What is SIEM?

Security Information and Event Management, commonly referred to as SIEM is a combination of two functions: Security Information Management (SIM) and Security Event Management (SEM), which is a tool used to collect log data, security events, and alerts into a centralized platform. It helps the security teams to analyze the data and provide real-time analysis for security monitoring.

The SIEM is one of the essential tools used by the SOC Analyst. It is designed to collect, analyze, and store log files generated by endpoints, data center servers, networking equipment, cloud resources, etc.

SIEM tool also uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to automate many manual incident response and threat detection processes. It includes two significant technologies: User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR).

Core Components of SIEM Architecture

SIEM solution helps organizations identify threats, investigate security incidents, execute incident response plans, and prepare reports for compliance and regulation purposes. The SIEM architecture includes some core components:

• Data Aggregation: Data aggregation helps to collect the log data from various sources such as databases, applications, routers, servers, firewalls, etc. SIEM solution collects, manages, and maintains the data for analysis.

• Correlation and Security Monitoring: The correlation system uses user-defined and predefined correlation rules for collecting and analyzing the log data files. SOC Analyst monitors for signs of suspicious activity and generates alerts.

• Forensic Analysis: Forensic analysis is used to identify the root cause of the security incident and generate a report that includes a detailed analysis.

• Dashboard: The dashboard helps create visualizations to review event data and identify patterns.

• Threat Intelligence: Threat intelligence helps security admins to perform threat hunting to identify the threats or IOCs in the entire network. It allows taking appropriate actions to prevent, mitigate, and resolve the threats in the future.

• Incident Detection and Response: The Incident detection and response component helps in identifying security incidents using various technologies such as:

  • Event Correlation

  • Threat Intelligence

  • User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)

• SOC Automation: Advanced SIEM solutions can automate the incident response process by orchestrating the systems. This process is known as Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR).

• IT Compliance Management: SIEM solutions stores large chunks of log data for audit trails. They also generate compliance reports such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, etc.

How does it work?

SIEM solution empowers the existing security program in an organization. It requires intelligent log file collection, configuration, and review of the results.

SIEM software collects the log and event data from various sources such as applications, routers, servers, databases, etc. It uses correlation rules to derive insights during data analysis.

With the help of UEBA technology, the system automatically identifies the malware that came from an email phishing link. The Analyst automates the process of isolation of that particular affected system using SOAR technology. It helps the Analyst block the phishing link in other emails and avoids spreading malware in the entire network.

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