Who is the first to detect a cyberattack?

Cyberpeace Tech
Jul 25
3 min read

In many organizations, the key question about cybersecurity that no one dares to ask is: Who would be the first to notice an attack? If the answer is unclear, the company is sailing aimlessly in an increasingly dangerous digital environment.

It is often thought that an incident is detected as soon as it happens, but in reality, most are not identified immediately or in the expected places.

Warning signs can come from operational areas unrelated to cybersecurity, such as technical support, customer service, or even from a user who notices an unusual failure.

The key role of SOC and NOC in the face of potential threats

Operations centers, such as SOC (Security Operations Center) and NOC (Network Operations Center), are key in detecting anomalous activity. While SOC focuses on monitoring threats in real time, NOC keeps the technological infrastructure running. Although their functions differ, both can provide the first warning signs if something is wrong.

But what happens if the SOC does not have the necessary information, does not know what patterns to look for, or simply does not look in the right places? In that case, threats can advance undetected.

Having technology without a strategy is like having surveillance cameras pointing in the opposite direction of the real danger.

Detecting a cyberattack requires a comprehensive approach.

Having the right tools is important, but even more important is knowing how to interpret the small signs: unusual access, repetitive errors in critical systems, or unexpected behavior on a device.

Even an employee may notice an anomaly before the technical team, but if they fear being blamed or don't know how to report it, they may remain silent and allow the problem to grow.

This is a common challenge in Mexican companies, especially SMEs, where cybersecurity culture is not yet fully integrated. Taking practices applied in other countries as an example, Mexico can strengthen its approach by promoting an organizational culture where everyone is trained to detect a cyberattack and report it without fear.

Vulnerabilities should also set off alarms

Finding a technical flaw, whether through scans or penetration tests, should be considered as important as a confirmed incident. It is not enough to fix the problem: it is necessary to analyze whether that breach has already been exploited by an attacker. This type of omission is one of the most common gaps in technology risk management.

Silence is not synonymous with security

One of the most common mistakes is to think that if no one has reported a problem, everything is fine. This assumption is dangerous in organizations where communication channels are unclear or where employees fear being blamed.

To detect a cyberattack in time, it is vital to foster a culture of immediate reporting without reprisals.

Senior management must lead early detection

Cyberattacks do not always manifest themselves immediately. Some remain hidden for months, silently causing damage.

Every minute without detection increases the financial, operational, and reputational impact on a company.

That's why leaders must ask themselves a critical question: Do we know how to detect the first sign of an attack? If the answer is unclear, the real risk lies in a lack of internal preparedness.

Resilience begins before the first alert

In cybersecurity, you can't protect what you can't see. And you can't act quickly if you don't have an effective detection system on all fronts. True resilience is built with vision, collaboration, and preparation from the entire organization, not just the technical area.

At Cyberpeace, we believe that timely detection begins with a good culture of prevention. Stay up to date on the latest digital threats and learn how to protect your company and your personal information. Want to stay one step ahead in cybersecurity? Follow us on social media and stay informed.