SOC Analyst Appreciation Day Is Coming — Are You Ready to Celebrate?

On October 19th, Devo is celebrating the second SOC Analyst Appreciation Day™ to pay some long-overdue kudos to all of YOU! Yes, we realize that it’s pretty ironic the acronym ended up being SAAD (say it aloud), but what can we say … if the shoe fits!

In all seriousness, though, working in a SOC is very stressful. SOC analysts often have a host of responsibilities, and one minor mistake could lead to company data becoming compromised. The 2021 Devo SOC Performance Report™ found that on a 10-point scale, where 10 indicates SOC staff have a “very painful” experience performing their jobs, 72% of respondents rated the pain of SOC analysts at a 7 or above.

It’s clear that SOC work needs to change and that SOC analysts need more support — and fast. With this newly established holiday, we want to encourage organizations to commit to improving SOC analyst job satisfaction and mental well-being. We’ll be celebrating SOC analysts and providing opportunities for personal and professional development, all while we unwind with programming specifically designed to help you de-stress.

So, how can you celebrate? Here’s everything you need to know to join in on the fun:

1. Register for our SOC Analyst Appreciation Day™ program.

This year’s SOC Analyst Appreciation Day™ is a can’t-miss event. You’ll hear from some of the world’s most influential SOC practitioners and cybersecurity leaders and obtain insights on how you can fast-track your SOC career. For example, panelists such as Carraig Stanwyck, CISO of Avnet, Nathan Chung, a cloud security engineer and host of the NeuroSec Podcast, and others will share their perspectives on being neurodiverse in cyber. And top SOC experts such as Joshua Copeland, security director for AT&T CCMS, and Chris Crowley, SOC-Class course author and SANS Institute senior instructor, will share their inside tips and tricks for SOC success.

This day is all about you, so we want you to be able to take a step back from the hectic day-to-day hustle and bustle of the SOC whenever you can. Check out our agenda and sign up for the sessions most interesting to you here.

2. Show your gratitude.

This one is for the SOC leaders and managers! While you may think that your team understands just how much you appreciate everything they do, it doesn’t hurt to say it! Take some time out of your day to send a thankful message or email. Call out accomplishments, recognize good work, and shower your SOC team with appreciation!

3. Send an e-card to your SOC team.

If you can’t find the right words of appreciation on your own, you can send an e-card to your SOC team and colleagues to say “thank you” for all the hard work they do! A little recognition can go a long way, so we hope these e-cards make it easy for you to tell your team what awesome work they do day in and day out. Check out our e-cards here.

4. Have a SOC Analyst Appreciation Day™ party.

Whether your team is working in person or virtually, take this day to celebrate each other by hosting a party. You can order pizzas for the team, have a virtual happy hour, or purchase your colleagues a small gift to celebrate with one another. Ultimately, there’s no wrong way to celebrate unless — of course — you don’t celebrate at all. Now that’s a big no-no!

Whether you send an e-card or participate in our virtual event, we’re hoping that by hosting this holiday, we’re pushing the cybersecurity industry to do more to make life in the SOC much less stressful. We look forward to having important discussions and celebrating with all of you!