Cybersecurity is long past being about a single product or a “lock on the gate.” An attacker often needs to find just one weakness, while the defender must safeguard everything. The answer is systematic monitoring and clearly defined processes that connect technology with people.
Why attacks work
Attackers are increasingly sophisticated and exploit vulnerabilities that have no patch yet, as well as leaked credentials. Security controls can often be bypassed, including multi-factor authentication and some VPN solutions. Paradoxically, products meant to protect can sometimes become the entry point if they are not properly updated and monitored. That’s why it’s not enough to “build walls”—continuous detection and response are required.
Monitoring as a service: technology, people, processes
Modern monitoring rests on three pillars: technology, people, and processes. Tools like SIEM and SOAR (they centrally collect and evaluate events and automate steps) generate alerts that analysts oversee. They follow predefined, standardized procedures to quickly distinguish a false alarm from a real incident and respond appropriately. The result is faster detection and less damage.
Building everything in-house is ideal if the organization has the capacity and experience; otherwise, a hybrid SOC makes sense. In it, the provider delivers the technology and 24/7 monitoring, while the company provides a point of contact and knowledge of the environment. Such a model saves time and costs and at the same time meets tightening regulatory requirements (for example, NIS2 expands the range of entities subject to a monitoring obligation). The ultimate goal is a cyber “fortress” that not only protects, but also sees what is happening—and can act quickly.
