Security information and Event Management (SIEM), is a security solution that improves security awareness and helps identify security risks and threats. It gathers data from different security devices, analyzes it, and then presents the information in a way that is relevant for the enterprise using it. This article will explain SIEM in greater detail and share practical best practices for 2022.
The term “SIEM” was actually coined by his Gartner analyst in 2005, who continues to use Magic’s quadrant methodology to evaluate different vendors. The 2021 Magic Quadrant for SIEM can be found here. Companies in the “Leaders” quadrant include Splunk, IBM, Exabeam, Securonix, and Raptor Eye SIEM Solution.
What is Security Information and Event Management?
Security information and Event Management (SIEM), is a security tool that improves security awareness and helps identify security risks and threats. It gathers data from different security devices, analyzes it, and presents the results in a way that is relevant for the enterprise that uses them.
SEM is a combination security information management (SIM), security event management (SEM) and security information management (SEM). SIEM alerts organizations about possible attacks, information security incidents, and even compliance issues. SIEM solutions provide real-time monitoring, analysis and reporting of events. They enhance threat detection and security incident management by pulling historical and live data.
SIEM’s core functionality includes tracking, logging and collection of security data for compliance and auditing purposes. It also has operational capabilities like reporting, data aggregation and monitoring user activity.
What is the SIEM?
SIEM software can be used by organizations to audit, monitor, and re-engage all logs generated by their systems, whether they are applications, devices, home computers, or both. They will be able to detect security problems before they happen and take proactive action instead of waiting for them to occur.
SIEM software collects data from various applications and network devices. It also provides security systems like host systems, networks and firewalls. The software then combines all of the information into one central location.
SIEM, for example, generates an alert when it detects a threat and notifies the appropriate stakeholders. SIEM’s custom dashboards help to reduce the time spent investigating false positives.
Why is SIEM so important?
It wouldn’t be fair to say that cyberattacks have been on the rise in recent years. They are able to breach the security systems of organizations around the globe, invade their privacy and render them defenseless. For security-conscious businesses, event management software and security information are essential.
If an unusual event occurs, a well-designed SIEM system can quickly respond. It monitors network activities and alerts users to any suspicious activity.
SIEM programming is a way to collect log and event data from various applications, security gadgets and host frameworks and combine it into one unified platform. SIEM implementations offer unified alerts, advanced full packet logging capabilities, intelligent correlation, and enhanced security operations.
Understanding the Architecture of Security Information and Event Management.
SIEM is primarily concerned with threat detection, prevention and management. A SIEM solutions platform’s goal is to provide real-time information. It allows an organization to quickly detect and respond to attacks.
Its architecture is crucial for SIEM solutions to run smoothly. It is important to pay attention to the technical aspects and setup of SIEM before it is implemented.
Let’s look at the SIEM architecture in detail and get valuable insight into its functionalities.
1. Log management
SIEM intelligently collects data to provide a wide range of useful information, such as client patterns, financial status, employee performance, and other relevant information. This component is responsible to collect, manage, and look into past data retention. The figure shows that SIEM collects both contextual and event data. This includes data from devices, installed services, network protocols, storage protocol, streaming protocols, and protocols.
2. Log normalization
As you can see, SIEM receives contextual and event data as inputs. Normalization is crucial. It is important to note that event data can be converted into security insights by filtering out and removing unwanted or irrelevant data. This is where the primary purpose of this process is to eliminate redundant and useless data and keep only relevant data for future analyses.
3. Log sources
It is important to understand how logs are embedded within SIEM organizations. This includes the collection, combining, analysis, and reporting of logs. These logs can come from many systems like security systems, networking applications, and cloud-based systems. This component basically focuses on where the data is being transported and its sources.
4. SIEM reporting and hosting
There are many options for hosting SIEM. These include self-hosting, cloud-hosting, hybrid-hosting, and cloud-hosting. SIEM detects and reports suspicious or irregular activities based on logs.
5. Monitoring in real-time
Businesses today are concerned about data breaches. SIEM is a real-time monitoring tool that detects malicious attacks and predicts potential threats. It also takes necessary actions to prevent data breaches.