How to Stay on Top of Future Threats With a Cutting-Edge SOC
Summary
The article argues that security operations centres (SOCs) must rapidly evolve to meet future threats, with a strong focus on harnessing AI while also protecting AI assets. It highlights the need for targeted hiring (including AI-security roles), upskilling existing staff, shifting SOC roles toward higher-value analysis, and strengthening relationships with business leaders such as legal and finance. The piece warns that current SOC capabilities will be insufficient within a few years and stresses vision, change management and proactive planning.
Key Points
- AI is both a force-multiplier for detection/response and a new attack surface that requires dedicated security controls and staffing.
- Choosing the right AI tools can reduce noise, accelerate triage and let teams focus on meaningful incidents.
- Organisations are already creating specialist roles to secure AI systems — risk modelling, adversarial detection and AI-specific playbooks are becoming essential.
- Many SOCs lack critical skills (digital forensics, threat analysis, incident management); upskilling and career progression are urgent priorities.
- TNO and others predict traditional Tier 1/2 roles will decline; future SOC staff will focus on situational awareness, predictive analysis and crisis management.
- Distributed, follow-the-sun staffing models help retention and provide better global coverage, but location strategy should match organisational footprint.
- Stronger ties with legal, finance and other business leaders aid joined-up risk management and help CISOs lead innovation and change.
Why should I read this?
If you run or work in a SOC, this is the tidy wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. It explains, in plain terms, why AI isn’t just another tool to slot in — it’s a whole new class of asset to defend — and why doing nothing about skills, structure and business engagement is a fast track to being outpaced by attackers. Short, sharp and practical.
Author style
Punchy: the article is written to push CISOs to act now. If your role touches SOC strategy, talent or AI governance, the detail is worth reading so you can translate it into priorities and hires.
Context and Relevance
This piece sits at the intersection of three ongoing trends: rapid AI adoption, growing adversarial focus on AI systems, and persistent SOC skills shortages. For security leaders planning roadmaps or budgets, it links operational changes (automation and agentic AI) with people strategy (upskilling, new specialist hires) and organisational alignment (legal, finance engagement). That makes it highly relevant to CISOs preparing for the next 3–5 years.