Several trends impact the future of security operations. Particularly in all European countries the demand for improved detection gets enforced by the new NIS2 regulations. After almost a decade, since the wave to implement Security Operation Centers came to its zenith, the rise of AI in a combination with all the data collected since, allows seriously accelerated recognition of unusual patterns. This nourishes expectations to significantly reduce the time between detection and response. And, with the grown maturity of controls and processes in the light of millions of missing cybersecurity experts, many business leaders consider the sourcing of next-level capabilities, for e.g. to perform the accelerated automation of security operations. Audiences will receive an overview of the current challenges clients have, and observations about the security operations, an overview of the current challenges clients have, and observations about the security operations and the ISG point of view on where they need to focus more and where they need to expect more value add from service providers.