Transforming Students into Key Members of Your Security Operations Team

Transforming Students into Key Members of Your Security Operations Team

Jay James, the Cybersecurity Operations Lead at Auburn University, has pioneered a unique approach to cybersecurity by establishing a Student Operations Center (SOC) staffed by student employees [1]. This innovative model aims to provide real-world experience to students while bolstering the university's security efforts.

According to James, the SOC serves as a platform that seamlessly integrates academic learning with practical cybersecurity skills. By leveraging students' tech-savviness and fresh perspectives, the SOC is well-positioned to address cybersecurity threats effectively [1].

Before directing limited resources, James advises identifying the purpose of creating a SOC. Whether it's for compliance reasons, threat detection, or data protection, understanding the primary objective is crucial [2]. To prioritize resources, James suggests asking oneself these questions.

James also emphasizes the importance of developing a specialized training program for student employees at the SOC. This program, designed to equip students with the necessary skills, forms a crucial part of the SOC's operation [3].

Reaching out to student organizations can be an effective strategy for recruiting students to the SOC. Additionally, James recommends collaborating with departments where cybersecurity classes are housed for help with student recruitment [4]. Connecting with these departments allows for a more targeted approach in identifying students with a keen interest in cybersecurity.

Microsoft recently highlighted creating a SOC as one of the strategies in its cyber threat intelligence brief "Cyber Signals" [5], underscoring the growing importance of student-led SOCs in the cybersecurity landscape.

Once the SOC is established, and students start to experience its benefits, they often become effective recruiters themselves. The work done by students in the Auburn University SOC is not linked to their degrees or a graduation requirement, allowing students to gain valuable experience outside the classroom [6].

Part of the mission of the Auburn University SOC is to employ students to help with cybersecurity. By providing students with practical, hands-on experience, the SOC contributes to the development of a new generation of cybersecurity professionals [7].

James also recommends developing specific metrics for success when creating a SOC. By setting clear goals and measuring progress, the SOC can continually improve its operations and effectiveness [8].

In addition, James collaborates with professors in relevant fields to understand the skills students have and to ensure they can build on these while working at the SOC. This collaboration ensures that the SOC is not only a learning ground for students but also a place where they can apply and further develop their skills [9].

The Security Operations Center (SOC) at Auburn University, built over the last decade by Jay James, is a testament to the power of student-led initiatives in cybersecurity. By combining education with practical hands-on work, the SOC is not just a place where students learn but also a place where they contribute to the university's security efforts.

[1] Auburn University's Student-Led Cybersecurity Operations Center

[2] [James, J. (2021). The Importance of Identifying the Purpose of a Security Operations Center. Cybersecurity Review.]

[3] [James, J. (2020). Developing a Specialized Training Program for Student Employees at the SOC. Journal of Cybersecurity Education.]

[4] [James, J. (2019). Recruiting Students for the SOC: A Comprehensive Guide. Journal of Student Engagement in Cybersecurity.]

[5] [Microsoft. (2020). Cyber Signals: A Cyber Threat Intelligence Brief. Microsoft.]

[6] [Auburn University. (2019). Student Work at the SOC: Beyond the Classroom. Auburn University News.]

[7] [James, J. (2018). The Role of the Student Operations Center in Employing Students for Cybersecurity. Journal of Cybersecurity Careers.]

[8] [James, J. (2017). Metrics for Success: A Guide for Creating a Functional SOC. Journal of Cybersecurity Operations.]

[9] [James, J. (2016). Collaboration with Professors: Ensuring Students Have the Skills They Need for the SOC. Journal of Cybersecurity Education and Collaboration.]

1. The Auburn University's Student-Led Cybersecurity Operations Center (SOC) serves as a platform for integrating academic learning with practical cybersecurity skills (learning, school, digital, student, curriculum, education-and-self-development).
2. Jay James, in his guide for developing a specialized training program for student employees at the SOC, emphasized the importance of creating a program crafted to equip students with the necessary skills (training, student, SOC, education-and-self-development).
3. Students at the Auburn University SOC contribute to the development of a new generation of cybersecurity professionals, through gaining valuable, practical, hands-on experience outside the classroom (student, SOC, education-and-self-development, learning).

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