SIEM solutions - definition & overview

Security Event Information Management (SIEM) is a combination of Security Information Management (SIM) and Security Event Management (SEM). It brings together the process of utilizing computer logs to analyze, collect, and monitor security-related data with centralizing computer log data from multiple sources to manage events and improve the detection of events through an incident response process.

Ultimately, SIEM provides real-time analysis of security threats and alerts that are generated by network hardware, applications, and endpoints.

As IT organizations expand and grow, so too does their need to deploy more hardware and applications that, in turn, generate a huge volume of computer logs. To protect their enterprise from cyberattacks and cyber threats, companies utilize a variety of disparate applications and protective software that protect and monitor various aspects of their networks.

SIEM tools act as a kind of manager and integrations layer that functions on top of your existing infrastructure and security tools. SIEM software connects all the most important security data from the various applications that protect your business, while at the same time displaying said data in easily readable formats. Security teams gain both insight and a track record of IT events that provide log management uses, data analysis, and aggregation.

Here are some of the ways SIEM solutions help keep your business safe:

• Log collection: SIEM solutions make things easy by aggregating systems logs and security data from the various applications and sources into one, unified place

• Normalization: SIEM tools will normalize your logs by formatting them into a standardized format

• Notifications and alerts: Automated notifications and security alerts give businesses real-time updates on any detected threats

• Security incident detection: SIEM tools solve security incident detection challenges by utilizing log correlation, threat intelligence, and anomalous user behavior analytics to quickly recognize pattern deviations or unusual activity

• Threat response workflow: Past security events can be easily managed through SIEM workflow responses

• Plug-in capabilities: SIEM solutions support plug-ins, third-party apps, and other software for easy customization

When deciding on a SIEM solution, there are a few necessary tools and capabilities that you want to make sure your solution offers.

A competent, reliable, and state-of-the-art SIEM solution delivers superior incident responses and security outcomes through the following capabilities:

• Log data management: Store and manage all aggregate data in one place, allowing you to centralize all log data and disparate systems that can be viewed and correlated by security analysts.

• Compliance reporting: Sophisticated SIEM tools can automatically report on IT operational, compliance, and security performance

• Threat intelligence: While it’s still difficult for SIEM tools to discover external threats, a competent solution will be able to gather some threat intelligence and be compatible with plugins to collaborate and bolster your ability to identify external threats.

• Alert notification customization: Automated security alert notifications can give you real-time updates on any inconsistencies, and customizable alerts will allow you to understand the severity and urgency of the attack sooner.

• Useful dashboards: Dashboard features allow for simplified, real-time monitoring that can often be customized to prioritize the visibility of the most important data.

Sumo Logic Cloud SIEM can complement or replace your existing SIEM tool.

Sumo Logic’s state-of-the-art functionality, organizational capabilities, automated tools, machine learning applications, and advanced forensics insights will give you everything you need to protect your networks and analyze your data with ease and efficiency.

• Improve your log collection capabilities

• Allow you to achieve compliance with auditing and reporting

• Collect, analyze, and allow you to present security-related data

• Provide real-time analysis of security alerts

• Provide response and security operations

• Include automated incident-response times

• Give you the ability to customize automated alerts

Try Sumo Logic today.