by Blog Hub
March 1, 2022
  It’s important while developing a cybersecurity strategy, and a rule book to follow to understand the difference between NOC and SOC. To comprehend what each of these acronyms means and how they differ from one another — the threats they face, the issues they encounter, and the challenges they meet.    In this post, we’re going to dive deep into NOC/SOC and help you understand which option is better for you.

What is NOC? 

NOC is a term used in the IT industry for a computer operations center. It is usually the place where all servers and networks are monitored and managed. The NOC is an acronym for Network Operations Center, which is a room or building that monitors and manages the network. The NOC is where all servers and networks are monitored and managed.   A NOC department simply monitors your hardware. What does that mean? It means it takes into account whether the servers, networks, and sometimes software is working at peak efficiency. It doesn’t secure it, it’s not one of its tasks. NOC departments simply have to make sure that everything is connected properly, that hardware doesn’t overheat, and that all tech is properly maintained. 

What is SOC?

Security Operations Center is a centralized hub for security personnel to monitor, analyze, and respond to potential threats. It is also responsible for managing the security of an organization’s IT infrastructure.   A SOC typically has a team that monitors the network and can detect any anomalies or vulnerabilities that might be exploited by attackers. The SOC team then takes appropriate action to mitigate these risks such as blocking an IP address or sending out an alert to system administrators.

What are the main differences between the NOC and the SOC 

The main difference between SOC and NOC is that the former is responsible for managing the network, while the latter is responsible for securing it.   The NOC is a crucial part of any IT infrastructure. They are responsible for managing all aspects of the network, including configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. The SOC on the other hand only manages one aspect – security. They are in charge of monitoring networks to detect malicious behavior and to take necessary measures to protect them from intrusion or attack.   A NOC department is responsible for ensuring that a business’ infrastructure is capable of maintaining operations. Period. That means that it prioritizes IT performances. SOC, meanwhile, is responsible for an organization’s digital health – protecting it against cyber threats that could disrupt operations. 

NOC vs SOC: Objectives and tasks

An annual report published in 2020, determined that 40% of enterprises estimated that an hour’s downtown of their servers or hardware could cost them between $1 million to $5 million in lost revenue. This doesn’t take into consideration legal fees, penalties, stock prices dipping.   The main objective of NOC teams is that this never occurs. That performance and uptime are kept at peak efficiency. NOC teams monitor 24/7 your services and tech infrastructure. Their practice has been in vogue since the 1970s when telecommunications companies started to display the status of routing, switches, and circuits. Today, NOC isn’t restricted to tangible equipment – servers, routers, etc – but also cloud services.    SOC, on the other hand, monitors, detects, and eliminates malicious activity – from a cybersecurity POV – that might compromise your company. Not only your servers, but your data, and your clients’ data.

What are SOC and NOC’s adversaries? 

Both services/departments deal with threats meant to hurt your organization. The main difference is that one deals with intentional threats, such as attacks and malicious software, while the other mostly deals with accidental threats or issues that have to do with hardware maintenance.    NOC’s main adversary is the passage of time. It needs to maintain hardware as well as software optimized. In many cases, that includes patches, plugins, maintenance, and fixes. Most of the errors it has to deal with are, well, errors — Troubleshooting problems.    SOC, on the other hand, has to deal with coordinated attacks. With hackers. With malicious software. With ransomware. With your employee’s bad practice when it comes to their cybersecurity health. SOC deals mostly with intentional errors or attacks. 

NOC or SOC

The truth is that they are entirely different services. One department, NOC, deals with your IT from a purely operational POV. Are the servers up to speed, are the routers working, is the cloud updated? Etc. SOC meanwhile safeguards your operation from malevolent players.    If you want to keep a profitable business, if you want to succeed and scale up your business, you will need both services. A lack of one might end up costing your corporation millions of dollars. Not only in downtime fees, and lost revenue, but in legal fees — a downtime will hurt your reputation and with it your branding.