Context
In a context of a global cybersecurity talent shortage,
SOCs (Security Operations Centers) are among the most impacted.
Leadership and coordination functions — essential to digital resilience —
have become rare, highly sought-after profiles.
The client, a major European banking group operating several SOCs across the country,
was facing significant challenges in recruiting experienced SOC Managers.
AGCG was engaged to design and deploy a tailor-made reskilling program
to prepare internal employees — from IT operations, networking and security —
for operational cyber leadership roles.
Challenges
- • Train non-specialists to take on cyber leadership roles,
- • Build a fast-track curriculum with strong operational value,
- • Ensure competency development across technical, managerial and strategic dimensions,
- • Anchor the program within HR development and internal retention strategy.
AGCG Approach
AGCG mobilized its SOC experts and certified trainers
to design a 5-day intensive curriculum titled "Becoming a SOC Manager",
blending theory, field experience and practical exercises.
The program follows a modular, progressive structure enabling rapid acquisition
of key concepts and their immediate application.
- • Day 1 — Understanding the SOC: mission, structure, KPIs and target operating model,
- • Day 2 — Running operations: coordination, prioritization, alert management and supervision,
- • Day 3 — Governance & continuous improvement: reporting, compliance, audit, communication,
- • Day 4 — Crisis management: simulations, strategic communication and CERT/SOC coordination,
- • Day 5 — Strategic outlook: SOC as a Service, automation, cloud hybridization, evolving cyber roles.
Pedagogy & Learning Framework
The program is built on an experiential learning approach:
collaborative workshops, role-playing exercises and real-world analyses
drawn from AGCG’s consulting and SOC operations engagements.
This method accelerates the development of operational reflexes,
understanding of key metrics, and managerial posture.
Results
- • 100% of participants successfully reassigned to cybersecurity roles,
- • Creation of an internal SOC Manager career pathway,
- • Strengthening of SOC leadership capabilities,
- • Reinforcement of HR retention and mobility strategy.
Beyond technical skills, the program helped participants develop
leadership, communication and coordination capabilities — all essential for SOC Manager positions.
Why This Program Became a Group Reference
The success of this initiative encouraged the client to adopt the program as an
internal professional development pathway.
It is now a key lever of the group's cyber talent strategy — combining reskilling,
accelerated training and talent retention.
- • A scalable, ready-to-deploy curriculum across subsidiaries,
- • Alignment with the group’s SOC roadmap,
- • A recognized and valued internal certification,
- • Measurable impact on operational resilience.
Conclusion
In an environment where cyber expertise is scarce and competition for talent is intense,
reskilling internal employees represents a strategic, high-impact solution.
By leveraging its field expertise and training capabilities,
AGCG Genuine Consulting Group helped the banking group
build a sustainable, scalable talent pipeline — while enhancing operational maturity
and reinforcing workforce engagement.