As early as the 1990s, IT professionals were assessing activity logs on their computer systems in an attempt to find suspicious patterns and evidence of known hacking techniques. Security information and event management (SIEM) dates back to 2005 when cybersecurity teams began centralizing the logs and other activity data. Having everything in one place allowed for a more comprehensive analysis. With SIEM integration, cybersecurity professionals could monitor an entire computer network, find connections between events happening in different areas and detect suspicious activity patterns. Security information and event management tools allow for real-time analysis and detection. SIEM logging consolidates signals from multiple sources into a centralized platform, and SIEM monitoring allows for quick responses to incidents. Here's a closer look at the meaning of SIEM and how such a system can help companies deal with today's sophisticated cyberattacks.
What is SIEM?
SIEM requires two systems, Security information management (SIM) and Security event management (SEM) together. The first collects all kinds of information from every aspect of a network, including all connected servers, devices and applications. The second is more concerned with analyzing specific user actions on the network. The SIEM system analyzes both types of information continuously and provides alerts on a centralized dashboard. Here is a closer look at the two main components of SIEM.
SIM
Security information management (SIM) focuses on the collection of information from throughout an organization's IT system. It centralizes and normalizes this data by storing it in one place for easy access, converting it into a uniform format.
SEM
Security event management (SEM) focuses on monitoring information collected by the SIM infrastructure. It analyzes the constant stream of user data and works in near-real time to find anomalies. Once SEM software finds potential issues, it sends alerts to notify the cybersecurity team, which can respond accordingly. This process is typically described as creating an event. SEM continues to analyze data during the event, playing an important role in threat response. The comprehensive data from the SIM system ensures the cybersecurity team has a full view of the IT infrastructure and can use SEM to respond to the threat without leaving vulnerabilities open to hackers.
Benefits of SIEM
The comprehensive cybersecurity information and response capabilities of SIEM bring specific benefits to organizations. These range from the flexibility to incorporate new endpoints and systems to the security features necessary to help address compliance with data protection and privacy laws. Here is a look at the advantages of SIEM.
- Fast response capabilities to cyber threats can help limit the damage even if a network breach occurs.
- Centralized management puts all necessary data on one dashboard, simplifying operations.
- Reporting simplification makes it easy to assess cybersecurity risks and report compliance with industry standards.
- Security for new systems allows easy integration of new components. For instance, it can help provide security for cloud-based data platforms.
- Historical analysis gives cybersecurity experts insights into past responses so that they can make improvements.
Drawbacks of SIEM
SIEM brings robust protections to organizations. However, it does come with some drawbacks that could make it impractical for some companies. Companies need skilled practitioners because the improper setup can lead to additional problems. For instance, if the software that logs network activity isn't configured correctly, it will not collect and normalize the data from different sources. Here are some of the most common pain points.
- Skills requirements mean the organization often needs to train employees or hire a managed SIEM service to operate the system.
- Complex maintenance is necessary because SIEM has different components and monitors very different systems. Updates and fixes can be very complex and time-consuming.
- The high costs of SIEM integration can include software licensing, professional installation, customizations and hardware upgrades.
- Intensive monitoring is required because of numerous events and calls for resource-intensive responses. In addition, many false positives can result in wasted employee time and computing resources. Furthermore, the continuous use of such monitoring entails significant costs, encompassing both implementation and improvement expenses.
Common characteristics of SIEM
SIEM solutions vary from organization to organization. However, all systems have some characteristics in common. These include the following.
- Data collection from activity logs and other relevant sources.
- Normalization to transform data into a common format for comparison and analysis.
- A dashboard for alerts, data visibility and response coordination.
- Alerts for potential security incidents.
- Incident response tools and systems necessary to detect and respond to suspicious events. SIEM solutions can integrate with other tools, such as firewalls, network monitoring systems and other antivirus applications.
SIEM strategies
SIEM usually incorporates specific strategies the cybersecurity team uses to ensure proper protection of networks, endpoints, data and IT resources.
- Event correlation strategies assess data from different sources to help identify patterns and system-wide anomalies.
- Incident response planning
- Inside the SOC - Outlines immediate steps after detecting an event that creates an incident.
- Outside the SOC - Proactive incident response to mitigate risk and control costs with incident response planning and security monitoring.
- Compliance strategies facilitate the collection of compliance evidence for comprehensive reporting.
- Behavior analytics allows the ongoing analysis of internal user behavior to detect unusual activity that does not fit a pattern. Other strategies may vary depending on the type of cybersecurity threats a business could encounter during operations.
Best practices for implementation
SIEM implementation requires careful planning and a methodical approach to ensure the system provides the expected benefits. Here are the steps necessary to increase the chances of success.
- Start by designing goals related to the security, compliance and risk mitigation needs of the organization. The IT team needs to list these needs and then choose strategies to address them.
- Ensure quality data from every network, device and application vulnerable to attack. The team should continuously assess the quality and source of the data to ensure complete and accurate coverage.
- Facilitate continuous improvement to limit false positives. The organization should continuously fine-tune the system to avoid these unnecessary alerts. The response to alerts can vary, but organizations should always define response practices and policies and revisit them after each incident to make necessary changes.
SIEM applications
SIEM solutions are flexible enough to work in many different environments, but here are some of the most common applications for this type of comprehensive system monitoring and threat response:
- Monitoring activity throughout a large network, such as one a multinational corporation might use.
- Monitoring security activities and recording data for compliance reporting and verification.
- Securing a network with diverse systems, such as IoT sensors, mobile devices, cloud computing platforms and business process applications. The flexibility of many SIEM solutions allows a company to tailor its functionality to fit specific needs.
Data about SIEM outcomes
According to a Cybersecurity Insiders report in 2022, 85% of cybersecurity pros said SIEM is effective at identifying and limiting threats, and 41% noticed a significant reduction in security breaches after deploying SIEM solutions. Half of the respondents said SIEM was able to detect a threat within seconds or minutes, significantly limiting potential damage. This apparent popularity aligns with industry projections. The market size for SIEM solutions is expected to grow by 14.5% per year between 2023 and 2030 to a forecast revenue of $11.62 billion.
Supporting technologies
One of the main advantages of SIEM solutions is that they integrate well with other technologies. Here are some other cybersecurity tools that can support SIEM.
- Threat intelligence tools can provide SIEM platforms with new information about threat trends to enhance detection capabilities.
- Endpoint detection and response software can provide additional monitoring for a complex array of endpoint devices.
- Network monitoring tools help detect unusual activity and feed additional data to SIEM platforms to improve coverage and accuracy.
- SOAR systems can provide a comprehensive view of the security landscape by integrating information from various sources, including external threat intelligence feeds, endpoint security software, and third-party sources. These systems enhance analytics by creating predefined investigation paths based on specific alerts. The resulting intelligence is then translated into automated tasks, resolving issues on behalf of the security team and augmenting their efforts.
- XDR Extended Detection and Response (XDR) can automatically adjust protection and coordinate response efforts. Organizations might also consider upgrading tech services or devices to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure proper configuration and data normalization.
Integration challenges and solutions
Organizations may encounter problems when integrating SIEM solutions into existing security infrastructure. Here are some of the biggest challenges.
- Compatibility issues could arise when trying to integrate data from different sources into the SIEM solution. The IT team needs to ensure that all cybersecurity tools use the same protocols and communication methods as the SIEM platform.
- Remote work arrangements add to the complexity of integration. Remote employees have personal internet connections and devices, which presents some unique data security challenges. IT managers must create bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and remote work policies that specify security requirements and device types and configurations.
- Continuous monitoring is challenging. Companies must ensure teams have the training and resources to automate aspects of network monitoring and avoid using too many hours and resources. Overall, proper planning reduces problems associated with SIEM implementation.
Industries where SIEM is most useful
Because almost all companies have digitized processes today, SIEM is useful in almost any sector. However, it's especially effective in certain industries, including:
- Healthcare organizations need to protect patient data and ensure compliance with privacy regulations while also monitoring endpoint devices throughout the facility.
- Retailers can use SIEM to continuously assess inventory and supply chain software, handling threats to payment processing and ordering systems. Any company with many endpoint devices from remote teams or IoT sensors can use SIEM solutions to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex network of connections.
Deciding whether SIEM is right for your organization
SIEM provides comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring and threat detection. However, it's not the ideal solution for every organization. Here are considerations to help decide if it's the best option for your company.
- High upfront costs come from the need for additional employees or training. Companies need to decide if these expenses are within their budget.
- Current security tools may be sufficient. The IT team needs to decide if real-time monitoring will lead to improvements.
- Complex systems benefit from SIEM monitoring. However, existing tools may be sufficient with simpler systems. Companies can also look at the type of services offered by SIEM vendors, who may be able to provide industry-specific expertise without requiring new hires, hardware or training.
The future of SIEM
SIEM requires careful alert monitoring and assessment to limit the number of false positives. As artificial intelligence becomes more effective, it could automate alert responses, locking down vulnerable areas and shutting off access to sensitive data or controls until the issue gets investigated. Machine learning could help systems reduce false positives, making detection features more accurate as they gain access to more data. In the current landscape, SIEMs can accomplish essential functions such as detecting, logging, and analyzing network data. However, the potential expansion of their capabilities, particularly in the realm of actively limiting access to sensitive data, could serve as a crucial stopgap measure. This enhancement would empower Security Operations Centers (SOCs) with additional control over threats and attacks, bolstering their defensive posture.
Alternatives to SIEM
Some companies might consider alternatives to SIEM depending on their size, digital processes, compliance challenges and current cybersecurity setup. Here's a look at some SIEM alternatives an organization might consider.
- Network traffic analysis monitors usage on a network and sends alerts for anomalies or suspicious activity. These solutions are simpler than SIEM options, but they don't monitor activity outside of the network, potentially ignoring vulnerable endpoints.
- Cloud security solutions provide SIEM-like monitoring and threat detection in cloud environments. These specialized tools may be more effective in the cloud, but they do not cover other parts of the IT infrastructure. SIEM can integrate many of these competing tools into its own system, allowing it to deliver comprehensive and redundant security features that focus on the most vulnerable areas.
