How SOC supports compliance with NIS2, DORA, and GDPR
Just a decade ago, cybersecurity was mainly associated with antivirus software and strong passwords. Today, it is a full-fledged area of risk management, increasingly making its way into boardrooms, supervisory boards, and… regulatory authorities.
The European Union leaves no room for interpretation: GDPR, NIS2, and DORA explicitly require companies not only to implement security measures but also to provide evidence that they have “done everything necessary” to avoid an incident.
And here comes the SOC – Security Operations Center – the digital command center of cyber defense, operating 24/7 like an air traffic control tower for digital threats.
„Today, SOC is the foundation not just of cybersecurity but also of regulatory compliance. Without it, it’s hard to speak of genuinely meeting the requirements of NIS2, DORA, or GDPR“.
Organizational obligations under NIS2, DORA, and GDPR and the role of the SOC
Let’s break it down. Here’s what the regulations say:
- GDPR: In case of a data breach, you have 72 hours to report the incident. Fail to do so? You face fines of up to €20 million or 4% of your company’s global annual turnover – whichever is higher.
- DORA: A disruption in banking systems? You must prove that a continuity plan is in place. If not, you’ll face significant trouble during a KNF audit.
- NIS2: If you’re the victim of a cyberattack, you must report it to the CSIRT within 24 hours. Miss the deadline? You’re risking not only your reputation but also fines of up to €10 million or 2% of your global annual turnover.
And the SOC? The SOC doesn’t sleep. It acts when systems fail and the clock is ticking. It detects, analyzes, and classifies incidents in real time – often before anyone notices something’s wrong. This enables response in minutes, not days, with complete documentation tailored to regulator requirements.
- GDPR? The SOC records breaches, automates alerts, and delivers evidence.
- DORA? It’s the cornerstone of resilience – detecting anomalies, initiating emergency procedures, supporting reporting.
- NIS2? The SOC reports incidents to the CSIRT – fast, correctly, often automatically.
In short: the SOC is your insurance policy against fines, reputational crises, and chaos. It’s not a luxury – it’s a necessity in a world where cyberattacks are a daily occurrence.
Key SOC features supporting regulatory compliance
The SOC isn’t just a team staring at screens. It’s the full synchronization of top-tier technologies and processes:
- 24/7 Monitoring – not just for banks and telcos. Today, even logistics firms and local governments implement SOCs to stay ahead.
- Incident Reporting – the SOC operates under procedures you can show any regulator with confidence.
- SIEM and SOAR – powerful acronyms meaning automated detection and response. These tools make it possible to “act in 5 minutes instead of 5 days.”
- Threat Intelligence – the SOC knows what’s brewing in the dark web before you read about it in the morning news.
Why are these SOC functions so important?
- 57% of organizations experience phishing attacks weekly or more frequently.
- Phishing attacks increased by 58% in 2023 compared to 2022.
- In Q1 2025, ransomware attacks in Poland increased by 126% year-over-year.
According to a 2022 analysis by Blumira and IBM, organizations using SOCs and automated tools reduced breach detection time to as little as 32 minutes – a 99.4% reduction compared to those without these tools*. With SOC, the phrase “time is money” takes on a whole new level of urgency.
Implementing SOC and preparing for inspections and audits
From a compliance perspective, a SOC is like a life insurance policy. Whether it’s UODO, KNF, or the EBA – regulators now expect not just declarations but proof. And the SOC provides it.
- System logs? Present.
- Incident reports? Ready.
- Response paths and decision documentation? All consistent and auditable.
Without a SOC? Gathering this data under pressure can feel like a frantic inbox search the night before an inspection. With a SOC? Just a few clicks and the report is ready.
As you can see, organizations without a SOC simply have it harder. This is also confirmed by ENISA reports*, according to which organizations without a SOC:
- are multiple times more vulnerable to successful attacks,
- more frequently fined after incidents,
- slower to recover after disruptions.
Summary – SOC and NIS2, DORA, GDPR compliance
SOC and regulatory compliance? It’s not an option – it’s a strategic necessity. Where regulations demand action, the SOC responds with procedures, automation, and evidence.
The question is no longer “Is it worth it?”. The real question is: “How long can you wait before it’s too late?”
„In the era of cyber regulations, the SOC is not a luxury. It is a necessity – from both a security and compliance standpoint“.
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Bibliography:
- https://venturebeat.com/security/report-average-time-to-detect-and-contain-a-breach-is-287-days [access: 28.11.2025r.]
- https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/enisa-threat-landscape-2024 [access: 28.11.25r.]
