaknesses

• Faces compatibility issues with some products

Certifications

• ISO27001
• SOC2
• Australian Privacy Principles (APP)
• Australian Privacy Act 1988
• IRAP
• Essential Eight
• Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM)
• FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program)
• TX-RAMP (Texas Risk and Authorization Management Program)
• DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements
• Department of Defense, Defense Information Systems Agency, Systems Requirement Guide
• CMMC
• ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)
• FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) 140-2 FIPS 140-3
• IRS 1075
• HIPAA/HITECH
• NIST 800-171
• PDPA
• POPIA
• NCA
• CST Class C
• ECC
• CCC
• LFPDPPP Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties
• National Cybersecurity Strategy
• DPDPA
• MeitY IT Security Guidelines

2. IBM Security

Overview

As a global technology giant, IBM Security delivers intelligent AI and research driven security solutions and services to help businesses enhance their preparedness against threats.

Service included

• IBM X-Force Threat management
• IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence
• Managed Detection and Response
• Managed Endpoint security
• Incident response
• Managed Cloud Security
• Manage Identity
• Compliance support
• Strengths
• Strong global team
• Comprehensive threat intelligence
• Strong expertise in offering AI/ML-driven security to large enterprises

Weaknesses

• Can be expensive with a high initial cost
• May require significant time and effort to configure

Certifications

• ISO27001
• SOC2
• PCIDSS

3. Palo Alto Networks

Overview

Palo Alto is a Santa Clara-based cybersecurity company that is known globally for its platform with a built-in firewall and features that cover other aspects of security.

Services included

• Cortex XDR
• AI-driven threat prevention and response
• Cloud security
• Network monitoring
• Log management
• Incident response

Strengths

• Unified platform with AI/ML detection
• Fast incident investigation

Weaknesses

• High initial cost
• Year-on-year price increase
• New users may require some time to get familiar with the platform

Certifications

• NCS CIR
• SOC 2+
• ISO27001
• ISMAP
• CIS Controls
• IRAP
• CIS Controls Accreditation
• PCIDSS
• TISAX
• FedRAMP
• Cyber Essentials Plus
• DODIN APL
• CSIC
• USGv6
• NEBS
• US Cloud Act
• VPAT Section 508
• PBMM
• CSA STAR
• NCSC Cloud Security Principles

4. CrowdStrike

Overview

CrowdStrike is a global cybersecurity leader known for its advanced platform and cyber attack response services.

Services included

• Continuous threat monitoring
• Incident response
• Compliance support
• Falcon Complete MDR
• Threat hunting
• Automated remediation
• Cloud security

Strengths

• Uses a cloud native architecture for quick deployment
• AI/ML-driven detection
• Expertise in threat hunting
• Known for strong endpoint protection

Weaknesses

• Highly expensive
• May require complex configuration
• Had stability issues recently
• Limited DLP features
• Reported support delays

Certifications

• PCI DSS
• SOC 2
• CSASTAR
• FEDRAMP DODIL5
• VPAT
• SPAIN ENS HIGH (EDR)
• UK CYBER ESSENTIALS
• TISAX
• GERMANY CLOUD COMPUTING COMPLIANCE CONTROLS CATALOG
• IRAP
• ISO IEC27001:2022
• ISO 27001
• SOC2

5. Arctic Wolf 

Overview 

Artic Wolf is a Minnesota-based cybersecuritty ocompany that offers services for comprehensive security.It specializes in MDR for SMBs. 

Services included 

• 24×7 monitoring 
• MDR 
• Risk management 
• Vulnerability management 
• Incident response 
• Compliance support 
• Proactive threat hunting 

Strengths 

• Tailored solutions for SMBs 
• Focuses on reducing alert fatigue 

Weaknesses 

• Limited API automation and customization 
• Limited support for some OS 

Certifications 

• ISO27001 
• SOC2 

6. Rapid7

Overview

Rapid7 is a United States-based cybersecurity company that offers a range of solutions for comprehensive cybersecurity from threat intelligence to penetration testing.

Services included

• Incident response
• MDR
• Managed XDR
• Vulnerability management
• 24/7 threat hunting and monitoring
• Insight VM
• SIEM

Strengths

• Expertise in vulnerability management
• offers seamless integration capabilities
• Automated containment

Weaknesses

• High pricing for smaller organizations
• Slow support and response time

Certifications

• PCI DSS
• SOC2

7. SecureWorks 

Overview 

Secureworks is a United States based company (a subsidiary of Sophos) with customers in more than 50 countries, including Fortune 100 companies. 

Services included 

• Managed XDR 
• Threat intelligence 
• Threat hunting 
• Incident response 
• Log retention 
• Counter Threat Unit Intelligence 
• 24×7 detection 
• Compliance support 

Strengths 

• Seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem 
• Strong incident response 
• Aligns easily with common security frameworks 

Weaknesses 

• Slow implementation 
• Limited visibility into third party solutions 

Certifications 

• ISO27001 
• SOC2 

8. SentinelOne 

Overview 

SentinelOne is a California based cybersecurity company that focuses on AI security, known for its cybersecurity platform Singularity. 

Services included 

• AI-driven endpoint, cloud, and identity protection 
• Incident response 
• Cloud workload protection 
• Automated threat detection and response 
• Real-time monitoring 

Strengths 

• Strong vulnerability management 
• Automated detection and prevention 
• Easy-to-use console 

Weaknesses 

• High initial cost 
• Migration can lead to compatibility issues 
• Some users might take time learning new features 

Certifications 

• ISO27001:2022 
• ISO27017 
• ISO27018 
• FedRAMP High 
• SOC2 
• BSI C5:2020 
• Australia IRAP 

9. Wipro

Overview 

WIPRO is an Indian technology company that is known for its IT services, business process outsourcing, and consulting services.

Services included 

• Cloud native SIEM and SOAR 
• Threat and vulnerability management 
• Task-focused monitoring and response 
• Global threat intelligence and third-party tool integration 
• Incident response 
• Risk management 

Strengths 

• Deep integration with cloud services 
• AI-enabled SOC 
• Expertise in working with large enterprises 

Weaknesses 

• Focuses on enterprise scale that might not work with SMBs 
• Time inducing implementation 
• Support response times are high 

Certifications 

• ISO27001 
• NIST compliance 
• SOC2 

10. Tata Consultancy Services 

Overview 

TCS is an Indian technology company that is known for its IT services and consulting in 46 countries.

Services included 

• Log management and monitoring 
• Malware analysis 
• Vulnerability management 
• Incident response services 
• Threat detection and response 

Strengths 

• AI-led SOC 
• Strong expertise working with large enterprises 

Weaknesses 

• Slow response 
• Limited expertise in dealing with SMBs 

Certifications 

• ISO27001 
• PCIDSS 

List of Top 10 SOC as a Service providers in the World

1. SharkStriker

2. IBM Security

3. Palo Alto Networks

4. CrowdStrike

5. Arctic Wolf

6. Rapid7

7. SecureWorks

8. SentinelOne

9. Wipro

10. Tata Consultancy Services

Comparison for Top Soc Service Provider