The modern SOC is at a turning point. Is yours ready?
AI is transforming security operations faster than organizations can adapt. The 10th annual SANS SOC Survey reveals where today’s SOCs are succeeding, where they’re struggling, and what security leaders should prioritize next.
Based on insights from 444 security practitioners and 69 cyber leaders, this research examines the growing gaps between AI adoption and integration, executive confidence and practitioner reality, and security investment and measurable outcomes.
Download the complimentary report to benchmark your SOC against the latest industry research.
Key Findings
| 79% of organizations are using AI or machine learning. Only 36% have integrated it into defined SOC workflows. | 59% of leaders believe management prioritizes SOC staffing. Only 32% of practitioners agree. |
| 74% of organizations use cyber threat intelligence to guide operations. Only 26% use it to guide investment decisions. | 24% of cyber leaders identify enterprise-wide visibility as the biggest barrier to SOC effectiveness. |
Inside the Report
“Executives and practitioners describe the same organization and reach fundamentally different conclusions about how well it functions.”
Discover how security operations are evolving, including where the biggest opportunities for improvement lie.
You’ll learn:
- Why AI adoption has outpaced operational integration
- Where executives and practitioners see the SOC differently
- Why visibility remains the foundation of effective security operations
- How leading organizations approach staffing, threat intelligence, and technology investments
- Which metrics better reflect real security outcomes than incident volume alone
Download the Report
Whether you’re evaluating AI in the SOC, improving operational visibility, or benchmarking your security program, the 2026 SANS SOC Survey provides data-driven insights to help inform your next decision.
Download the report to receive:
- The complete 2026 SANS SOC Survey
- Analysis from SANS Senior Instructor Christopher Crowley
- Research based on 444 practitioners and 69 cyber leaders
- Practical recommendations for today’s security operations teams
