Security Information and Event Management or SIEM is a cybersecurity tool used to discover, label and solve potential issues before they cause organizational disorder. However, according to UnderDefense, highly regarded protection can’t be guaranteed unless a reliable SIEM service provider is found. So, how can you tell whether or not what you’re likely to get is worth the high price these tools tend to come with?
Let’s look at the characteristics of a good SIEM service provider and also see why the search is ultimately beneficial. With the issue of cybersecurity being as critical as it is, it is equally necessary to understand every aspect.
SIEM in a nutshell
The reason anyone would wonder why choosing the right provider is so important stems from the fact that SIEM has evolved over the years. It initially focused on bringing together the two already existing disciplines:
- SIM — Security Information Management (SIM) involves gathering and analyzing log data generated by apps and devices, focusing on effectively improving overall security measures.
- SEM — this security niche focuses on usage of data inspection tools to centralize the storage and interpretation of logs or events produced by various software operating systems, playing a crucial role in effectively monitoring security-related incidents.
They were used to create a hybrid tool with combined functionality. The basics of SIEM is that it monitors and examines systems’ security-related occurrences, while also tracking and recording all data regarding security for the sake of compliance. All this is aided by the presence of real-time data capabilities.
Concept and performance
The concept has certainly come a long way since then, with several additions made. Today, good SIEM service providers could even offer some additions and features like artificial intelligence tools and the ability to study the pattern behavior of users and entities. This allows seamless performance of the following duties:
- Managing logs, which entails retrieving data from all facets of an organization, security-based or otherwise in real-time to store, correlate and study it;
- Event correlation and analytics, which helps locate potential issues via behavioral analysis, which in turn aids the reaction time;
- Incident oversight and security notifications, via a centralized dashboard, allow teams to see threats before they worsen, so they can be addressed quickly;
- Overall compliance governance and reportage, which with the aid of automation seeks out all related data and sorts it out.
Finding a suitable provider
Taking into account different statistics as well as the increasingly digitized world, the number of attacks is only going to increase. The average cost of a serious cyber breach is around $4.35 millions across the leading global industries. That is why finding the perfect setup and SIEM service provider is crucial. To do this requires one to analyze key parts of a SIEM solution and see if it’s up to par. The following are these points:
Log management abilities
The best way to describe this area on a functional system is that it should be robust. This means covering every log from as many sources as possible, storing them, and ensuring that they’re managed to fit multiple teams.
Overall threat intelligence and analytics
This aspect examines how AI and machine learning enhance the efficiency of security measures. This is done by allowing these tools to handle the search for threats, conduct a thorough analysis, and forecast as well. All this leaves teams free to focus on more pressing matters.
Correlation of security incidents
Based on the equation set, tools should have security threats correlated to find threats. In doing so, attacks of greater intensity can be detected while fetching the logs and recording the events, accompanying stamps and also creating alerts.
Time efficiency
A proper service provider should be able to deliver a tool that’s able to respond to threats speedily. It’s here that the use of both historical and real-time occurrences needs to be analyzed, which should allow teams to crack down on anomalies quickly.
Nature of reports
Personalized reporting formats that both record and report 24/7 are necessary in this field, but hard to pull off. As such, automation of this aspect is encouraged. With this aid, several reports can be supported and these as listed as follows:
- All-inclusive distribution graphs
- Usage of service
- Time series
- Network’s traffic
Forensics expertise
The expert information security knowledge required to solve breaches is a major requirement service providers have to meet. Interestingly enough, most providers don’t meet this demand, which should immediately take them out of contention.
Network log ingestion and processing
The standard network’s logging procedure will generate massive amounts of data, which it then has to track, ingest and process properly. Said data also comes in many forms, so having a tool that can manage this from the get-go is important.
General ease of use
Successful SIEM is only possible with assistance from multiple departments within an operation. This makes the deployment of the tool easier. It’s also wise to pay attention to the system’s usage of resources to ensure that it’s efficient.
Service viability
Service providers have to be flexible enough to work with any situation and level of expertise an in-house team may possess. This is why seeking proof of concept is cardinal.
The above attributes can only apply to the modern service provider, which is why traditional SIEM solutions are always advised against. Useful as they can be, a good hacker in 2023 can easily weave through the security.
Benefits of finding this provider
The truth is that the earlier models of SIEM wouldn’t cut it today, especially when you consider just how much those partaking in illegal activity evolve. Having a quality SIEM service provider makes you less vulnerable to these attacks by providing certain benefits. These are as follows:
- Speedy threat responses
- Efficient threat discovery
- Streamlined workflow due to singular server
- Proper handling of compliance issues
Final thoughts
Nothing makes an organization more secure than proper cybersecurity measures, which good SIEM is. As the above information demonstrates, it’s all about choosing the right SIEM service provider. In doing so, a company is best equipped to handle whatever may come.
Like all SIEM, however, a lot is to be expected. The often high price attached to it may seem off-putting as does the possibility for false positives. That is why a good service provider and its expertise are needed as a guide.
