Cynet Security Foundations

MDR Service vs. In-House SOC: Finding the Right Approach

What Is Managed Detection and Response (MDR)?

Managed detection and response (MDR) is a cybersecurity service that provides threat detection and response via monitoring and alert systems. Unlike traditional methods, MDR combines technology with human expertise to quickly identify and counter threats. It integrates different security technologies, such as endpoint detection and response (EDR) and threat intelligence, to protectIT infrastructure.

MDR services handle both data breaches and evolving cyber threats. Providers manage security alerts on behalf of the client, ensuring round-the-clock surveillance and immediate response. This approach reduces downtime and potential damage, making MDR useful for organizations lacking in-house security capabilities.

What Is a Security Operations Center (SOC)?

A security operations center (SOC) is a centralized unit dealing with security issues on a technical level. It is the hub for monitoring, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents in organizations. Staffed with security analysts and engineers, the SOC operates continuously to monitor network traffic, detect anomalies, and respond to possible threats.

SOC teams employ various tools for threat intelligence, vulnerability assessment, and incident management. They coordinate closely with broader IT and business teams to maintain security protocols. By providing end-to-end security oversight, a SOC ensures that organizations can mitigate risks and maintain compliance with industry standards.

Key Features of Managed Detection and Response

MDR provides a proactive, technology-driven approach to identifying and mitigating cybersecurity threats. Here are the key features that make MDR effective:

24/7 threat monitoring and detection: Continuous surveillance of networks, endpoints, and systems to identify suspicious activities or anomalies in real time.
Threat hunting: Human-led investigations combined with automation to search for hidden or emerging threats within the environment.
Incident response and mitigation: Immediate response to confirmed threats, including containment, remediation, and recovery to minimize damage and downtime.
Integration of security tools: Combines technologies like endpoint detection and response (EDR), SIEM, and threat intelligence to provide a cohesive security solution.
Security analysis: Dedicated cybersecurity professionals analyze complex alerts and threats, ensuring accurate detection and effective response.
Scalable solutions: Services that scale to fit the needs and size of organizations, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Learn more in our detailed guide to MDR security

Key Capabilities of Security Operations Centers

A SOC provides centralized monitoring and defense against cyber threats, ensuring organizations maintain security across their IT infrastructure. Key features include:

Centralized monitoring: A single hub for monitoring network traffic, system activity, and security events across an organization.
Incident detection and analysis: Continuous detection of security incidents, with in-depth analysis to determine their scope, impact, and origin.
Threat intelligence integration: Utilizes up-to-date threat intelligence to stay ahead of known and emerging cyber threats.
Incident response coordination: Coordinates response efforts to contain and resolve security incidents, minimizing operational disruptions.
Vulnerability management: Identifies and mitigates vulnerabilities across systems, applications, and networks to prevent exploitation.
Compliance and reporting: Ensures adherence to industry standards and provides detailed reporting on security incidents, vulnerabilities, and overall posture.

Tips From Expert

In my experience, here are tips that can help you better evaluate and maximize the use of MDR and SOC:

Use MDR to enhance SOC capabilities during high-alert scenarios: MDR providers can supplement a SOC team when incident volumes spike. Use MDR as an “on-call” escalation resource for critical incidents requiring deep investigation or threat hunting.
Apply behavioral baselines to MDR threat detection: Beyond standard tools, ensure your MDR service provider leverages behavioral baselines specific to the environment. This enables more accurate identification of deviations and reduces false positives.
Incorporate MDR into SOC playbooks: Integrate MDR services into existing SOC workflows and incident response playbooks. For example, assign MDR-specific roles for advanced threat investigations or endpoint remediation during incident triage.
Combine vulnerability management efforts between SOC and MDR: Use MDR to prioritize and address vulnerabilities actively being exploited or targeted in your threat landscape. The SOC can maintain overall vulnerability lifecycle management, while MDR escalates high-risk issues.
Leverage threat intelligence synergy between MDR and SOC: Ensure MDR services can ingest and share threat intelligence feeds used by the SOC. This creates a unified threat picture and accelerates detection of emerging threats across all tools.

Aviad Hasnis is the Chief Technology Officer at Cynet.
He brings a strong background in developing cutting edge technologies that have had a major impact on the security of the State of Israel. At Cynet, Aviad continues to lead extensive cybersecurity research projects and drive innovation forward.

MDR vs. SOC: Key Differences

Here’s an overview of how these security models differ in several key areas.

1. Scope of Services

MDR services focus on threat detection, rapid incident response, and remediation support. This scope ensures that organizations can quickly identify, contain, and resolve cyber threats. MDR providers combine tools like EDR, threat intelligence, and behavioral analytics with human expertise to deliver a service that addresses active and emerging threats.

SOC provides a broader range of security services beyond threat detection and response. A SOC oversees an organization’s overall security operations, including continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, compliance auditing, and risk analysis. The SOC acts as the hub for all cybersecurity activities, ensuring consistent oversight of the organization’s IT infrastructure.

2. Proactive vs. Reactive

MDR takes a proactive approach to cybersecurity by actively hunting for threats, monitoring systems in real time, and leveraging analytics to identify anomalies before they escalate into incidents. Threat hunters in MDR teams combine automation with human expertise to discover hidden or emerging threats that may evade standard security tools. This approach allows organizations to address risks before they can cause widespread damage.

SOC operations are often a mix of proactive and reactive strategies. While SOC teams continuously monitor systems for security events and alerts, much of their work involves reacting to incidents that have already occurred. The SOC identifies, analyzes, and responds to security incidents, often focusing on containment and recovery rather than preemptive threat hunting.

3. Technology and Tools

MDR providers rely on specialized tools to improve their threat detection and response capabilities. These tools include EDR platforms, security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and automation technologies for rapid response. MDR also integrates external threat intelligence feeds and behavior-based analytics to detect sophisticated threats in real time.

SOC teams use a broader set of tools to manage the organization’s overall security posture. In addition to EDR and SIEM systems, SOC operations rely on vulnerability scanners, network traffic analysis tools, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms. SOCs use this diverse toolset for patch management, system hardening, and compliance auditing.

4. Human Expertise

MDR services are led by cybersecurity specialists with expertise in threat hunting, incident response, and remediation. These experts focus on identifying and mitigating active threats in a timely manner. By combining tools with human insights, MDR analysts can investigate complex security issues, determine their root cause, and guide organizations through the remediation process. MDR providers often act as an extension of a company’s security team.

SOC teams include a mix of security analysts, engineers, and incident response professionals who handle a range of tasks. These professionals are skilled in monitoring networks, analyzing security events, and managing ongoing security operations. However, their expertise is often distributed across various areas of cybersecurity, meaning they may not have the same level of specialization as MDR threat hunters.

5. Cost and Resources

MDR is a cost-effective option for organizations that lack the resources or budget to build and maintain their own security operations. Delivered as a managed service, MDR reduces the need for organizations to invest in expensive security tools, infrastructure, or in-house talent. It provides access to advanced security capabilities and experienced professionals at a predictable, subscription-based cost.

A SOC typically requires a larger investment in both financial and human resources. Building an in-house SOC involves significant costs for hiring, training, and retaining skilled personnel, as well as purchasing and maintaining the necessary security infrastructure. Additionally, SOCs operate 24/7, which adds to the complexity and cost of staffing.

In-House SOC vs. MDR Service: Choosing the Right Approach

When deciding between a security operations center and managed detection and response , organizations must carefully evaluate their needs, resources, and security goals:

Organization size and resources: Smaller organizations with limited IT and security resources may find MDR more accessible due to its subscription-based model and managed services. Larger enterprises with established security teams may benefit from a SOC’s in-house approach.
Cybersecurity maturity: Organizations with advanced cybersecurity infrastructure and processes may favor a SOC to manage long-term security needs. However, businesses lacking foundational security capabilities or in-house expertise may prefer MDR, which delivers immediate threat detection and response without requiring extensive internal operations.
Speed of threat response: MDR prioritizes rapid identification, containment, and remediation of threats, often responding in near real time. SOC operations may focus more on analysis and broader security tasks, which can delay immediate responses to active threats.
Level of specialization: MDR providers offer specialized expertise in threat hunting and incident response, making them suitable for addressing advanced threats. SOC teams, while versatile, often distribute their focus across broader security tasks, such as patch management and compliance.
Customization vs. standardization: MDR services are often standardized for efficiency but tailored to specific business needs. SOCs provide greater flexibility for customization, allowing organizations to align security processes with internal workflows and policies.
Compliance and reporting needs: If regulatory compliance and detailed security reporting are a priority, a SOC’s structured approach to auditing and reporting may be advantageous. MDR focuses more on active threat detection and incident response rather than long-term compliance management.

Organizations do not necessarily have to choose between SOC and MDR; the two approaches can complement each other. MDR can improve an existing SOC by providing specialized threat hunting and rapid incident response capabilities. Conversely, a SOC can manage broader security operations, while leveraging MDR to address threats that require advanced expertise.

Cynet Managed Detection and Response

Cynet offers the leading Cynet All-In-One cybersecurity platform, including advanced endpoint protection and EDR . Our team of expert threat analysts and security researchers operate a 24/7 Security Operation Center, providing best-of-breed detection and response. Here’s what you can expect from the CyOps team:

Alert monitoring—continuous management of incoming alerts: classify, prioritize and contact the customer upon validation of active threat.
24/7 availability—ongoing operations at all times, both proactively and on-demand per the customer’s specific needs.
On-demand file analysis—customers can send suspicious files to analysis directly from the Cynet 360 console and get an immediate verdict.
One click away—CISOs can engage CyOps with a single click on the Cynet Dashboard App upon suspicion of an active breach.
Remediation instructions—conclusion of investigated attacks entails concrete guidance to the customers on which endpoints, files, user and network traffic should be remediated.
Exclusions, whitelisting, and tuning—adjusting Cynet 360 alerting mechanisms to the customers’ IT environment to reduce false positives and increase accuracy.
Threat hunting—proactive search for hidden threats leveraging Cynet 360 investigation tools and over 30 threat intelligence feeds.
Attack investigation—deep-dive into validated attack bits and bytes to gain the full understanding of scope and impact, providing the customer with updated IoCs.

Learn more about Cynet MDR services.