Cybersecurity is as common and necessary as saying you need to buy paper for your office. A shocking 83% of organizations experienced more than one data breach in 2024, pretty scary, right? Managed Detection & Response (MDR) and Security Operations Centers (SOC) have emerged as two leading solutions – but choosing between them isn’t always straightforward.

In this guide, we’ll explore the key differences between MDR and SOC services to help you make an informed decision. You’ll learn the pros and cons of each approach, understand their cost implications, and discover why many organizations are adopting hybrid models. RCOR’s security experts will walk you through practical examples and provide a clear framework for choosing the right solution for your business needs.

• MDR provides 24/7 expert security monitoring without building internal infrastructure.
• SOCs require significant investment but offer more control and customization.
• Hybrid approaches combining MDR and SOC reduce threat detection time significantly.
• AI-driven security operations will dominate 85% of implementations by 2025.

What Is Managed Detection & Response (MDR)?

Managed Detection & Response (MDR) is a cybersecurity service that delivers 24/7 threat detection, investigation, and response by a team of security experts. Instead of building your own security operations, you partner with an MDR provider who uses advanced tools, threat intelligence, and human analysts to monitor your environment.

MDR services are designed to quickly spot and contain cyber threats, often using AI and automation to reduce response times. By this year (2025), over 50% of organizations are expected to use MDR as their primary security solution (Gartner, 2024). So, if you want protection but lack the resources, this is the ideal for your business.

What Is Security Operations Center (SOC)?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a dedicated team, often in-house, that manages your organization’s security monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. SOCs use a range of security tools, like SIEM platforms, to collect and analyze data from across your network, endpoints, and cloud.

The SOC team investigates alerts, hunts for threats, and coordinates response actions. Basically, you get your own team to fight against the cybercriminals.

Where MDR and SOC Overlap

Both share the same function: protecting your data and your business in general from cyber threats using cybersecurity experts and specialized equipment. 

So, which one should you choose or stick with? In fact, many companies use both, with MDR as a complement to their internal SOC. 

MDR vs SOC: Key Differences That Drive Your Decision

The main differences between MDR and SOC come down to ownership, expertise, and flexibility. Let’s see 4 of them:

Scope of Services

With MDR, you get specialized monitoring and a proactive approach to cyber threats, including detection, investigation, and mitigation. It covers the following areas:

• Endpoints
• Networks
• Cloud infrastructure

And as we mentioned above, there is a need for the breadth of traditional SOCs.

SOC offers the same thing, only from within your company, focusing on monitoring and regulatory compliance in terms of cybersecurity. 

Cost & Resource Model

MDR operates on a subscription-based model, making it cost-effective for small-to-medium businesses. This means that there are no extra costs for tools, personnel, or infrastructure. 

The SOC, on the other hand, requires personnel, infrastructure, software, and other expenses that can have a significant impact on your company’s budget. 

Human Expertise & Staffing

In this case, MDR is perfect if you don’t have cybersecurity personnel within your company, as you get experts in the field to manage everything related to cybersecurity.

As for SOC, if you need to hire personnel, this involves recruitment, training, etc.

Response Speed & Containment Authority

MDR offers rapid, hands-on threat containment, typically executing immediate response actions like isolating endpoints or blocking traffic without client involvement.

Although it may not seem like it, the SOC can be a little slower due to internal processes and coordination that depend on pre-established actions.

MDR and SOC Implementation & Ongoing Costs

MDR services are usually delivered on a subscription basis, making costs predictable and scalable. For example: For organizations under 1,000 employees, MDR typically costs 60-70% less than building an equivalent in-house SOC.

In contrast, setting up a SOC requires a large upfront investment, since the ongoing costs include staffing, technology upgrades, and continuous training.

MDR providers handle these burdens for you, while SOCs require ongoing management and resource allocation.

What to do? Consider your budget, growth plans, and the complexity of your security needs when comparing these options.

Decision Matrix: When to Choose MDR, SOC, or a Hybrid

Any of the three options may be viable for your company, but the final decision will depend on basic factors such as:

• Company size
• Workflow
• Data volume
• Resources
• Risk profile

Currently, hybrid models are more common, with MDR providing greater visibility and control to SOC. In fact, this fusion can reduce threat detection time by up to 45%, so why not?

Ready to Map the Right Detection Approach for Your Business?

One thing is certain: cyber threats are growing, and cybercriminals have no intention of slowing down. So, one way or another, you need to take action NOW to combat this problem that could completely destroy your legacy. 

Choosing one or the other, or perhaps using a hybrid model, doesn’t have to be a headache. It’s better to let experts like RCOR help you make the best decision for your company based on its current situation. 

The real question is: Are you ready to shield your company and operate without worrying that you could be hacked at any moment? RCOR’s team of experts can assess your current security needs and help you determine the most effective approach – whether that’s MDR, SOC, or a hybrid solution that combines the best of both worlds.

Contact us TODAY to explore how we can help protect your business against evolving cyber threats while maximizing your security investment.

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