A Newbie's Perspective: From Curiosity To Confidence, My SOC Story
Cisco, November 12,2025
Stepping into a Security Operations Centre (SOC) at Cisco Live Melbourne for the first time was an experience charged with excitement and slightly nervous.
Previously, my only understanding of SOCs came from listening to customer stories and handling their challenges-I had known the pressure, urgency, and teamwork required only through their eyes, never having been in those shoes myself.
Onboarding: Quick and Welcoming
Contrary to my expectations of a drawn-out onboarding, the process was surprisingly swift (taking less than 10-20 minutes). Thanks to Duo, I was quickly given access to all the essential tools: Cisco XDR, Splunk, firewall dashboards, and more from the duo directory. This seamless entry calmed my nerves and made me feel instantly welcome.