When we talk about “24/7 security monitoring,” it’s easy to imagine automated systems tirelessly scanning for threats. While automation plays a vital role, real, effective 24/7 monitoring goes far beyond just alerts and dashboards. It means having a dedicated human security team actively watching your entire digital environment, around the clock.
This isn’t just about reacting to a virus definition update. It’s about a Security Operations Centre (SOC) team that’s constantly:
- Observing Your Entire Ecosystem: This includes endpoints (laptops, servers), cloud environments (like Microsoft 365), and network activity.
- Proactively Hunting Threats: They’re not just waiting for an alert; they’re actively searching for suspicious patterns, unusual behaviours, and early indicators of compromise that automated systems might miss.
- Contextual Analysis: Consider the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021. While the initial breach had weaknesses, the key lesson was the need for rapid detection and response. A well-resourced, 24/7 SOC with human analysts could have identified unusual activity much faster than automated systems simply generating alerts. A human team can interpret anomalous events – like an unusual login – understand the context, and quickly differentiate between a false alarm and a genuine threat, preventing a minor incident from escalating into a national crisis.
- Responding Rapidly: When something does look wrong, they can respond immediately, initiating containment, investigation, and remediation protocols to minimise damage. The NZX cyberattacks in 2020, for instance, required constant human monitoring and adaptive countermeasures to manage ongoing, dynamic DDoS threats. Automated systems are good, but a human touch makes the crucial difference in managing evolving attacks.
In essence, real 24/7 monitoring provides an intelligent, human safety net that continuously adapts to new threats, ensuring your business is protected even when you’re not at your desk.
Nectar has its own SOC offering – NecSec Defend. Check it out here and/or get in touch for a chat.