Journals / Denetişim / 2026 / Sayı: 35

INTEGRATING CONTINUOUS AUDITING INTO SOC OPERATIONS: AN AUDIT-DRIVEN THREAT MONITORING FRAMEWORK

SÜREKLİ DENETİMİN SOC OPERASYONLARINA ENTEGRASYONU: DENETİM ODAKLI TEHDİT İZLEME MODELİ

Azze Özel(UITSEC International Bilgi Teknolojileri A.Ş.)0009-0005-2702-711X
Onur Ceran(Gazi University, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Management Information Systems)0000-0003-2147-0506
Journal
Denetişim
Pages
246–314
Publication Date
2026-08-23
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that log-level visibility reduces blind spots in internal audit, strengthens control design, and supports a proactive governance approach, particularly in sectors with high security requirements such as the defense industry.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This article develops a model that integrates real-time Security Operations Center (SOC) log analytics with continuous auditing processes and aims to bridge the technical gap between operational threat monitoring activities and the internal audit function.
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Key Findings & Data:Although SOC units generate high volumes of data, including authentication records, network traffic, and endpoint activities, these data sources are not systematically used in internal audit activities.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that log-level visibility reduces blind spots in internal audit, strengthens control design, and supports a proactive governance approach, particularly in sectors with high security requirements such as the defense industry.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sürekli Denetim · SOC · Log Analitiği

Abstract

This article develops a model that integrates real-time Security Operations Center (SOC) log analytics with continuous auditing processes and aims to bridge the technical gap between operational threat monitoring activities and the internal audit function. Although SOC units generate high volumes of data, including authentication records, network traffic, and endpoint activities, these data sources are not systematically used in internal audit activities. The developed structure treats real-time log streams as audit evidence for assessing control effectiveness, identifying risk indicators, and analyzing deviations. Within this scope, SOC rules, audit tests, and risk scenarios are linked within an integrated structure. Methodologically, the study is based on the Design Science Research (DSR) approach. To evaluate the feasibility of the model, a virtualized three-host SOC environment was designed and implemented. The model was tested through a proof-of-concept scenario based on privileged access activities occurring outside business hours. The findings indicate that log-level visibility reduces blind spots in internal audit, strengthens control design, and supports a proactive governance approach, particularly in sectors with high security requirements such as the defense industry.

Özet

Makalede, gerçek zamanlı Güvenlik Operasyon Merkezi (SOC) log analizlerini sürekli denetim süreçleriyle bütünleştiren ve operasyonel tehdit izleme faaliyetleri ile iç denetim fonksiyonu arasındaki teknik boşluğu kapatmayı amaçlayan bir model geliştirilmektedir. Günümüzde SOC birimleri, kimlik doğrulama kayıtları, ağ trafiği ve uç nokta aktiviteleri gibi yüksek hacimli veriler üretmesine rağmen, bu veriler iç denetim faaliyetlerinde sistematik olarak kullanılmamaktadır. Geliştirilen yapı, gerçek zamanlı log akışlarını kontrol etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesi, risk göstergelerinin belirlenmesi ve sapma analizlerinin yürütülmesi açısından denetim kanıtı olarak ele almaktadır. Bu kapsamda SOC kuralları, denetim testleri ve risk senaryoları bütünleşik bir yapı içerisinde ilişkilendirilmektedir. Yöntemsel olarak çalışma, Tasarım Bilimi Araştırması (Design Science Research - DSR) yaklaşımına dayanmaktadır. Modelin uygulanabilirliğini değerlendirmek amacıyla sanallaştırılmış üç sunuculu bir SOC ortamı tasarlanmış ve uygulanmıştır. Model, mesai saatleri dışında gerçekleştirilen ayrıcalıklı erişim faaliyetlerini temel alan bir kavram kanıtlama (proof-of-concept) senaryosu üzerinden test edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, log seviyesindeki görünürlüğün iç denetimdeki kör noktaları azalttığını, kontrol tasarımını güçlendirdiğini ve özellikle savunma sanayi gibi yüksek güvenlik gereksinimi bulunan sektörlerde proaktif bir yönetişim yaklaşımını desteklediğini göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Aslan, K., Özel, A., Ceran, O. (2026). INTEGRATING CONTINUOUS AUDITING INTO SOC OPERATIONS: AN AUDIT-DRIVEN THREAT MONITORING FRAMEWORK. Denetişim, Sayı: 35, 246–314. https://doi.org/10.58348/denetisim.1958605

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