SOC for SMEs: does a small business need a SOC?
SOC for SMEs: a small business does not need its own SOC, but it does need 24/7 monitoring and incident response. A managed SOC through its MSP delivers both.
A small or medium-sized business does not need to build its own SOC, but it does need what a SOC provides: continuous monitoring, including nights and weekends, and a fast response when an attack starts. When it comes to a SOC for SMEs, the right form is a managed SOC, bought through the MSP that already runs the company’s IT, with no dedicated team to hire.
This article is part of our series on choosing a managed SOC. For selection criteria, see How do you choose a SOC provider?.
Why the question matters for SMEs
Being small is no protection. Many attacks are opportunistic: the attacker looks for an easy way in (a reused password, an unpatched VPN, email without MFA), whatever the size of the target. For an overview of ransomware hitting smaller firms, see Ransomware attacks in 2024: which companies were hit most?.
What SMEs rarely have is the means to monitor their systems 24/7 with an in-house team. That is exactly the gap a managed SOC fills.
Signs an SME needs a SOC
SOC monitoring becomes relevant as soon as one of these applies:
- the business stops if laptops or servers are encrypted;
- email and files live in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace;
- staff work remotely;
- the company holds personal data about customers or patients;
- a major customer, prime contractor or insurer asks for security assurances;
- the company falls under NIS2, or works for an organisation that does.
SOC for SMEs and NIS2
In the sectors listed in its Annexes I and II, NIS2 applies to medium-sized and larger enterprises as defined by EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC: generally 50 employees or more, or over €10 million in both turnover and balance sheet. Some smaller entities are covered in specific cases. See Does NIS2 apply to SMEs?.
Firms outside its scope are still affected indirectly: Article 21 of NIS2 provides that regulated entities manage supply chain security, and they often pass requirements on to suppliers. See Does NIS2 affect me if my client is in scope?.
What an SME actually needs
No complex SIEM, no in-house security team. The essentials come down to three building blocks:
| Building block | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EDR on endpoints and servers | See and block malicious behaviour | The foundation of detection |
| Email and identity monitoring | Spot compromised accounts and suspicious forwarding rules | Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are frequent targets |
| 24/7 SOC with incident response | Triage alerts, act at night and at weekends, investigate | What turns a tool into protection |
An EDR with nobody watching its alerts offers limited protection: an attack can progress within hours, sometimes overnight or at the weekend. See Do you need an EDR for a managed SOC? and Managed SOC for Microsoft 365.
A SOC does not replace the basics: tested offline backups, MFA, patching and staff awareness. See Cyber security for small business.
Why go through your MSP
Most SMEs already rely on an MSP for IT. Adding security through a partner SOC has clear benefits:
- one point of contact for IT and security;
- a coordinated response: the SOC detects and contains, the MSP knows the estate and restores it;
- no hiring and no tools to run in-house.
To weigh building against outsourcing, see Should you outsource your SOC?.
What Cyna offers
Cyna runs a 24/7 managed SOC from France with in-house teams and a CERT, and offers it to SMEs through its partner MSPs, which own the relationship with their clients. It integrates natively with two EDRs, SentinelOne and Microsoft Defender, and has connectors for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. The MSP stays the SME’s point of contact and can provide exportable white-label reports. Cyna’s incident response on-call team is available 24/7 from the Report an incident page. The terms (scope, licences) are set out in the contract agreed with the partner MSP.
Talk to an expert
Running an SME and wondering whether a SOC makes sense for you? Talk to your MSP first, especially if it is a Cyna partner. Otherwise, get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 10-person business need a SOC?
It needs detection and response sized to it. If it has laptops, cloud email and customer data, an EDR monitored by a managed SOC is still worthwhile. Its MSP can scale the service to fit.
Isn't antivirus enough for a small business?
Antivirus blocks known threats. It does not see an attacker using stolen credentials or legitimate tools. See Antivirus vs EDR.
Can my MSP provide a SOC?
Yes. More and more MSPs work with a partner SOC. The MSP stays your single point of contact for contract, invoicing and reports. See Managed SOC and MSP: who does what?.
How much does a SOC cost for an SME?
Price depends on the number of devices and users, the sources monitored, whether EDR licences and incident response are included. Ask your MSP for a proposal based on your actual scope.
This article provides general information for guidance only. It is neither legal advice nor a contractual commitment from Cyna: service terms are those of the contract agreed through your partner MSP. For any regulatory question, consult your legal adviser.