Every business–no matter its size–is a bullseye for cyber criminals. Data breaches cost an average of $3.6 million globally, according to Ponemon. Many people think the best way to bolster an organization’s proactive protections is to build a security operations center (SOC) to monitor, detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats 24/7. But there are many drawbacks: the cost of hardware and software is expensive; even more expensive is the challenge of attracting, training, and retaining skilled security experts in a world of high demand and low talent supply. This whitepaper lays out the real requirements for a SOC, and proposes a practical, affordable way to get the targeted, tailored protection your specific business needs without breaking the bank.