Designing Security Operations Centers for Operator-Centric Performance

Rest here, weary traveler. Much has been written about Security Operations Centers (SOCs)—often generated by AI and lacking real-world insights into designing or improving the physical space of a SOC. If you’re looking for generic advice on cyber security, you can start (here)

Or, if you are working for a giant network infrastructure company like SolarWinds and you are looking for a server password, I would suggest anything but “solarwinds123”.

The Evolution of Operational Environments

The environments used to manage organizational risk, monitor data, and respond to real-time incidents have evolved dramatically over the last two decades. What began as isolated surveillance rooms or IT hubs has transformed into comprehensive operational environments, spaces where cybersecurity, physical security, emergency response, and executive decision-making converge.

Modern control environments are no longer just about technology, they’re about visibility, coordination, and the ability to act. Whether it’s a GSOC, a PSOC, or a hybrid command center, the design of these spaces must reflect their purpose: to serve as the operational backbone of the organization.

Cyber security is as important in 2025 as it’s ever been

Technology vs. People in SOCs

Even the most sophisticated software can’t deliver peak performance if the physical design of the room creates distractions, discomfort, or inefficiencies. Thoughtfully designed workspaces and control room consoles are essential for maintaining operator focus, supporting rapid decision-making, and enhancing situational awareness. This article explores how the physical layout of SOCs, along with the ergonomics and functionality of security consoles, can create an optimized environment for 24/7 operations in Global security operation centers and other mission-critical settings.

From Rooms to Interfaces, lets rethink the Console as a Workflow Tool

The physical layout of a control space is more than an aesthetic concern, it’s a functional interface. Much like a cockpit or a surgical theater, every element in the room should serve a precise purpose and support the operator’s task.

This means designing with intent:

1. How information flows
2. How lines of sight are maintained
3. How quickly an operator can access critical tools or displays

Rethinking the space in terms of workflows rather than furniture layout helps teams avoid costly mistakes—like placing high-priority displays in hard-to-reach areas or misaligning seating with surveillance zones.

Types of Security Operations Centers (SOCs)

Not all SOCs are the same. Depending on their function, the console and room design vary significantly. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:

Regardless of the type, SOC design needs to consider factors such as operator fatigue, technology placement, and ergonomic workstations to ensure smooth 24/7 operations.

The Human Performance Layer

While software and systems do the heavy lifting in most control environments, it’s still the people inside who make the judgment calls. That’s why operator-centered design is key, not just to comfort, but to performance.

Subtle choices, like reducing eye strain, optimizing sightlines, limiting ambient noise, or ensuring proper posture, have compounding effects. Over a 12-hour shift, even a minor distraction or ergonomic misalignment can impact decision-making speed, situational awareness, and stress levels.

Designing for human performance means thinking about things like:

1. Cognitive load
2. Environmental fatigue
3. Muscle memory
4. Error reduction

Key Challenges in SOC Design

Operators in PSOCs (Physical SOCs) and Digital SOCs face similar design challenges:

1. Long shifts & night rotations
2. High-stakes, real-time decision-making
3. Multiple screens & complex workflows

Ignoring these challenges results in operator fatigue, slow response times, and a less effective work environment. From this perspective, the design challenges around technology and ergonomic furniture are relevant to both types.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Do you want your security guards to have a very short and direct path to confront someone that comes in the door, or do you want to put a desk between the door and the security guard to give them an extra split second of reaction time before a potential physical conflict could occur? In other words, does the space need to be defensible? For more on how the physical design of the space can reduce or prevent crime, see The International CPTED Association (ICA) – Primer in CPTED – What is CPTED?. The principles Natural Surveillance, Territoriality, and Access Control are particularly relevant for the design of PSOCs.

Workstation & Command Console Design in SOCs

A well-designed Security operation center console should:

1. Minimize distractions for better focus.
2. Ensure proper sightlines for GSOC operators and analysts.
3. Support multiple displays without clutter.
4. Use ergonomic seating to reduce fatigue.

In these types of PSOC environments, special considerations need to be made for how workstations are set up. The information needs to be displayed in such a way that the operators can interact with the public, see the CCTV and security information that they need to without allowing full view of that same information to the public.

There are also security operation centers where the guardroom isn’t separated from the “public space” by a window or door. Questions about the design and placement of the furniture within the space are even more important when access is less restricted by the architecture.

Each console and environment design should be tailored to the mission—there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to perfectly marry support products and services to the Security challenges.

Operator-Centric Control Room Design Checklist

Want a fast gut check before your next design review?
This quick-reference list condenses core ISO 11064 principles and ergonomic best practices into a practical checklist for planning and evaluating high-performance control environments.

Human-Centered Design Essentials

1. ☐ Adjustable-height consoles to reduce fatigue
2. ☐ Clear sightlines to critical screens and teammates
3. ☐ Monitor mounts positioned at optimal eye level
4. ☐ Anti-glare surfaces and ambient light control
5. ☐ Space for walking/stretching without obstructions

Performance & Workflow Support

1. ☐ Logical grouping of controls and displays
2. ☐ Cable management to reduce clutter and distraction
3. ☐ Sound-dampening surfaces to reduce cognitive load
4. ☐ Task lighting for precision work
5. ☐ Redundant display options for failover scenarios

Wellness & Fatigue Prevention

1. ☐ Ergonomic chairs designed for 24/7 use
2. ☐ HVAC and radiant panel positioning for comfort
3. ☐ Acoustic zoning to reduce background noise
4. ☐ Visual zoning to limit screen overload
5. ☐ Dedicated quiet or rest zones (if possible)

Need a deeper diagnostic tool?

Download our ISO 11064-aligned Ergonomic Design Matrix, a structured, question-based checklist that helps you evaluate each part of your control room design. It includes yes/no prompts and space to document next steps with your team.

The Biggest SOC Mistake: Leaving Furniture for Last

We joke within our sales team that our biggest competitor for SOC furniture is the folding table. It’s a funny anecdote, but it underlies a real issue for many security environment designers. These environments are often designed for a pre-existing (sometimes repurposed) space; the budget is tight, and there is a limited window of time to make the space operational. When the project is approaching the “go live” date, and the budget is nearly expended, the furniture is often the scope that suffers.

Why? Because Security operation centers are often built in pre-existing spaces, and by the time the project nears completion, the furniture budget is exhausted. The result?

1. A makeshift temporary table becomes a permanent fixture
2. Poorly positioned screens that lead to eye and neck strain.
3. Security teams squeezed into poorly planned spaces that weren’t built with them in mind.

How to Avoid This Mistake