A Security Information and Event Management System (SIEM) combines the security management of information and events into dashboard graphical user interfaces which display an aggregation of data, including anomalies and alerts within the system (Gillis & Rosencrance, 2022). Beyond a SIEM tool’s detection capability, it can also take reasonable action based on events or notify other controls to change status after a suspicious event. SIEM tools collect data from logs of many different host systems which can then be viewed in a navigable graphical user interface, processes and events can be correlated with timestamps and alerts, suspicious activity can be quickly detected based on preset parameters. SIEM tools streamline the data analysis process that large companies face by drawing attention to only the most important alerts, events, and problems; and automating some of the resolution processes so that a security solution can be expedited.
SIEM are helpful tools for organizing security defense and cyber responses for corporations because they provide a centralized perspective that is built by continuously analyzing the data associated with all users, business assets, events, and interactions (“What Is Security Information…,” 2022). Security teams in corporations can have the most relevant and conclusive information about their network operations in a convenient, “single pane of glass” display. SIEM alerts allow corporate management to become aware of time-sensitive anomalies within the network that could be potentially dangerous and costly if not immediately handled appropriately with the aid of an aggregation of relevant information involved in the decision-making processes. SIEM tools’ interfaces allow a flexible range of customization that can suit many purposes of managing assets within a corporation. User behavior patterns can be analyzed in forensic investigations or audits, which is equally useful to corporate management as real-time monitoring and legal or regulatory compliance.
An example of a SIEM is SolarWinds SIEM made by SolarWinds (“SIEM Tools,” n.d.). The application’s primary purpose is to provide a centralized point of access for logging, threat analysis, response, and reporting. The price of a SolarWinds SIEM subscription starts at $2,877; the company also offers a fully functional 30-day trial of the software. The capabilities of this SIEM software are log collection, the ability to quickly find and focus on relevant information, and to assist in creating an improvement to reaction time to identifying suspicious behavior. SIEM software such as SolarWinds SIEM allows a broad scope of an organization’s security posture to be visualized and studied in a real-time graphical user interface environment so that an organization can mitigate security threats, improve compliance, and optimize their defense strategy. SIEM tools can help distinguish between data and and external threats, make updated decisions based on past data, and automate many processes that save valuable time in each stage of an effective cyber security strategy.
References
SIEM Tools. SolarWinds. https://www.solarwinds.com/security-event-manager/siem-tools
Gillis, Alexander S.; Rosencrance, Linda. (2022, December). Security Information and Event Management (SIEM). TechTarget. https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/security-information-and-event-management-SIEM
(2022, August 1). What Is Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)? Splunk. https://www.splunk.com/en_us/data-insider/what-is-siem.html