Blog

How to Get the Most Out of Your SOC Analyst Training: A Guide to Success

As cyber threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, the demand for skilled security operations center (SOC) analysts increases. However, training these analysts to effectively detect, analyze, and respond to cyber threats is not an easy feat. Cybersecurity training programs may provide theoretical knowledge, but they often lack the necessary technology, processes, analytics, and automation that SOC analysts need to use in their day-to-day work. That’s where SightGain’s embedded SOC analyst training and validation comes in.

Threat Detection and Analysis

The first step in training SOC analysts is to ensure that they are familiar with the security equipment and analytics that they will rely on in their work. This means that your infrastructure must be tested against threats from across MITRE ATT&CK before analysts can start training. It is critical to know that your security equipment functions correctly before focusing on training the analysts. Once the infrastructure is tested and operational, it is time to start training.

Emulating Real World Threats

To become a successful SOC analyst, one must train on real-world threats that they will encounter. Analysts need to be trained to identify a wide range of threats and learn how to respond effectively. Using simulations of techniques from across the MITRE ATT&CK framework, a comprehensive knowledge base of threat tactics and techniques, organizational leaders can simulate real-world threats to assess their analysts’ skills and knowledge. This enables SOC analysts to practice in the real world approach they require in actual threat identification and response scenarios, facilitating their growth in the field.

Measuring Response and Progress

Measuring the response of SOC analysts is crucial in determining their progress and how well they understand the security systems they use daily. Organizations must choose Key Performance Indicators that suit their needs. For instance, KPIs such as Mean Time to Identify (MTTI) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) quantify how fast and effectively SOC analysts identify and respond to threats they may be currently missing. By consistently measuring their response and progress, organizations can train and improve analyst performance to be top performers in threat detection.

SightGain’s Embedded Cyber Training Range

The typical approach to SOC analyst training is no longer adequate to handle the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. This is where SightGain’s Embedded Cyber Training Range becomes valuable. With SightGain’s training range, SOC analysts can receive hands-on experience with the actual equipment they use every day equipment and simulate real-world threats that match their organization’s needs, enabling SOC analysts to “Train Where They Fight.” SightGain Training Range provides KPIs that measure real-time progress of analysts, providing feedback to leaders in the SOC on where to focus the training efforts. This feedback loop is valuable as it ensures SOC analysts are trained skillfully to better defend their organization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the importance of SOC analyst training cannot be understated in today’s data-driven world. Organizations need analysts to be proficient and well-prepared to represent their front line of defense against cyber threats. Although traditional approaches to cyber security training will teach them the basics, they provide minimal training relevant to their work. SightGain inherently provides SOC teams with live-fire security staff training that offers hands-on experience that can transform the typical training approach to the more practical, akin to “training where they fight.” An approach that helps SOC analysts better grasp relevant threats and technologies to protect their organizations effectively.