Work out soc analyst staffing instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Round-the-clock coverage needs about 4.5 people per seat once weekends, leave, training and attrition are included, so a single 24x7 position costs roughly four and a half salaries. Work out the seats from alert demand and target utilisation first, then apply the coverage multiplier — reversing that order is how SOC staffing plans end up half the size they need to be.
SOC staffing
demand hours = alerts x minutes / 60; seats = demand / (8 x utilisation); headcount = seats per shift x coverage multiplier (4.5 for 24x7)
168 weekly hours divided by a 40-hour week is 4.2, plus allowance for leave, sickness and training brings it to roughly 4.5 to 5.
Frequently, because the multiplier is what makes 24x7 expensive. The trade-off is context: an external team knows your environment less well and escalation quality suffers.