A SIEM, or Security Information and Event Management, is a technological solution that provides companies with an overview of their cybersecurity by collecting, normalizing, analyzing, and storing logging (log) data from various sources within their IT infrastructure, including network systems, security devices, servers, databases, and applications.
The main functionality of a SIEM is divided into two major components:
1. Security Information Management (SIM):
Focuses on collecting, aggregating, and archiving logging data for historical analysis and report generation for regulatory compliance and auditing purposes.
2. Security Event Management (SEM):
Focuses on real-time monitoring, event correlation, alerting, and incident management to identify and respond to suspicious or malicious activities almost instantly.
The key features of a SIEM include:
- Data collection and normalization:
Aggregates logging data from multiple sources, normalizes it into a uniform format to facilitate analysis.
- Event correlation:
Uses rules, algorithms, and sometimes artificial intelligence to correlate different security events recorded across the system, identifying patterns of complex attacks and potential threats.
- Alerts and notifications:
Generates real-time alerts based on predefined thresholds or suspicious activities to promptly inform security teams.
- Dashboards and reporting:
Provides real-time visualizations and historical reports on the state of cybersecurity, facilitating decision-making and regulatory compliance.
- Forensics and incident analysis:
Provides tools to assist in the investigation and in-depth analysis of security incidents after their detection.
By integrating these functionalities, a SIEM enables security teams to quickly detect threats, effectively manage security incidents, comply with industry regulations, and enhance their overall security posture.
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