Introduction
Security leaders must decide whether to outsource SOC operations or keep them in-house. Smaller organizations traditionally rely on MSPs for affordability, while larger enterprises prefer full control. AI SOC analysts are changing this binary calculus, offering 24/7 monitoring, fast response, and efficient threat investigation without requiring a large team. This article explores the pros and cons of MSSPs and in-house SOCs and how AI-driven automation offers new models for security operations.
The Case for MSSPs: Why Outsourcing Security Still Makes Sense
Lower Operational Complexity
Running a security operations center (SOC) in-house takes time, money, and effort. MSSPs can handle everything from alert triage to full incident response, so companies don’t have to worry about recruiting, training, or managing security analysts to staff a SOC. Instead of building an entire SOC from scratch, businesses can rely on an external provider with experienced professionals ready to go. This makes outsourcing a practical choice for companies that don’t have the internal resources to manage 24/7 security operations independently.
Cost Savings for Small & Mid-Sized Enterprises
Small and mid-sized businesses often struggle with the high costs of building an in-house SOC, from deploying and maintaining SIEMs and SOAR platforms to hiring and retaining a team of analysts. MSSPs offer a predictable monthly service that bundles these capabilities, making enterprise-level security more accessible.
MSSPs also provide 24/7 monitoring, eliminating the need for expensive around-the-clock staffing and on-call rotations. Outsourcing can be a cost-effective solution for organizations that need continuous security coverage without the overhead of running a full SOC.
Challenges of MSSPs
Outsourcing security isn’t a perfect solution for everyone. When working with an MSSP, companies give up some control over security tooling and incident response decisions. Response times can also be slower since MSSPs juggle multiple clients, meaning urgent threats might not get immediate attention.
False positives can also be an issue; MSSPs may escalate alerts, erring on the side of caution but leaving internal teams to sort through unnecessary noise. While MSSPs can be a great fit for some organizations, others might need a more tailored approach that gives them more control.
The Case for an In-House SOC: Why Large Enterprises Prefer Internal Control
Full Visibility and Customization
Organizations that run their own SOC have full control over security policies, detection logic, and response workflows. This means they can fine-tune alerting, customize playbooks to fit their risk profile, and apply threat intelligence to align with their needs. With an in-house team, security strategy and technology investment decisions stay internal without relying on an external provider’s priorities or limitations.
Faster MTTA (Mean Time to Acknowledge) & MTTC (Mean Time to Contain)
In-house SOC teams don’t have to wait for an MSSP to escalate threats; they can act immediately provided they have sufficient staffing. In-house analysts have direct access to security logs, SIEM dashboards, and endpoint data, making it easier to investigate incidents quickly. More importantly, they know their own environment and business and can rule out false positives more easily than analysts in an MSSP SOC. With faster acknowledgment and containment, top-performing in-house SOCs can reduce the time attackers have to move through their network, limiting potential damage.
Compliance and Data Privacy Considerations
Industries that handle sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and government, often prefer to keep security operations in-house to minimize third-party risks. Some compliance frameworks discourage outsourcing because external vendors introduce additional data access and control layers. Keeping security operations internal helps organizations manage regulatory requirements more directly and avoid concerns about external access to their most sensitive information.
Challenges of In-House SOCs
Running an internal SOC comes with its challenges. Given the ongoing talent shortage in cybersecurity, hiring and retaining experienced security professionals is difficult.
The costs of maintaining a SOC, including security tools, salaries, and ongoing training, can add up quickly. Maintaining 24/7 coverage is another hurdle, requiring either a follow-the-sun staffing model across multiple regions or an on-call rotation, which can strain internal teams.
The Hybrid Approach: AI SOC Analysts Make In-House SOCs More Viable
AI-Driven Security Operations Reduce Analyst Workloads
AI SOC analysts handle the repetitive and time-consuming parts of security investigations, handling Tier 1 alert triage, correlating data across multiple tools, and even automating user interviews. This reduces the number of alerts human analysts need to investigate manually, allowing them to focus on strategic security improvements and threat hunting rather than sifting through low-priority alerts. By automating the Tier 1 investigative process, in-house SOC teams can maintain internal control without being buried in alert fatigue.
Fast, Automated Investigations
AI SOC analysts start investigations as soon as they hit the alert queue, dramatically reducing MTTA. This speeds up mean time to conclusion (MTTC), the largest component of MTTR. Your human analysts never start with a bare alert—they always start with a full investigation report, along with findings and evidence.
24/7 Coverage Without Expensive Staffing
Round-the-clock security monitoring usually requires hiring overnight analysts or rotating on-call shifts, which can be expensive and difficult to sustain.
AI SOC analysts fill this gap by continuously handling Tier 1 alerts, investigating anomalies, and escalating only when human intervention is needed. This means security teams don’t need to staff overnight shifts just to keep up with alerts, freeing human analysts to focus on high-impact security work during business hours while maintaining full visibility into their environment.
Cost Efficiency: AI-Driven SOCs vs. MSSPs
AI-driven security automation reduces costs by reducing the need for additional staff without sacrificing response speed or accuracy. Instead of outsourcing to an MSSP and paying for a service that may not provide full control over security decisions, enterprises can keep their SOC operations in-house while keeping expenses predictable. AI SOC analysts help organizations balance cost, efficiency, and control, making an internal SOC a viable option without requiring a massive budget.
Conclusion
MSSPs work well for smaller organizations, while larger enterprises benefit from in-house control. AI SOC analysts offer a third option, enabling an efficient, automated SOC without the overhead of a full team. Businesses should consider AI-driven automation as a cost-effective alternative to fully outsourcing security. Want to see what Dropzone AI looks like? Try our self-guided demo, an actual test environment that you can play around with.
If you’d like to learn more about how AI can help you build an efficient 24/7 SOC, read the white paper, Build a 24/7 SOC the Easy Way: Why AI SOC Analysts Are Key to the Modern In-House SOC.
