security operations consulting

From siloed to integrated Security Operations

Security Operations are about continuously managing incidents and vulnerabilities, while creating a unified day-to-day security operation that supports business needs across the organisation. We help analyse, design and implement security initiatives that strengthen overall security operations for your business.

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Prioritise security measures before minor issues become major ones

It is one thing to deal with individual security incidents. The challenge lies in gaining an overview while understanding the interconnections across operations.

In many organisations, Security Operations (SecOps) are primarily associated with IT security. However, in reality they are often closely linked to production environments, OT environments, facility functions and other business-critical processes as well.

As security consultants, we come across the same issues within Security Operations again and again. New security tasks arise because there is a need to resolve a specific security challenge. This intense focus on individual tasks can mean that one fails to take a step back and view the security model holistically. This can distort how you coordinate, prioritise and budget for security initiatives, whilst also making it difficult to provide the prioritised overview of operational risks that management requires.

At Vaern, we do not operate a Security Operations Centre (SOC), but we do provide SOC capabilities in the form of, among other things, consultancy, design, implementation and security analyses. The aim is to create a well-functioning SecOps setup that enables you to understand the interdependencies within your operations and prioritise security measures before minor issues escalate into major incidents. In this way, we support a fully integrated security model that aligns with business needs across the organisation.

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Selected services within Security Operations

Threat Management

We assist with Threat Management, Threat Identification and Insider Threat Protection, ensuring that relevant threats are identified and can be addressed in a targeted manner.

Assessments

We carry out Security Operations and SOC assessments to identify maturity levels, capabilities and opportunities for improvement in security operations.

Technology Analyses

We carry out technology and infrastructure analyses that provide an overview of technical risks, dependencies and areas for improvement.

Monitoring

We assist with security monitoring and reporting, ensuring that incidents and risks are identified and can be tracked and prioritised.

Implementation

We assist with the implementation of security platforms and security controls that support effective and coherent security operations.

Incident Management

We assist with Incident Management, Incident Response and the APT Survival Kit, ensuring your organisation is better equipped to handle security incidents and minimise their impact.

how we work

Vaern's approach to Security Operations (SecOps)

It is common for security operations capabilities to be measured by their ability to handle specific incidents and patch security vulnerabilities. While this is a key focus for us at Vaern, we also place great emphasis on preventative security measures that reduce the risk of vulnerabilities arising in the first place.

It is cheaper and less resource-intensive to prevent incidents than it is to deal with the aftermath. But if the worst does happen; it is important that your organisation learns from past incidents. Otherwise, experience shows that those very same problems will reappear time and time again. The aim of our Security Operations work is to deliver a unified security operation that stays ahead of the threat landscape, compliance requirements and business needs.

We advise on and carry out tasks within SecOps as a cross-functional, integrated security discipline, where governance, operations, IT/OT environments, technical security controls and business-critical processes are all interconnected. Our consultants have experience within operational security environments, contingency planning and strategic security functions. This means we can easily move from technical security issues in day-to-day operations to discussions about risks, priorities and the basis for decision-making at management level.

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Thrusted partner

“Vaern brought the right structure to our security efforts. They were able to articulate our vision, and communicated with credibility. Today, Vaern plays a very significant role in our approach to security and risk management. In fact, I would describe this partnership as unique and invaluable to us.”

Kenneth Becker

Head of Strategy and Governance and CISO, Region Midtjylland

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Does management have a true picture of the risks?

Effective security work requires the organisation to engage with the true risk picture on an ongoing basis. However, we know from experience that this does not always happen. Often, new security insights are downplayed or filtered as they make their way up to senior management, because of a fear that the insights and their implications may trigger budget discussions, questions of accountability or the need for major organisational changes.

Consequently, there is a danger that senior management find themselves making decisions based on outdated or embellished information, whilst the most significant operational risks are not given the attention or resources they require.

As security consultants specialising in Security Operations, we take responsibility for the advice we provide. In practical terms, this means you can trust us to present an accurate picture of your operational and security risks – even if the analysis is unpopular. That honesty and integrity are key to a long-term partnership.

Cases

Integrated security brings everything and everyone together in a single model

As the world becomes more complex and unpredictable, there is a growing need for security services that can strengthen organisational resilience. We deliver integrated security because shared objectives, coherence and coordination increase our ability to act and provide the best protection against security incidents.

Our eight security domains

FAQ

What are Security Operations (SecOps)?

SecOps is short for Security Operations, which is the part of security work that continuously manages incidents and vulnerabilities in operations. It encompasses monitoring, analysing, prioritising and managing security risks. In practice, Security Operations should not be viewed solely as an IT discipline, as security operations are often closely linked to OT environments, production environments, facility functions and other business-critical processes. The aim is to create a unified security operation that supports the business’s needs.

What is the difference between Security Operations and a SOC?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) is the specific function that monitors systems and puts out fires when security incidents occur.

Security Operations (SecOps) is the overarching framework. It encompasses everything that keeps security operations running on a day-to-day basis—from organization, technical tools, and established processes to how to make the right decisions.

A company can easily have a well-oiled Security Operations function without actually running its own SOC. What matters is not who is monitoring the screens, but that the organization as a whole has the right tasks and workflows in place.

What tasks are involved in Security Operations?

Security Operations encompasses a range of specific day-to-day tasks. These include detecting and understanding threats, monitoring systems, reporting on status, and handling and stopping attacks when they occur.

In addition to daily monitoring, it also involves carefully considering and improving security. This is done by assessing workflows and SOC functions, analyzing technology, and setting up and customizing the right security tools.

These tasks make the most sense when considered as a whole rather than as isolated projects. This makes it much easier to prioritize resources correctly and ensure that IT security supports the business’s actual needs.

How do you build an effective Security Operations setup?

A well-functioning Security Operations setup begins with a clear picture of the systems, processes and dependencies that keep the business running. The organisation should then clarify which risks are most critical and how to structure its operations to address them. Governance, operations, IT/OT environments, technical security controls and business-critical processes must all be considered together. This provides a better basis for prioritising security measures before minor issues escalate into major incidents.

How are Security Operations linked to IT and OT?

Security Operations cut across both IT and OT, because security incidents in one area can very quickly have consequences elsewhere in the organisation. Production environments, OT systems, IT infrastructure, facility functions and business-critical processes are often closely interlinked. It is therefore not enough to assess security in isolation within each individual environment. A fully integrated approach makes it possible to understand these interdependencies and prioritise efforts based on the overall operational risk.

When should a Security Operations or SOC assessment be carried out?

An assessment is relevant when the organisation lacks an overview of how well its existing Security Operations or SOC function addresses the organization’s current situation. It may also be appropriate if security efforts have evolved into a collection of many standalone solutions, or if incidents and decisions are often handled differently across the organisation.

An assessment can identify maturity levels, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. This provides a better basis for prioritising the next security initiatives.

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