A European SOC

When your organization has implemented the essential cybersecurity controls, patch management, access control, backup, the focus naturally shifts from prevention to real-time detection, EDR, and incident response. Logging may be in place, but often lacks correlation; incident response is mostly manual, and visibility across systems is fragmented. That’s when it’s time to take the next step: implementing a SOC.

With NIS2 as a driving force, outsourcing security operations to a European Security Operations Center (SOC) is crucial. Organizations subject to NIS2 must demonstrate continuous risk monitoring, incident response capability, and structured reporting to regulators. A mature SOC provides the technical foundation to meet these obligations.

At DeepBlue Security & Intelligence, we deliver a fully managed SOC service with integrated incident response, closing the gap between detection and action.

What Is a SOC?

A SOC is a centralized operational unit that delivers 24/7 monitoring, detection, analysis, and response to cyber threats across both IT and OT environments. It brings together L1–L3 analysts, incident responders, threat hunters, and a SOC manager operating within a process-driven, technology-rich environment (SIEM, EDR, SOAR). The SOC is the backbone of your operational security. It correlates log data, detects abnormal behavior, prioritizes alerts, and proactively contains threats before escalation.

The Value of a Fully Outsourced SOC

Building and maintaining a 24/7 in-house SOC is highly complex and expensive. By partnering with a SOC-as-a-Service provider, you gain direct access to cybersecurity expertise, advanced detection technologies, and continuous monitoring without the internal overhead. Key benefits include:

• Immediate cyber maturity via pre-built detection rules and playbooks
• Instant compliance coverage (NIS2/DORA-aligned incident response)
• Improved ROI through predictable operational costs
• Fast onboarding to meet regulatory timelines

Why a European SOC Is Critical

Operating within the EU ensures compliance with GDPR, NIS2, and DORA by keeping telemetry and incident data under European jurisdiction. This guarantees:

• Data sovereignty: Avoiding exposure to foreign laws such as the U.S. Cloud Act
• Regulatory alignment: SOC operations aligned with ENISA guidance and EU cybersecurity law
• Incident reporting compliance: Supporting breach reporting within the 24-hour NIS2 window
• Supply chain trust: Demonstrating governance maturity to auditors and supervisory authorities

For critical infrastructure entities, the geographical location of your SOC provider is not a preference, it’s a risk management control.

Minimum Services You Should Expect

A competent SOC provider must deliver at least:

• Real-time log and event monitoring across IT and OT
• Threat intelligence integration for contextual detection
• Advanced alert triage to reduce false positives
• Active incident response and remote containment
• Digital forensic and root cause analysis
• Compliance reporting aligned with NIS2

These services form the foundation for meeting the requirements of at least Article 21 of NIS2 concerning operational security and incident handling.

How to Select the Right SOC Partner

When selecting a SOC provider, these are essential questions to ask:

• Where is our data stored and processed?
• Do you offer SLAs for detection and response (e.g. <60 min notification)?
• What certifications do you hold (ISO 27001, SOC 2, EU-specific)?
• How do you support NIS2 compliance, including 24-hour breach notification?
• Do you monitor OT environments and integrate with our existing IR processes?
• Can we speak with the SOC manager or review analyst metrics (MTTD, MTTR)?

Also insist on transparency regarding how detection logic is built and optimized (e.g. MITRE ATT&CK coverage, threat hunting capability), and verify that there is real 24/7 analyst staffing—not just automated alerting.

In Summary

A European-based, fully managed and staffed SOC with integrated incident response is the most effective way to improve your organization’s cyber resilience and meet NIS2 obligations.

DeepBlue Security & Intelligence provides these capabilities with local legal assurance and the operational maturity required for NIS2-regulated entities.

Want to know more about our SOC services?
Contact us at info@deepbluesecurity.nl or call us at +31 (0) 70 800 2025