Security information and event management (SIEM) is software that allows professional security managers a grasp on the most intricate details of the IT system. The technology that created SIEM has been around for a while, more than 10 years to be specific, progressed and innovated initially as a log management software.
It used two different technologies in sync to analyze and process log data to help monitor threats in real-time and incident response, in addition to information management technology to collect and asses log data. SIEM software is the child of two different software which are SIM (Security Information Management) and SEM (Security Event Management). While all the details and jargon may sound confusing at first, we’ll be helping you to understand how SIEM software works and why it’s important.
The Sequence
SIEM operates using a sequence or a process to analyze and categorize data:
- The collection of data: Data collection is done with the feeding of live data by utilizing network sources like servers, operating systems, firewalls, and intrusion detection programs. The collected info is then passed onto SIEM tools, and depending on the tool, the method of extraction of logs and data from enterprise systems can be different. Some tools use agents that can gather, assess, filter, the information before it’s fed into the SIEM software.
- Policy: A policy is like a set of rules that are dictated by the head or administrator of the SIEM software. Policies make sure that the system is running normally with countermeasures for any security incident defined. SIEM software can be shaped by using policies to customize alerts, reports, rules, and even the dashboard.
- Data Consolidation and Notifications: SIEM software proceeds to categorize data after the analysis is done; parsing log files mainly. The raw data is then consolidated by applying special rules so it would indicate security issues when needed. Once the SIEM system detected a security issue, it can be set to notify security managers or administrators.
Further Development
SIEM software has been under constant development and innovation to achieve higher security standards. Technologies available in the market and field have enabled SIEM software to take leaps in terms of capabilities and performance.
It’s only natural for SIEM software to take advantage of threat intelligence feeds and AI analytic behavior to assess network performance and user behavior. As threats are becoming more dangerous to multi-billion corporations, SIEM software is growing at a rapid pace to leave no room for malicious penetration.
Machine learning and deep learning are all technologies that are being experimented with to pursue their integration into commercial and corporate software. These technologies focus on inference and pattern-related security monitoring and alerts. The direction experts believe SIEM software is going towards is the automation of remediation.
SIEM in Different Businesses
Expenses of SIEM software isn’t exactly the highest in the enterprise security sector. It’s estimated that the global expenditure on enterprise security is valued at $98 billion, with only $2.4 billion allocated for SIEM software. The impact of SIEM software is treading a slippery curve, but it seems that the growth potential is increasing day by day.
SIEM software is seemingly an exclusive technology reserved for large corporations and big organizations as the regulations and compliance protocols are quite rigid and utilize the system fully. Some mid-size businesses manage to utilize the benefits of SIEM software, but that’s more like an exception rather than a trend.
Small businesses seldom opt to use SIEM software as it comes with a high price tag; annual prices could even reach 100 thousand dollars in some cases. The experts or specialists needed to utilize the SIEM software are usually costly as well as it requires talent and experience. A lot of businesses choose to use outsourcers who provide software-as-a-service to their SMB clients. The bigger the corporation the more SIEM capabilities are required, in addition to security measures that ensure its safety.
Most big businesses have their SIEM servers and software running on-premise under high-security coverage due to the sensitivity of the information being monitored and filtered. As more technology probes SIEM development, machine learning, and cloud solutions will provide hybrid options that make it more convenient while being secure.
SIEM’s software future is looking bright as more resources are being poured into making it more convenient and secure. The digitalization of many industries has made a lot of big organizations realize the importance of cybersecurity along with logging and analysis tools. The utilization of such software gives businesses more time to focus on their craft while making sure that their backs are covered.
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