Tips for Selecting the Right Tool for Your Security Operations Centre

Security teams are confronted with a vast array of security tools, and many have already invested significantly in various technologies. However, this situation often leads to more challenges than solutions. Teams can struggle to recruit and retain the necessary expertise to manage these diverse tools effectively, making it difficult to ensure a good return on their investment.   

In the past 12 months, we have observed significant shifts in the market, particularly regarding merger and acquisition activity in the Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) space. This has led to uncertainty about the future of certain technologies, prompting many Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and their security teams to consider transitioning to one of the mega-vendors, such as Microsoft, Google, or Cisco, which will soon incorporate Splunk. 

Many Security Operations Centres (SOC) owners often find it tough to pinpoint the right technology investments, which can complicate their operations instead of improving them. There’s a common myth that just bringing in advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) tools will automatically boost a SOC’s maturity.  

The truth is that effective security also needs well-trained staff and established workflows; technology alone won’t cut it. 

Every SOC is different and shaped by the specific needs and maturity levels of its organisation. Unfortunately, many leaders tend to respond to threats in a reactive way, which can lead to impulsive buying decisions that don’t align with their long-term goals.  

As many teams evaluate and embark on a revised technology strategy, we thought revisiting some pragmatic tips Gartner published on selecting the right tools for your SOC was timely.  Gartner’s paper “Tips for Selecting the Right Tools for Your Security Operations Centre” 1 highlights the challenges faced by SOC leaders in identifying suitable technologies, warning against the temptation to chase cutting-edge tools without proper evaluation. Gartner emphasises a process-driven approach, aligning tools with organisational needs and involving broader stakeholders in decision-making. 

Here we have summarised their top tips: 

Prepare SOC Team and Stakeholders for Evaluation

It’s important for security leaders to engage with SOC teams and stakeholders to set realistic expectations about new threat detection technologies or techniques. While these innovations can enhance detection for specific scenarios, they are unlikely to replace more established tools using traditional approaches (e.g. correlation-based analytics). In fact, adding additional technology can inadvertently create extra noise and complexity, placing even more pressure on an already busy and potentially overburdened SOC. 

Before acquiring new solutions, Security and Risk Management (SRM) leaders should identify precisely why they are needed, how they will be used, and where they will add value. This includes clearly understanding your organisation’s main threats, operational demands, and the specific ways these tools can strengthen security. 

This proactive approach helps you spot potential issues early and fosters open discussion about any process gaps or team shortcomings, ensuring your organisation is fully prepared to maximise its investment. 

Aligning Tool Selection with Business Goals

Every SOC needs a clearly defined operating model outlining its mission, responsibilities, and maturity targets. SRM leaders should use this roadmap and existing tools, staff expertise, and documented processes to select technologies that directly support the SOC’s objectives. Before committing to new solutions, identify top security priorities, integrate new and old tools effectively, and ensure the SOC team has the necessary resources and skills.

Initially, aim for robust, real-time visibility through solutions such as SIEM, Endpoint Detection and Response, or Network Detection and Response, and then expand to more advanced capabilities. By prioritising Threat Detection, Investigation, and Response, SOC teams can tackle issues faster, reduce complexity, and strengthen their security posture.

Involve Broader Stakeholders

When organisations decide to purchase new security tools or enhance existing ones, it’s easy to overlook how alerts and incidents will be managed, from who raises them to how they are recorded and integrated into operational workflows. Security professionals may see the addition of a new solution as straightforward, but without involving other parts of the business, remediation and incident response can become unnecessarily complicated. 

By engaging cross-functional teams early on, you can define clear escalation paths and identify the correct resolver groups. This ensures no one is blindsided and that the process seamlessly adapts to the new tooling. As a result, incidents are documented more efficiently, and the right teams are equipped to respond and remediate issues, strengthening both the security posture and collaboration across the organisation.  

Stay Flexible Amid Changes

Change is the only constant for modern organisations, whether through digital transformation projects, mergers and acquisitions, or fresh regulations. SRM leaders need to anticipate these changes and remain flexible when adapting SOC operations rather than treating the SOC as a closed system. 

To keep pace with evolving demands, SOC teams should regularly review their capabilities, such as quarterly assessments, and actively seek information about upcoming business plans or technology initiatives. This allows the SOC to adjust its resources, re-engineer processes if needed, and maintain a consistent, proactive security stance.  

Leaders should also draw on performance data, post-project evaluations, and insights from the broader business and external threat landscape. By doing so, they can optimise detection and incident response, reduce attacker dwell time, and ensure the SOC remains a living, evolving function.

How Adarma Can Help

Adarma provides customised cybersecurity solutions to assist businesses in achieving future-ready cyber resilience. We protect organisations in the FTSE 350, including those in CNI and other regulated sectors. We offer effective threat detection and incident response, acting as an extension of your team to enhance your security posture and optimise your security investments for maximum risk reduction.

Our approach enables organisations to decrease cyber risks by implementing effective threat intelligence, exposure management, and detection and response capabilities. We offer tailored threat intelligence, technological solutions, and strategic consultations catering to our customers’ security requirements and business goals. Our expertise guarantees a balanced approach between security and operational efficiency, safeguarding our customers’ most crucial infrastructure and data.

Let’s Talk

If you would like to learn more about how Adarma can support your organisation’s cyber resilience, please get in touch with us at hello@adarma.com.

To hear more from us, check out the latest issue of ‘Cyber Insiders,’ our c-suite publication that explores the state of the threat landscape, emerging cyber threats, and most effective cybersecurity best practices.

You can also listen to our new podcast, which explores what it’s really like to work in cybersecurity in today’s threat landscape.

Stay updated with the latest threat insights from Adarma by following us on X and LinkedIn.