A Unified Framework to Enhance Malware Incident Management In Security Operations Centres

Security Operations Centres (SOCs) serve as the frontline defence for organisations battling cyber threats, yet managing malware incidents remains a substantial challenge. The constantly evolving nature of cyber threats, combined with limited resources and disconnected investigation tools, frequently hinders swift and precise incident responses. This research addresses these issues by exploring the operational difficulties SOC teams encounter when handling malware incidents and introducing an integrated solution to strengthen their decision-making processes.

The research examines current practices in malware incident management within SOC environments through comprehensive literature analysis and investigation of established procedures. It centres on four key research questions: what types of malware incidents are most prevalent? What obstacles do SOC analysts routinely face? Which solutions prove effective in addressing these difficulties? And how can incident response capabilities be improved? Key obstacles identified include poor documentation practices, challenges in detecting and categorising malware, the ever-evolving threat landscape, insufficient resources, breakdowns in communication, and issues surrounding incident triage and prioritisation.

To address these obstacles, this research proposes a unified framework for malware incident management that consolidates threat intelligence sources, streamlines analytical processes, and provides SOC personnel with an integrated approach to decision-making. This framework, implemented as a practical platform called SecOps_360, brings together various scattered tools and procedures into a single cohesive system. This framework comprises conceptual designs, high-level and low-level architectural specifications, UML diagrams, and process flow models that collectively define a structured approach to incident management. SecOps_360 represents the practical realisation of this framework, delivering a functional platform that seeks to minimise investigation duration, boost accuracy, and strengthen overall incident response effectiveness.

The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining systematic literature analysis, conceptual design principles, and practical implementation. Platform development follows recognised software engineering standards, incorporating both functional and non-functional requirements derived from real SOC operational environments. The implementation utilises modern frontend and backend technologies to create a robust, user-friendly interface that supports SOC workflows. The framework assessment involves technical validation, including functionality and compatibility testing, supplemented by scenario-based evaluations comparing conventional malware investigation approaches with SecOps_360enhanced methods.

Results from comprehensive scenario testing demonstrate that SecOps_360 significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of malware incident handling. Analysis of traditional investigation methods revealed alarmingly high resource utilisation, with CPU usage at 85% and memory consumption at 92% during concurrent searches across multiple threat intelligence platforms. The cumulative search time of 96.6 seconds for basic threat intelligence gathering highlighted significant inefficiencies in conventional approaches. In contrast, the SecOps_360-enhanced investigation process substantially reduced both system resource overhead and search times, demonstrating the platform’s capacity to streamline workflows and accelerate incident response. These findings underscore the critical need for integrated solutions in modern SOC environments, particularly as the volume and complexity of cyber threats continue to escalate.

Theoretically, it presents a comprehensive framework encompassing conceptual designs, high-level and low-level architectures, UML diagrams, and process flow models that establish a structured approach to malware incident management. Practically, it delivers SecOps_360, a fully functional platform implementation that demonstrates the framework’s real-world applicability through integrated frontend and backend systems. Additionally, it contributes a systematic literature review synthesising current SOC challenges and solutions. The comparative analysis with related work further positions SecOps_360 within the broader context of security platform development, highlighting its unique approach to addressing SOC operational challenges. Together, these contributions provide both theoretical foundations and practical solutions that advance the field of security operations and incident management.