What is the primary function of a security operations center (SOC)?

The primary function of a security operations center (SOC) is to monitor and analyze an organization’s security posture. This involves continuously observing and assessing the security environment to identify any potential threats or vulnerabilities. The SOC plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of an organization's information systems by detecting, responding to, and mitigating cybersecurity incidents. By having dedicated personnel who specialize in threat detection, incident response, and system monitoring, the SOC contributes significantly to the overall risk management and security strategy of the organization.

Other options do not align with the principal duties of a SOC. Customer complaints are usually handled by customer service or support teams, while developing new technologies for data storage falls under research and development, and implementing marketing strategies is the purview of marketing departments. Each of these functions serves a distinct purpose that is separate from the core objectives of a SOC, which is solely focused on maintaining the integrity and security of data and IT infrastructure.