Operations center
A SOC is not a room with screens.
It is a protocol, a trained roster, an escalation path and a record of what was decided. The room and the screens are the easy part, and the last part that matters.
The problem
Most monitoring centers are not monitoring.
They are watching. There is somebody in front of the screens, but there is no protocol saying what to do when something happens, who to notify, how quickly, or who verifies it was done.
When the incident comes, you find out the operator did not have the right phone number or was not authorized to call. That is not a failure of the person. It is a failure of design.
Four models
Depending on how much of it you want to own.
One to a few sites, no exclusivity requirement
As a Service
Your site is monitored from our center, sharing infrastructure with other clients. It is the least expensive model and the fastest to start.
High volume or high confidentiality
Dedicated
Operators assigned to your operation only, running your protocols and handling no other client during the shift.
Teams that already have staff and want continuous coverage
Hybrid
Your people run the critical hours and we cover nights, weekends and contingencies.
Corporates that want the capability internally
In-house
We design and commission your own SOC, train the team and step away. The center stays yours.
What the operation includes
What separates a SOC from a guard post.
- Protocols by event type. What the operator does, in what order, who they notify and within how long. Written down, not passed along by word of mouth.
- An escalation path with names on it. First contact, second contact, and what happens if neither answers. Validated, not assumed.
- A log of every event and every decision. With the time, the operator and the evidence.
- Shift supervision. Somebody reviews what the operator did. Without that, the record means nothing.
- Monthly indicators. Response time, false alarms and events closed. It is the basis for arguing about whether the service is working.
What a SOC does not solve
It does not replace response on the ground. The SOC detects, verifies, decides and escalates. Somebody has to arrive: a patrol, a response team or your own staff. If that piece does not exist, the SOC produces reports, not security.
It does not fix a badly installed system. If the cameras are poorly placed or the link keeps dropping, all the monitoring center can do is document the failure. That is why the assessment comes first.
Frequently asked
About the SOC.
Is the monitoring subcontracted?
Can I see what the operator sees?
How long does it take to start?
What happens in a major contingency?
Next step
Let us talk about which model fits.
Choosing among the four models depends on volume, confidentiality and whether you want the capability internally. It is a thirty-minute conversation.