Security Operations Centre Manager

A SOC Manager manager has overall responsibility for an organisation's SOC and supervises the cyber professionals that make up that team. Learn more about the skills and training you need to become a SOC Manager.

SOC Manager

Role profile

What is a SOC Manager?

A SOC manager is responsible for a businesses security operations centre.

They usually oversee a team that includes cyber security analysts, penetration testers and security engineers. The SOC Manager should have a good understanding of these roles and how they work together in keeping the organisation secure.

They will also make decisions on the technology tools and platforms used by the SOC and the incidence response processes that the team will follow.

What are the main responsibilities and skills of a SOC Manager?

The key responsibilities of a SOC Manager include:

  • Providing leadership for the SOC team
  • Overseeing the incident response process
  • Reviewing incident reports
  • Communicating with the wider organisation
  • Developing plans on how to deal with critical impact attacks
  • Supporting external audit requirements

What are the key skills of a SOC Manager?

A SOC Manager needs to combine technical infrastructure and cyber security skills with strong interpersonal and leadership ability. These core skills include: 

Leadership skills

  • Team management
  • Budget management
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Report writing
  • Communication skills

Cyber security and infrastructure skills

  • Incident response processes
  • Vulnerability management
  • Software engineering security
  • Threat intelligence
  • Technology skills:
  • Cloud platforms
  • Operating systems and networks
  • Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP)
  • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
What our experts say

Insights from the experts

"A SOC Manager will be able to have a technical discussion with a security analyst about the current cyber incident that the team is dealing with, and also be able to present an incident summary to non technical senior staff.

They will need a good understanding of both the platforms that the SOC uses daily and the software and processes used by the business. They will design the processes that the team follows when dealing with cyber incidents."

All of this requires a mix of skills enabling them to lead a team effectively, keeping abreast of the latest cyber threats and methods of defense, and communicating with the other stakeholders in the business"

Ben Davies

QA Curriculum Manager and Information Technology Expert

Training and courses

How to become a SOC Manager

SOC Manager Training

Explore the training solutions available to become a SOC Manager or expand your cyber security skills. 

If you're a business looking to upskill your team, or hire a data apprentice, get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements. 

Take a leadership course

Explore cyber security training and certifications

Explore our library of online cyber security courses

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