You Cannot Detect What You Cannot See
Comprehensive logging and Security Information and Event Management provide the visibility needed to detect and investigate threats.
Log Sources
Collect from firewalls, endpoints, servers, cloud services, applications, and authentication systems. More context enables better detection.
Log Retention
Retention requirements vary by regulation. Generally, retain logs 1-7 years. Consider hot, warm, and cold storage tiers.
SIEM Capabilities
Centralized collection aggregates logs. Correlation identifies patterns across sources. Alerting notifies on suspicious activity. Dashboards provide visibility. Investigation tools support analysis.
Use Cases
Detect brute force attacks. Identify lateral movement. Monitor privileged access. Track data access. Detect insider threats.
Implementation Tips
Start with critical assets. Tune alerts to reduce noise. Document expected behavior. Build runbooks for common alerts.
Alternatives
Managed detection and response services provide SIEM capabilities without operational overhead. Consider for resource-constrained organizations.
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