In cybersecurity, time is scarce, talent is scarce, and certainty is scarce. That’s why efficiency has quietly become the most valuable currency inside the security operations center (SOC). Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) research found that 53% of organizations say network detection and response (NDR) has helped improve SOC analyst efficiency. That might sound like a soft metric, until you consider the reality facing most teams: a global cybersecurity skills shortage, unrelenting alert volume, and increasingly complex environments. In that context, efficiency isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s survival.
Efficiency is about focus, not speed
When people hear “efficiency,” they often think of doing things faster. But inside the SOC, efficiency is about focus. It’s about giving analysts the ability to spend less time chasing false positives and more time investigating the alerts that matter.
The ESG study highlights that network visibility delivers this focus by providing analysts with tamper-proof, end-to-end data that eliminates blind spots. Instead of toggling between incomplete logs or uncertain endpoint data, analysts can turn to the network—the one place every threat must travel. That clarity reduces wasted motion and frees up scarce human talent for higher-value work.
Packets as a force multiplier
Think of packet visibility as a force multiplier. A junior analyst, armed with raw alerts, might take hours to piece together an investigation. But with packet-level context, knowing exactly what was communicated, when, and to where, that same analyst can validate and scope an incident in minutes. That’s not just faster. It’s transformative. It’s how organizations under pressure from the talent gap continue to hold the line against increasingly sophisticated threats.
From efficiency to impact
This is where NETSCOUT’s Omnis Cyber Intelligence (OCI) comes in. By delivering continuous packet capture and full-fidelity visibility across hybrid environments, Omnis Cyber Intelligence helps SOC teams move beyond raw detection into confident investigation. The result: Analysts of all skill levels can operate more effectively, collaboration between SecOps and NetOps is seamless, and precious human resources are maximized.
Because at the end of the day, efficiency in the SOC isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about cutting through the noise.
Learn more about the ESG report.
Learn how NETSCOUT Omnis Cyber Intelligence can help by providing comprehensive network visibility with scalable deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect, investigate, and respond to threats more efficiently.
