Security Information and Event Management, or SIEM for short, has a long tradition in IT security. Nevertheless, it is highly topical and can be seen as the basis of „next generation security“. At current trade fairs and events, we hear a lot about security analytics or security intelligence. Both terms are associated with the detection of advanced attacks. The acronym SIEM, on the other hand, is associated with classic security information and event management.
SIEM is and remains the central approach for collecting and analysing security-relevant information and data on security events, making it available in compliance reports and providing the basis for prompt responses to security incidents with alerts. A robust SIEM solution also offers management of security-relevant data and analyses and thus enables the search for events in the past to support IT forensic investigations.
How do SIEM tools work?
A modern SIEM requires three core competences – data collection, analysis and response – to ensure the security required in today’s hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The job of a SIEM refers to:
- Data Collection: to collect data across your entire network
- Threat detection: identify malicious behaviour
- Threat Response: to send alerts to security and IT teams to give them the insight and information they need to respond before the problem becomes serious.
If compliance reporting is an important factor for the organisation, a SIEM should also be able to create dashboards and ensure that security policies are being enforced.
What SIEM is used for?
A Security Information and Event Management tool is used for comprehensive security management in information technology environments. SIEM tools are designed to collect, aggregate, analyze, and report on security data from various sources within an organization’s IT infrastructure, so the primary functions of a SIEM tool include:
- Log Management: Collecting logs and event data from various sources such as servers, network devices, applications, and security appliances.
- Alerting and Notification: Generating alerts and notifications in real-time or near-real-time when security events or anomalies are detected. These alerts can help security teams respond promptly to potential threats.
- Incident Response: Facilitating incident response by providing tools for investigating security incidents, identifying the root cause, and taking appropriate remedial actions.
- Compliance Reporting: Assisting organizations in meeting regulatory compliance requirements by generating reports and audit trails that demonstrate adherence to security policies and regulations.
- User Activity Monitoring: Monitoring and analyzing user activities, including access to sensitive data and critical systems, to detect unauthorized or suspicious behavior.
- Forensic Analysis: Supporting forensic analysis by providing historical data and detailed information about security events, enabling organizations to reconstruct incidents and understand the extent of the damage.
SIEM as a part of the mandatory security program
Without appropriate SIEM solutions, companies are unable to analyse the large number and the variety of logs provided by the IT systems they use. That is why Security Information and Event Management is an integral component of a comprehensive security program. SIEM solutions empower organizations to proactively detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents by aggregating and analyzing vast amounts of data from disparate sources across their IT infrastructure.
The range of logs extends from the log files of individual applications to the operating systems of (mobile) endpoints and servers, hardware firmware, IT security solutions, networks and clouds. If the security-relevant information from the various data sources is not analysed promptly enough, potential attacks and incidents could not be properly detected or could be detected too late.
Without a central location that collects, analyses and consolidates the logs for reports, it is also virtually impossible to provide the necessary compliance evidence for IT security. IT forensics also needs SIEM-based support in order to better uncover the traces of attackers and possible vulnerabilities that have been abused.
The decision as to which SIEM system is the right one, must be made without any fail. The market is rich in solutions that offer different capabilities, features and advantages. Companies should pay particular attention to whether their individual requirements are met, i.e. the IT systems to be supported, whose log data must be able to be read out, the available interfaces and data formats, but also the available reports, which must match the compliance requirements that the company faces.
Furthermore, the cloud plays an important role here. On one hand, the solution of choice should also be able to take into account the cloud solutions used, i.e. support cloud logging. It should also be possible to integrate security-relevant information that is available via the cloud. The so-called „threat intelligence feeds“ from security providers deliver via the cloud an important additional information that a company’s SIEM cannot have, based on its own data. The early detection of attacks depends heavily on the information base of the SIEM, so additional data on possible threats and attacks from security intelligence services is very valuable.
Concusion
As cyber threats continue to evolve in complexity and sophistication, the importance of SIEM within a comprehensive security program cannot be overstated. Organizations that leverage SIEM effectively are better equipped to stay ahead of adversaries, safeguard critical assets, and uphold trust with stakeholders in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. Embracing SIEM as a cornerstone of cybersecurity strategies is essential for organizations committed to maintaining resilience and staying abreast of emerging threats in today’s dynamic threat landscape.