Hire a SOC Analyst & Blue Team Specialist
Cyber threats do not stop after office hours. An effective Security Operations Center monitors your organisation continuously and responds swiftly to incidents. MVPeople Group delivers SOC analysts, threat hunters, SIEM engineers and incident response specialists who strengthen your defensive security capabilities.
The world of SOC & blue team operations
The Security Operations Center is the nerve centre of your cyber defence. This is where alerts from SIEM systems, EDR solutions, firewall logs, threat intelligence feeds and other security tools converge. SOC analysts analyse this information, identify genuine threats and coordinate the response.
The blue team discipline encompasses more than just monitoring. It is about proactively improving defences: threat hunting to identify sophisticated threats that evade regular detection, developing detection use cases based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework, and automating repetitive tasks via SOAR playbooks.
Incident response is a crucial component of SOC operations. When a security incident occurs, speed is essential. An experienced incident response team limits the damage, preserves forensic evidence and restores normal operations. The quality of your incident response capabilities determines the difference between a manageable incident and a costly crisis.
The market for SOC professionals is particularly tight. Experienced analysts, especially at tier 2 and tier 3 level, are scarce. MVPeople Group has a network of qualified SOC professionals with experience on various SIEM platforms and across diverse sectors.
SOC profiles we deliver
From tier-1 triage to threat hunting and SOC management: we deliver professionals for every layer of your security operations.
SOC Tier 1 - Triage Analyst
Monitors security alerts in real-time, performs initial triage and escalates suspicious incidents. Works with SIEM dashboards, ticketing systems and playbooks. An ideal starting point for security professionals progressing to higher SOC roles.
SOC Tier 2 - Incident Analyst
Conducts in-depth analysis of escalated incidents, correlates events from multiple sources and determines the impact and scope of security events. Develops detection rules and tunes existing use cases to reduce false positives.
SOC Tier 3 - Threat Hunter
Performs proactive threat hunting based on threat intelligence, hypotheses and advanced analytical methods. Identifies sophisticated threats that evade regular detection. Develops new detection methodologies and advises on security architecture.
Incident Response Specialist
Leads the response to security incidents: from containment and eradication to recovery and post-incident analysis. Coordinates crisis teams, communicates with stakeholders and ensures forensic evidence preservation.
SIEM/SOAR Engineer
Designs, implements and manages SIEM and SOAR platforms such as Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk, QRadar, Elastic SIEM or Palo Alto XSOAR. Develops detection rules, dashboards and automated playbooks.
SOC Manager
Leads the Security Operations Center: defines processes, manages the team, monitors SLAs and reports to management. Responsible for the continuous improvement of detection and response capabilities.
SIEM & SOAR platforms in our network
Our SOC professionals have experience with the most widely used security operations platforms.
Microsoft Sentinel
SIEM + SOAR
Splunk Enterprise Security
SIEM
IBM QRadar
SIEM
Elastic SIEM
SIEM
Palo Alto XSOAR
SOAR
CrowdStrike Falcon
EDR/XDR
SentinelOne
EDR/XDR
LogRhythm
SIEM
Certifications in our network
Frequently asked questions about SOC & Blue Team
What is a Security Operations Center (SOC)?
A SOC is a central team or facility responsible for continuously monitoring, detecting and responding to cybersecurity incidents. The SOC combines people, processes and technology (SIEM, SOAR, EDR) to provide 24/7 visibility into an organisation's security posture. The goal is the early detection of threats and minimising the impact of incidents.
What is the difference between SOC tiers?
SOC teams are typically organised into three tiers. Tier 1 analysts perform initial triage on incoming alerts and escalate suspicious incidents. Tier 2 analysts conduct in-depth analysis of escalated events and determine scope and impact. Tier 3 specialists (threat hunters) perform proactive threat hunting and investigate the most complex threats. Each tier requires increasing levels of experience and expertise.
Which SIEM platforms are most in demand?
In the Dutch market, Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk Enterprise Security, IBM QRadar, Elastic SIEM and LogRhythm are the most requested SIEM platforms. The choice depends on your existing technology stack, budget and specific requirements. Microsoft Sentinel is rapidly gaining market share thanks to its integration with the Microsoft ecosystem.
What is SOAR and why is it important?
SOAR stands for Security Orchestration, Automation and Response. SOAR platforms such as Palo Alto XSOAR, Splunk SOAR and Microsoft Sentinel Automation automate routine SOC tasks via playbooks. This reduces response times during incidents, minimises alert fatigue and makes the SOC team more effective. SOAR engineers are increasingly sought after to improve the efficiency of SOC operations.
How quickly can a SOC analyst start?
We typically present suitable SOC profiles within 5 working days. Availability depends on the desired tier level and platform expertise. Tier 1 analysts are generally more readily available than senior threat hunters or SIEM architects. Get in touch for a realistic estimate based on your specific requirements.
What does it cost to hire SOC personnel?
Rates vary considerably based on the tier level, platform expertise and type of engagement. A mid-level SOC analyst has a different rate than a senior threat hunter or a SIEM architect. Night shifts and 24/7 availability also affect the rate. Get in touch for a no-obligation indication.
Can MVPeople also deliver complete SOC teams?
Through our MVProjects service line we deliver complete SOC teams or strengthen existing teams with specific expertise. This can range from establishing a new SOC to providing additional capacity for an existing team, including SIEM engineering, playbook development and threat hunting capabilities.
Need a SOC analyst or blue team specialist?
From tier-1 analysts to threat hunters: we deliver the SOC professionals who protect your organisation 24/7.