Organizationally, a combined setup would prioritize cross-correlation of data that would help organizations identify threat and disruption patterns from shared NOC/SOC monitoring tools. Such contextually rich data would enable triage and collaboration among the entire NOC/SOC operations and increased the combined efficacy of the merged operation.
Secondly, an integration must work at the systems level. This means that the previously drafted standard operating procedures (SOP) and service level agreements (SLA) must now reflect the joint responsibility of the NOC/SOC operations. A crucial part of this integration would be process reengineering that streamlines legacy processes to reduce redundancies rather than eliminating them and design an audit schedule for these processes.
Distributing it through integrated tools and dashboards. The unified team should carry no baggage of the legacy demarcation between NOC/SOC and the best way to ensure that is by assigning accountability per key performance indicator for each area respectively.
The most significant efficiency gains via the creation of an integrated NOC/SOC are typically felt in Tier 1 operations. And this is amplified when automation is strategically applied to highly repetitive processes. IT leaders could use this to prioritize the convergence process.
Organizations and IT leaders must recognize that the reorganization of NOC and SOC into a single entity is not the silver bullet to running a secure and reliable IT operation nor is it a trivial exercise. Security and network boundaries must be established to avoid creating new overlaps or to introduce new blind spots that go unattended by either team.
Specifically crucial are cross-domain procedures that need to be created or updated to drive workflows that align with the new operational architecture. Visibility and the ability to react depend on best-in-class tools, which need to be evaluated and adopted with accepted KPIs and lines of accountability. Simultaneously, essential tools used for security and network operations should be integrated into the unified platform to simplify access, use, and maximize their adoption value. Cross-training and knowledge exchange between network and security experts should be institutionalized and monitored on a continuous basis. Finally, as with every decision – timing is crucial. Deciding exactly when to migrate to a unified operations center is a complex decision and all necessary considerations need to be taken while planning the strategic shift.