Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: 2FA/MFA • IAM • MTTD

SOC

Term from Cybersecurity industry explained for recruiters

A Security Operations Center (SOC) is like a company's digital security headquarters. Think of it as a control room where security experts monitor computer systems and networks 24/7 to protect against cyber threats, much like a security guard station monitors a building. When they spot unusual activity - like someone trying to break into the system or a computer virus - they respond to stop the threat. SOC can appear in job descriptions either referring to the physical center itself or the team that works there. You might also see it written as "Security Operations Centre" or "Cyber SOC."

Examples in Resumes

Led a team of analysts in SOC environment monitoring enterprise security

Performed threat analysis and incident response in Security Operations Center

Managed SOC tools and created security monitoring procedures

Worked as tier 2 analyst in 24/7 Cyber SOC

Typical job title: "SOC Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Security Analyst SOC Engineer Cyber Security Analyst Information Security Analyst Security Operations Analyst Incident Response Analyst SOC Team Lead

Where to Find SOC Analysts

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you build and manage a SOC team from scratch?

Expected Answer: Should discuss team structure, necessary tools, creating procedures, training programs, and establishing metrics for success. Should mention 24/7 coverage planning and incident response procedures.

Q: How do you handle a major security incident in the SOC?

Expected Answer: Should explain incident response steps, team coordination, communication with management, documentation, and post-incident analysis. Should emphasize business impact assessment and recovery procedures.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What security monitoring tools have you used and how do you prevent alert fatigue?

Expected Answer: Should discuss common security tools, explain how to prioritize alerts, create efficient workflows, and adjust tool configurations to reduce false positives while maintaining security.

Q: How do you investigate a potential security breach?

Expected Answer: Should describe the investigation process, including initial triage, evidence collection, analysis methods, and documentation. Should mention collaboration with other teams.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the difference between an IDS and IPS?

Expected Answer: Should explain that IDS (Intrusion Detection System) monitors and alerts about suspicious activity, while IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) actively blocks threats. Basic understanding is sufficient.

Q: What steps would you take if you noticed a suspicious login attempt?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic incident response steps: identifying the affected system, checking logs, documenting findings, and escalating to senior team members when necessary.