SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management. It is a comprehensive approach to security management that combines Security Information Management (SIM) and Security Event Management (SEM) functionalities into a single unified solution.
In simple terms , SIEM is an invaluable security solution that empowers organisations to proactively identify and address potential security threats and vulnerabilities , safeguarding business operations from potential disruptions.
By uncovering unusual behavioural patterns and leveraging artificial intelligence , SIEM streamlines the detection of threats and the handling of incidents , reducing the dependability on manual processes. This advanced technology has become an essential component in today’s security operation centres (SOC’s) for effectively managing security and compliance requirements.
Organisations majorly rely on security technology in their efforts to secure their computers and networks. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a cybersecurity technology that gives you a single, rationalised overview of your data and operational capabilities so you can adequately detect, investigate and respond to security threats.
How does SIEM work?
SIEM collects and combines data from event sources from across an organisation’s IT infrastructure , including host systems, networks, firewalls, antivirus security devices. The software allows security teams to gain attacker insights with threat rules derived from insight into attacker tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and known indicators of compromised (IOCs)
The threat detection element itself can help to detect threats in emails, cloud resources, application, external threat intelligence sources and end points. When an incident is identified , analysed and categorised , SIEM works to deliver reports and notifications to the appropriate stakeholders within the organisation. This can include user and entity behaviour analytics (UEBA) which monitors abnormal behaviours which could indicate a threat.
SIEM consolidates and analyses the data for deviations against behavioural rules defined by the organisation to identify potential threats . Data sources include :
- Network Devices : Routers, switches , bridges , modems, line drivers , hubs
- Servers : Web, proxy , mail, FTP
- Security Devices : IDP, IPS, firewalls, antivirus software, content filter devices
- Applications : Any software used on any of the above devices
- Cloud and SaaS Solutions : Software and services not hosted on-premises
- Remote Workforce : All devices and activities related to remote work
Why choose SIEM ?
✅Real-Time Visibility and Integration : It strengthens your cybersecurity posture by giving real-time visibility across your organisation’s environment – weather hybrid or cloud.
✅Threat Management using multi-source Log Data : It provides event log management that consolidates data from numerous sources. A single SIEM server can streamline workflow using multi-source log data to generate a single report that addresses all relevant logged security events. Businesses with limited cybersecurity resources find SIEMS’s threat management attractive to larger clients or partners.
✅Reduced Response Time using Enhance Situational Awareness: It detects threats that comprehend through a high volume of data within seconds to find alerts or unusual behaviour. SIEM can harness the power of global threat intelligence to enable rapid discovery of events involving communications and suspicious or malicious IP addresses. Attach paths and past interactions can be quickly identified , reducing response time for more rapid disposition of threats to the environment.
✅Compliance Benefits : It also provides you with a snapshot of your IT infrastructure at any given time while allowing you to store and manage log data to ensure compliance with industry standards.
✅Threat Hunting and Detection : The use of an intelligent SIEM is the key to managing the strategic , tactical and operational aspects of threat hunting , none of which can be ignored in today’s threatspace. Effective integration of SIEM as the centrepiece working with threat investigation tools is crucial to gaining improved visibility into potential threats.
✅AI Driven Automation : Today’s next generation SIEM solutions are well integrated with SOAR capabilities – Security Orchestration, Automation and Response . Which implies , it saves on time and resources for IT as they manage business security. Using machine learning that automatically adapts to network behaviour , these solutions can handle complex threat detection and incident response protocols in significantly less time than physical teams.
✅Predictable Pricing : The SIEM pricing model based on the number of devices is quite predictable. This is because the number of devices in an organisation is more consistent and predictable than the volume of data generated each second, or day, or month. Yes, there would still be new devices added and existing devices removed, but this is much less change than data that can spike sky-high one moment and drop to normal levels the next.
Related Reading: Top Benefits of Implementing SIEM in Your Cybersecurity Strategy
Implementing SIEM Solutions
From small SOC teams to large global IT departments, organisations use SIEM solutions to streamline their threat detection and response to measurably reduce risk to the business. However, many SIEM technologies are resource intensive and require experienced staff to implement and manage support and training.
Before investing in SIEM gather your business requirements and evaluate your security objectives and perspectives.
👉Find a SIEM that is best suitable for your Business : With an unmanaged SIEM, the tools must be tuned out to maximise the usefulness of the SIEM software. Straight out the box, SIEM alerts include a lot of noise. If your company doesn’t have enough internal resources to dedicate to monitoring and tuning your SIEM tools , then you may be better off with a managed SIEM option.
👉Plan your Budget : The costs of the SIEM tools depend upon the chosen vendor and the size of the organisation. When you have more devices on the network , you have more avenues for malicious actors to gain access , more monitoring volume, and a higher risk of cyber attacks. You should consider investing in SIEM as soon as your network monitoring needs exceed what is possible to do manually. The type of SIEM program also affects the price. Unmanaged SIEM software is a capital expense , whereas managed SIEM is an operational expense .
👉Consider your existing Data Security Program : SIEM is not a silver bullet to solve your data security related concerns. These are just additional security steps that can be prioritised before or after your SIEM investment. Before implementing SIEM , you should be conducting annual network penetration testing to identify and remediate security risks. SIEM is secondary.
Remember, SIEM does not work retroactively. Your SIEM program will only produce logs and alerts after it is implemented. With this in mind, SIEM should be prioritised ahead of other recreational measures, like an incident response plan. A perfect response plan will be useless if you can’t detect the breach.
👉Choose a CyberSecurity Company that offers Incident Response Services & Forensic Capabilities with the SIEM Product : SIEM logs help investigators back-track and gather forensic data in the event of an incident. Alerts help you discover security events, and the logs and data help you close the unauthorised point of entry.
If you do not have the resources or expertise to respond to the alert promptly, then your SIEM is less likely to be less useful. A primary advantage of managed SIEM is that you have a dedicated expert in the corner. Security events are extremely stressful and confusing. It can be very helpful to enlist a third-party who deals with these things regularly.
The Future of SIEM
Integration with AI – artificial intelligence and Machine Learning, SIEM holds a promise of more advanced threat detection , improved automation and expanded visibility. These developments will empower organisations to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats , enhance their security posture , and efficiently protect their digital assets.
💡Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: SIEM systems will increasingly leverage AI and machine learning capabilities to enhance threat detection and response. These technologies can analyse large volumes of security data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies in real-time. By automating the detection of complex threats and reducing false positives, AI-powered SIEM solutions will enable faster and more accurate incident response.
💡Cloud-native and Hybrid Deployments: As organisations continue to adopt cloud services and hybrid environments, SIEM solutions will evolve to support these deployments effectively. Cloud-native SIEM platforms will provide seamless integration with cloud providers, allowing businesses to monitor and secure their cloud-based assets. Additionally, SIEM solutions will offer flexible deployment models to accommodate hybrid infrastructures, providing unified visibility across on-premises and cloud environments.
💡Contextualization and Threat Intelligence: Future SIEM systems will rely on enhanced contextualization capabilities to provide better insights into security events. They will incorporate threat intelligence feeds, vulnerability data, and industry-specific knowledge to enrich security analytics. This contextual information will enable more accurate risk assessment, prioritisation of alerts, and proactive threat hunting.
💡User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA): SIEM solutions will increasingly integrate UEBA functionality to detect and respond to insider threats and compromised user accounts. UEBA employs advanced analytics to establish baselines of normal user behavior and identify anomalous activities that may indicate insider threats or compromised credentials. Integrating UEBA with SIEM will bolster the ability to detect sophisticated attacks and insider abuse.
💡Automation and Orchestration: Automation and orchestration capabilities will play a significant role in the future of SIEM. These features will streamline incident response processes by automating repetitive tasks, such as log analysis, threat validation, and incident triage. Integration with security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms will enable seamless collaboration between SIEM and other security tools, improving overall incident response efficiency.
💡Extended Visibility and IoT Security: With the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, SIEM will expand its scope to include comprehensive visibility and security monitoring for IoT environments. Future SIEM solutions will integrate with IoT management platforms, enabling organisations to detect and respond to IoT-specific threats, such as unauthorised device access, firmware vulnerabilities, and anomalous IoT device behaviour.
💡Enhanced Compliance and Reporting: SIEM systems will continue to evolve to meet evolving compliance and regulatory requirements. They will provide more robust reporting capabilities, customizable dashboards, and automated compliance checks. This will assist organisations in demonstrating adherence to industry-specific regulations and guidelines more effectively.
Bottom Line
Security information and event management solutions can provide a wealth of security benefits for organisations. However, these solutions must be configured correctly in order to be effective. Organisations should develop SIEM use cases that focus on the security risks and data sources most relevant to their environment. By doing so, they can ensure that their SIEM solutions effectively detect and respond to security threats.
Many businesses lack the resources to have an in-house cyber security team because it is expensive. They also lack cyber services, like SIEM as they think nothing bad will ever happen to them. This may help in cost-cutting for a while , but in the longer run it puts them at a much higher risk, increasing the potential to destroy your organisation financially. In short, cyber security companies make the mistake of wanting cybersecurity when it is already too late.
