If you work in cybersecurity, you have heard of SOCs and CSIRTs. Which is better? It depends on the needs of your organisation.
Security Operations Center
The SOC is the brain. It performs prevention, detection, incident management. When to create one: increased sensitive data, threat landscape requires dedicated resources, growing endpoints, non-existent processes, poor ROI on security, need to improve monitoring, outdated MSSP.
Computer Security Incident Response Team
The CSIRT is a centre of information security, incident management, and response. A SOC may guide a CSIRT, or the CSIRT may act as the company's main outlet. In high-visibility industries (government, healthcare) where response is critical, a full-time CSIRT may be necessary.
Originally published 11 May 2017. Migrated to the new IRC site in 2026.