Managed SOC Services for Canadian Enterprise Security
A Security Operations Centre (SOC) is the function responsible for monitoring your IT environment for threats around the clock, investigating alerts, and taking containment action. Building an in-house SOC requires a team of security analysts, a SIEM platform, and significant ongoing investment. North Star's managed SOC delivers that coverage as a service: 24/7 monitoring, alert triage, and documented incident response - priced for SMBs in BC and AB, not enterprise.
What does a managed SOC do?
A managed SOC collects security event data from across your environment - endpoints, servers, firewalls, email, cloud services, and identity systems - aggregates it in a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform, and has analysts watching for indicators of compromise around the clock. When a threat is detected, analysts investigate to determine whether it is a genuine attack or a false positive. Confirmed threats trigger a defined response workflow: escalation to your team, containment actions (isolating a device, blocking an IP, disabling a compromised account), and documentation. The managed SOC model gives SMBs access to a detection capability that previously required a six-figure in-house security team. North Star's SOC is Canadian-operated, with analysts who understand the threat landscape affecting BC and AB businesses.
What North Star delivers.
All security events in one platform.
Log data from endpoints, servers, firewalls, Microsoft 365, and cloud platforms is ingested into a SIEM that correlates events and surfaces attack chains that individual alerts would miss.
Analysts watching around the clock, including weekends and holidays.
Attackers do not keep business hours. North Star's SOC operates continuously so threats detected at 3 AM Saturday are investigated and escalated immediately.
Humans review every high-severity alert before escalating.
Automated tools generate noise. North Star analysts review and correlate alerts before escalating to your team, so you are not woken up for false positives.
Current threat feed integrated into detection rules.
Detection rules are updated continuously based on known attacker infrastructure, malware indicators, and techniques being used against Canadian businesses.
Containment action taken, not just alerts sent.
When a confirmed threat is identified, the SOC team takes documented containment action: isolating devices, resetting credentials, blocking malicious traffic - then notifies you with a full timeline.
What buyers ask before they sign.
What is the difference between a managed SOC and EDR?
EDR provides detection and response at the endpoint level. A managed SOC extends visibility across your entire environment - network, email, cloud, and identity - and adds human analysts who investigate and respond. EDR is typically one of the data sources feeding into the SOC.
How much does a managed SOC cost for an SMB?
Managed SOC pricing for SMBs in BC and AB typically runs from $1,500 to $5,000 per month depending on the number of users, the volume of log data ingested, and the level of response capability included. This is a fraction of the cost of building and staffing an in-house SOC.
What does the SOC need access to in our environment?
The SOC ingests log data from your security tools, servers, firewalls, Microsoft 365, and other sources via API connections or log forwarding. Read-only access is sufficient for monitoring. Response actions may require additional permissions agreed upon during onboarding.
How quickly will we be notified of a threat?
Escalation timelines depend on severity. Critical threats - active ransomware, confirmed account compromise - are escalated immediately by phone. High-severity threats are escalated within 15 minutes. Lower-severity findings appear in your daily or weekly digest.
Can the managed SOC satisfy our cyber insurance requirements?
Many cyber liability policies require documented security monitoring and an incident response capability. North Star can provide documentation of your SOC coverage, detection capabilities, and response procedures for insurance applications and renewals.
Ready for 24/7 security coverage?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
Start Your Free Assessment Back to CybersecurityFrequently asked questions
What are 24/7 SOC services Canada businesses need?
Canadian businesses require constant vigilance to defend against global cyber threats. 24/7 SOC services provide continuous monitoring of your network logs, cloud environments, and endpoints. By using a Canada-based provider like Northstar IT, you ensure your data remains within our jurisdiction while benefiting from local experts who understand the specific regulatory landscape of British Columbia and Alberta.
Why should we use a managed SOC provider instead of hiring in-house?
Building an in-house Security Operations Centre is prohibitively expensive for most SMBs, requiring at least eight full-time analysts to cover a 24/7 rotation. As a managed SOC provider, Northstar IT offers you access to a fully equipped team and advanced security orchestration tools for a fixed monthly fee. This allows your team to focus on core business growth while we handle the complex task of threat hunting.
How does SOC monitoring help with cyber insurance?
Most cyber insurance providers now require proof of active monitoring and rapid incident response capabilities before they will issue or renew a policy. Our SOC services provide the necessary auditing, log retention, and 24/7 oversight that insurers look for. This not only helps you qualify for better rates but also ensures you have the documentation required to support a claim if an incident occurs.
Is a SOC necessary for mid-market companies in BC?
Yes, mid-market companies are often the primary targets for ransomware because they have valuable data but frequently lack enterprise-level security. A SOC provides the high-level defence needed to protect against sophisticated attacks. Whether you are in Prince George, Kelowna, or Victoria, our SOC services ensure that your infrastructure is monitored with the same level of intensity as a large corporation.