* [Blog](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog)
* [Palo Alto Networks](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/)
* [Government](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/government/)
* The Importance of Process...

# The Importance of Process in Your Security Operations Center (SOC)

[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2014%2F09%2Fimportance-process-security-operations-center-soc%2F)  
[](https://twitter.com/share?text=The+Importance+of+Process+in+Your+Security+Operations+Center+%28SOC%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2014%2F09%2Fimportance-process-security-operations-center-soc%2F)  
[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2014%2F09%2Fimportance-process-security-operations-center-soc%2F&title=The+Importance+of+Process+in+Your+Security+Operations+Center+%28SOC%29&summary=&source=)  
[](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2014/09/importance-process-security-operations-center-soc/&ts=markdown)  
\[\](mailto:?subject=The Importance of Process in Your Security Operations Center (SOC))  
Link copied  
By [Pamela Warren](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/pwarren/?ts=markdown "Posts by Pamela Warren")  
Sep 10, 2014  
3 minutes  
[Government](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/government/?ts=markdown)  
[Vertical](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/vertical/?ts=markdown)  
[Knowetic Solutions](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/knowetic-solutions/?ts=markdown)  
[Security Operations Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/security-operations-center/?ts=markdown)  
[SOC](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/soc/?ts=markdown)  
[Tim Haight](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/tim-haight/?ts=markdown)  
[white papers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/white-papers/?ts=markdown)

*Hopefully by now you've read our new paper "Keeping a Trusted Eye On Today's Government Networks: Building or Realigning the Government Security Operations Center" and Rick Howard's article on the talent needed for the SOC. If not, you can download them [here](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2014/08/building-new-soc-re-invigorating-existing-one/).*

*For more perspective on the topic, let's reiterate the need for process as an important component of your SOC planning.* *As a former Army officer and graduate of both the Naval Academy and West Point, Tim Haight understands the importance of process in government and - as former Chief of one of the Army CERTs - in particular in Security Operations Centers.*

By Tim Haight, Owner, Knowetic Solutions, LC

Like many organizational capabilities, a Security Operations Center (SOC) can be described in terms of its people, process, and technology: three components that must work in harmony to deliver the services needed to keep the enterprise secure.

On the surface it seems clear why people and technology are essential to a successful SOC, but the importance of *process* can be more difficult to articulate -- especially as it relates to a capability that many feel is more art than science. Nonetheless, process does play a critical role in the creation and operation of the SOC. Here's why:

1. **The SOC is a service organization** -- just like the IT service organization. Adopting an Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) framework such as the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) provides many benefits to the IT service organization. Embracing a similarly process driven approach will extend those same benefits to the SOC. Strategically, the "right" process approach can make the SOC more accountable to its customers and align SOC priorities with business priorities. Operationally, almost any process approach should reduce redundancies leading to increased resource utilization and quality of service.
2. **Effective organizations are not stagnant** and process is a key enabler in defining metrics to be used for improvement. Process and metrics can sometimes be like the "chicken and egg," but you will probably have situations where you design a process around the desired metric, and other times when you choose the metrics to evaluate a critical process. The important thing is to tie meaningful metrics to implementable processes, measure those metrics, and then use those measurements to improve over time.
3. Your Information Security Management System (ISMS) does not need a SOC to be ISO/IEC 27001:2013 compliant. But **if you have a SOC and you want to be compliant** , it needs to be process-based. So if you don't want to adopt process to be more effective or more efficient (see 1 and 2 above), then adopt process to be *compliant*.
4. **Process is a gap filler** between the people and the technology. Your cyber security technology is not a complete solution -- it probably does a lot, but at some point your SOC analysts need to take the output and make decisions. Likewise your analysts are not by themselves a complete solution -- as gifted as they are, they still need technology to enable their success. Your people and your technology joined together by process is a complete solution. Focus process efforts on those points of interaction between the people and the technology. That balance helps guide junior analysts without stifling the creativity of senior analysts.

Process has an important place in the successful SOC. Hire the right people and implement the right technology, then get to work on defining and executing the right processes.

Download our new SOC paper [here](http://connect.paloaltonetworks.com/government-soc).

*** ** * ** ***

## Related Blogs

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown)

[#### What's New in Cortex](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/whats-new-in-cortex/)

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown)

[#### How Cortex Defends Against Microsoft SharePoint "ToolShell" Exploits](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/how-cortex-defends-against-microsoft-sharepoint-toolshell-exploits/)

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown)

[#### Defending against Phantom Taurus with Cortex](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/the-rise-of-phantom-taurus-unmasking-a-stealthy-new-threat-to-global-security-with-cortex/)

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [News and Events](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/news-and-events/?ts=markdown), [Playbook of the Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/playbook-of-the-week/?ts=markdown)

[#### What's New for Cortex and Cortex Cloud (Apr '25)](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/whats-new-for-cortex-and-cortex-cloud-apr-25/)

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [News and Events](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/news-and-events/?ts=markdown)

[#### What's New in Cortex: The Latest Innovations for the World's #1 SecOps Platform (Feb '25 Release)](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/whats-new-in-cortex-the-latest-innovations-for-the-worlds-1-secops-platform-feb-25-release/)

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown)

[#### Optimize Analyst Workflows with Cortex Copilot](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/optimize-analyst-workflows-with-cortex-copilot/)

### Subscribe to the Blog!

Sign up to receive must-read articles, Playbooks of the Week, new feature announcements, and more.
![spinner](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/themes/panwblog2023/dist/images/ajax-loader.gif) Sign up  
Please enter a valid email.  
By submitting this form, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown) and acknowledge our [Privacy Statement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown). Please look for a confirmation email from us. If you don't receive it in the next 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.  
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply.  
{#footer} {#footer}

## Products and Services

* [AI-Powered Network Security Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security?ts=markdown)

* [Secure AI by Design](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/precision-ai-security/secure-ai-by-design?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma AIRS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-ai-runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI Access Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/ai-access-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Delivered Security Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/security-subscriptions?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced Threat Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-threat-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced URL Filtering](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-url-filtering?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced WildFire](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-wildfire?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced DNS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-dns-security?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise Data Loss Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/enterprise-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Medical IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Industrial OT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/next-generation-firewall?ts=markdown)

* [Hardware Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/hardware-firewall-innovations?ts=markdown)

* [Software Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/software-firewalls?ts=markdown)

* [Strata Cloud Manager](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/strata-cloud-manager?ts=markdown)

* [SD-WAN for NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/sd-wan-subscription?ts=markdown)

* [PAN-OS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/pan-os?ts=markdown)

* [Panorama](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/panorama?ts=markdown)

* [Secure Access Service Edge](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SASE](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Application Acceleration](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/app-acceleration?ts=markdown)

* [Autonomous Digital Experience Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/adem?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise DLP](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/access?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Browser](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/prisma-browser?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SD-WAN](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/sd-wan?ts=markdown)

* [Remote Browser Isolation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/remote-browser-isolation?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven Security Operations Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Application Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/application-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Posture Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/cloud-posture-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Runtime Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven SOC](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XDR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xdr?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSOAR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsoar?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Xpanse](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xpanse?ts=markdown)

* [Unit 42 Managed Detection \& Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-detection-and-response?ts=markdown)

* [Managed XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Threat Intel and Incident Response Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42?ts=markdown)

* [Proactive Assessments](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/assess?ts=markdown)

* [Incident Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/respond?ts=markdown)

* [Transform Your Security Strategy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/transform?ts=markdown)

* [Discover Threat Intelligence](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/threat-intelligence-partners?ts=markdown)

## Company

* [About Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us?ts=markdown)
* [Careers](https://jobs.paloaltonetworks.com/en/)
* [Contact Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/contact-sales?ts=markdown)
* [Corporate Responsibility](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility?ts=markdown)
* [Customers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/customers?ts=markdown)
* [Investor Relations](https://investors.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Location](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/locations?ts=markdown)
* [Newsroom](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/newsroom?ts=markdown)

## Popular Links

* [Blog](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/?ts=markdown)
* [Communities](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/communities?ts=markdown)
* [Content Library](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources?ts=markdown)
* [Cyberpedia](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia?ts=markdown)
* [Event Center](https://events.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Manage Email Preferences](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/preference-center)
* [Products A-Z](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/products-a-z?ts=markdown)
* [Product Certifications](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center/compliance?ts=markdown)
* [Report a Vulnerability](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/security-disclosure?ts=markdown)
* [Sitemap](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sitemap?ts=markdown)
* [Tech Docs](https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Unit 42](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://panwedd.exterro.net/portal/dsar.htm?target=panwedd)
  ![PAN logo](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/pan-logo-dark.svg)
* [Privacy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown)
* [Trust Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center?ts=markdown)
* [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown)
* [Documents](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal?ts=markdown)

Copyright © 2026 Palo Alto Networks. All Rights Reserved

* [![Youtube](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/youtube-black.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/user/paloaltonetworks)
* [![Podcast](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/images/icons/podcast.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/podcasts/threat-vector?ts=markdown)
* [![Facebook](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/facebook-black.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/PaloAltoNetworks/)
* [![LinkedIn](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/linkedin-black.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks)
* [![Twitter](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/twitter-x-black.svg)](https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks)
* EN  
  Select your language