What does security operations encompass within an organization?

The capability to identify events, respond, and restore is central to security operations within an organization. This aspect focuses on the proactive and reactive measures taken to protect an organization’s assets and information from potential security threats.

Security operations involve continuous monitoring of systems to detect unusual or unauthorized activities, often referred to as event identification. Once an event is identified, the security team must respond effectively to mitigate any damage. This could involve implementing technical controls, executing incident response plans, or even coordinating with law enforcement if necessary. Finally, restoration is crucial; following the response, operations must ensure that systems are returned to normal functioning and that any impacts on data integrity and availability are addressed.

While monitoring budgets and resources, managing HR matters, and verifying compliance with industry standards are important functions within an organization, they do not directly reflect the core responsibilities associated with security operations. Instead, they are supportive activities that can enhance the effectiveness of security operations but do not encapsulate the essence of responding to security incidents and managing organizational safety in real-time.