What is SIEM, and how it works?
SIEM is an abbreviation of (security information and event management) SIEM technology centralizes log data, alerts, and incidents to provide real-time security monitoring.
The usage of SIEM software by SOCs allows them to obtain visibility across their environments, review log files for evidence of cyber assaults and data breaches, and work with local and federal authorities as needed.
Using SIEM software, an organization’s IT infrastructure can be viewed as a whole by collecting and analyzing logs and data from applications, devices, networks, and systems (IT).
SIEM systems are available as on-premises or cloud-based options. Forensic investigations rely on actionable insight gained from SIEM technologies, which employ rules and statistical correlations. SIEM technology evaluates all data to assist security teams in identifying malicious actors and promptly mitigating cyber-attacks.
SIEM Software Evolution
SIEMs have been around for over 15 years, yet today’s current SIEMs differ significantly from their predecessors.
The term “SIEM” was used in a Gartner report from 2005 titled Improve IT Security with Vulnerability Management. For example, the following legacy security information and event management systems merged security procedures into one management solution:
• LMS
Logging processes that are simple to collect and store in a centralized location.
• SIM
There are also tools available for the automated gathering of log files for long-term preservation, examination, and analysis of log data.
• SEM
Technology for real-time monitoring and interconnection of systems and events can be accessed via notification and console views. The main components of SIEM software have continued to bring value even as the product has grown. As a result of developments in competitive technology, organizations now have access to more comprehensive and advanced risk reduction methods. That’s why “next-generation SIEM” solutions became popular among SIEM providers that wanted to stay on top of the latest threats.
Why is SIEM important?
SIEM is important because it helps businesses manage security by sifting vast volumes of data and providing importance to security warnings.
SIEM software helps in the detection of unnoticed incidents in businesses. The logs are checked for risky behaviors by the software. The technology may also retrace the history of an attack, allowing a firm to evaluate the nature and effects.
By automatically providing reports that include all registered security events from all sources, a SIEM system can also assist a company in complying. Otherwise, log data and reports would have to be compiled by hand by the company.
A SIEM system also helps with threat detection by disclosing an attacker’s path through the network, detecting corrupted sources, and offering automated capabilities to stop attacks in the middle of the operation cycle before they get out of control.
Benefits of SIEM Technology’s
A wide range of advantages can be derived from SIEM components, depending on the solution and manufacturer. These benefits include
- Real-time visibility over the entire environment.
- Multiple systems and log data require a centralized management solution.
- A reduction in the number of false-positive alerts is expected.
- Accurate and reliable analysis requires data collection and standardization.
- It should be simple to access and search across unparsed and parsed data. Existing frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK should be able to map operations as well.
- You can be guaranteed that your compliance standards are met by using real-time monitoring and prebuilt compliance modules.
- Customizable dashboards with powerful reporting capabilities.
SIEM’s Drawbacks
Brings a lot of benefits, SIEM has a few drawbacks, including the following:
1. Implementation typically takes a long time due to the support needed to interface with the security controls and hosts. SIEM installation usually takes at least 90 days.
2. The first SIEM investment might range from tens of thousands of dollars to several million dollars. Management and monitoring a SIEM system costs money in the long run due to the need for annual staff support and software to collect data.
4. SIEM tools typically employ rules to analyze all of the data they collect. This is a problem because a company’s network can create up to 10,000 warnings every day, which may be helpful. It’s tough to detect potential assaults because of the large number of irrelevant logs.
3. To assess, customize, and integrate reports, you’ll need experience and knowledge. So, a security operations center (SOC) with an information security team manages some SIEM systems.
5. Information risk management can suffer if security events aren’t recorded.
