What is SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)?

SIEM is a technology that provides real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. It’s a core tool used in Security Operation Centres (SOCs) to collect, analyze, and manage security data from various sources.

Core Functions of SIEM:

1. Log Collection and Aggregation:
   Gathers logs and event data from across an organization’s IT infrastructure — including servers, firewalls, routers, endpoints, applications, and more.

2. Event Correlation:
   Combines and analyzes logs from different sources to identify patterns or relationships that may indicate a security threat or breach.

3. Real-time Monitoring and Alerting:
   Continuously monitors security events and triggers alerts for suspicious activities, allowing rapid response.

4. Incident Detection and Response:
   Helps SOC teams detect, investigate, and respond to incidents effectively.

5. Compliance Reporting:
   Provides reports to help organizations meet regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.

Benefits of SIEM:

• Centralized security data visibility.

• Faster threat detection and response.

• Improved incident investigation through detailed forensic data.

• Streamlined compliance management.

• Better overall security posture.

Popular SIEM Tools:

• Splunk

• IBM QRadar

• ArcSight (Micro Focus)

• LogRhythm

• AlienVault (AT&T Cybersecurity)

• Microsoft Sentinel