The 5 Best SIEM Tools to Consider for MSSPs
Learn why a SIEM is so critical for MSSPs, which key SIEM features allow MSSPs to excel, and what are the top SIEM tools for MSSPs.
A Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) is responsible for keeping their client’s infrastructure secure; an immensely broad task that demands a similarly varied skill- and tool-set. So, to achieve this, MSSPs offer each client a collection of tools and security solutions – operated by a team of experts in a Security Operations Center (SOC) that identifies, validates, and analyzes security incidents across the client’s devices and networks.
But today’s security demands incredibly granular data: right up to the individual actions being taken by each device. An MSSP gains this visibility through cloud-based tools like a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), which harvests a client’s real-time network and device data, analyzes it, and turns disparate log data into swift, coordinated incident alerts.
This guide will explain why a SIEM is so critical for MSSPs, which key SIEM features allow MSSPs to excel, and what are the top SIEM tools for MSSPs.
A Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) is responsible for keeping their client’s infrastructure secure; an immensely broad task that demands a similarly varied skill- and tool-set. So, to achieve this, MSSPs offer each client a collection of tools and security solutions – operated by a team of experts in a Security Operations Center (SOC) that identifies, validates, and analyzes security incidents across the client’s devices and networks.
But today’s security demands incredibly granular data: right up to the individual actions being taken by each device. An MSSP gains this visibility through cloud-based tools like a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), which harvests a client’s real-time network and device data, analyzes it, and turns disparate log data into swift, coordinated incident alerts.
This guide will explain why a SIEM is so critical for MSSPs, which key SIEM features allow MSSPs to excel, and what are the top SIEM tools for MSSPs.
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Why Do MSSPs Need SIEM Tools?
MSSPs are faced with all the current-day challenges of cybersecurity – and more. One of these primary challenges is the overwhelming volume of security data generated across client networks. Without a centralized system, monitoring and analyzing this data in real-time becomes impractical, leading to oversight of significant threats. Consider the amount of log files being generated per day across the entirety of an organization’s laptops, mobiles, firewalls, and IoT – and then multiply it by the dozens of organizations that make up an MSSP’s client base.
MSSPs need to tackle the challenge presented by these large-scale volumes of data: they require the same core competencies of wide-scale data collection and analysis, while keeping the data and connections of each client segmented and secure. Hence, the need for a multi-tenancy SIEM.
This makes scalability a pressing issue. The increased load that MSSP SIEM tools face can place significant strain on the tools’ analysis engine. This is critical to maintaining consistent security monitoring, meaning that MSSPs face pressure to select a tool that can scale seamlessly and accommodate growth while remaining cost-effective and customizable. Another significant demand placed on MSSPs is the need for rapid incident response. Depending on the SLAs, MSSPs need to respond to high-criticality alerts quickly: anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. SIEM solutions allow this quick response, thanks to real-time monitoring and automated alerting. Delays in identifying and reacting to security incidents can result in substantial damage.
The final demand is compliance. It’s a major reason why companies choose to partner with MSSPs, given the huge demands that regulatory compliance can place on internal IT teams and tooling. Given this critical concern, SIEM for MSSPs are able to lead a well-trained SOC toward regulatory oversights. Some of this support is blatant: GDPR and HIPAA require log storage, preferably within a centralized database; others require that incidents be reported within a specific timeframe. This makes a SIEM for compliance one of the core offerings of any MSSP.
MSSPs need to tackle the challenge presented by these large-scale volumes of data: they require the same core competencies of wide-scale data collection and analysis, while keeping the data and connections of each client segmented and secure. Hence, the need for a multi-tenancy SIEM.
This makes scalability a pressing issue. The increased load that MSSP SIEM tools face can place significant strain on the tools’ analysis engine. This is critical to maintaining consistent security monitoring, meaning that MSSPs face pressure to select a tool that can scale seamlessly and accommodate growth while remaining cost-effective and customizable. Another significant demand placed on MSSPs is the need for rapid incident response. Depending on the SLAs, MSSPs need to respond to high-criticality alerts quickly: anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. SIEM solutions allow this quick response, thanks to real-time monitoring and automated alerting. Delays in identifying and reacting to security incidents can result in substantial damage.
The final demand is compliance. It’s a major reason why companies choose to partner with MSSPs, given the huge demands that regulatory compliance can place on internal IT teams and tooling. Given this critical concern, SIEM for MSSPs are able to lead a well-trained SOC toward regulatory oversights. Some of this support is blatant: GDPR and HIPAA require log storage, preferably within a centralized database; others require that incidents be reported within a specific timeframe. This makes a SIEM for compliance one of the core offerings of any MSSP.
Key Features in SIEM Tools for MSSPs
Since SIEM is such a cornerstone of MSSP capabilities, it’s worth exploring just how SIEM tools provide real-time threat detection. All SIEM tools work in four key stages: log collection, correlation, alerting, and reporting. They all rely on collecting log data from across the client organization via sensors; this is then pulled into the tool’s analysis engine. Applying correlation rules, this engine identifies meaningful patterns and relationships between all logs. This is at the heart of how SIEM tools can distinguish between normal and potentially malicious network activity – it’s how a security team is then alerted to log anomalies.
While all SIEM tools serve the same basic goal, there are some features that explicitly allow MSSP setups to excel.
While all SIEM tools serve the same basic goal, there are some features that explicitly allow MSSP setups to excel.
Multi-Tenancy Architecture
We’ve touched a little on basic SIEM architecture, but cloud virtualization now allows for a tool to apply its analytical computing power across multiple tenants simultaneously. This logically isolates the input data and analyzed security information, while still allowing the same analysis engine to assess each stream of logs for threats.
This is critical for MSSP SIEMs, as clients require individualized settings, such as tailored alert thresholds, compliance frameworks, or integrations. A multi-tenancy SIEM can provide these customizations at the tenant level while maintaining standardization across the platform.
This is critical for MSSP SIEMs, as clients require individualized settings, such as tailored alert thresholds, compliance frameworks, or integrations. A multi-tenancy SIEM can provide these customizations at the tenant level while maintaining standardization across the platform.
Automated Response Playbooks
After analyzing the logs and identifying high-risk activity, SIEMs traditionally would simply send an alert to the corresponding analyst. However, MSSP success is defined by not just analyst skill, but also efficiency – which is where automated response playbooks can make all the difference.
These playbooks consist of pre-built workflows that trigger upon specific incidents occurring: for instance, say the SIEM engine detects a sequence of very high failed password attempts, followed by a successful login. Indicative of a brute-force attack, the SIEM tool is then configured to respond: first logging off the device, then disabling the user. If disabling the user fails, the admin is notified; if successful, the user is sent an SMS alert.
These playbooks significantly reduce Mean Time to Respond, and are especially vital for MSSPs that need to handle the individual security landscapes of dozens of different clients.
These playbooks consist of pre-built workflows that trigger upon specific incidents occurring: for instance, say the SIEM engine detects a sequence of very high failed password attempts, followed by a successful login. Indicative of a brute-force attack, the SIEM tool is then configured to respond: first logging off the device, then disabling the user. If disabling the user fails, the admin is notified; if successful, the user is sent an SMS alert.
These playbooks significantly reduce Mean Time to Respond, and are especially vital for MSSPs that need to handle the individual security landscapes of dozens of different clients.
Customizable Dashboards and Reporting
Custom dashboards allow clients to tailor their focus to the key performance indicators (KPIs) most critical to their operations, such as metrics for threat detection, incident response times, or compliance status. These personalized insights enhance clients’ understanding of their security posture and promote greater engagement with their cybersecurity strategies.
Furthermore, customizable reports allow MSSPs to deliver clear, professional, and client-branded documents. Branding not only reinforces the MSSP’s commitment to the client but also ensures the reports can be easily shared with internal stakeholders or regulatory bodies. Well-structured, tailored reports simplify complex security information, making it accessible for both technical teams and executive decision-makers.
Furthermore, customizable reports allow MSSPs to deliver clear, professional, and client-branded documents. Branding not only reinforces the MSSP’s commitment to the client but also ensures the reports can be easily shared with internal stakeholders or regulatory bodies. Well-structured, tailored reports simplify complex security information, making it accessible for both technical teams and executive decision-makers.
Full-Stack Security Integrations
SIEM tools are defined by their ability to integrate with the devices that are generating log files. However, the ongoing SIEM automation across both analysis and remediation means that these integrations need to go far beyond the network sensors and agents that collect logs.
For instance, firewall data isn’t just a valuable resource for identifying malicious logs: it’s also a channel through which a SIEM can respond to identified threats. Other implementations allow for even wider North-South visibility and control across your networks; take Intrusion Protection Systems (IPS) tools, which enable SIEM to monitor and deliver protection at the individual host level. This SIEM integration feature forms the basis of other security tools, like Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR). Often based on an API infrastructure, it makes for widely-applicable, consolidated SIEM tools that are more efficient – and well-suited for MSSP deployment.
For instance, firewall data isn’t just a valuable resource for identifying malicious logs: it’s also a channel through which a SIEM can respond to identified threats. Other implementations allow for even wider North-South visibility and control across your networks; take Intrusion Protection Systems (IPS) tools, which enable SIEM to monitor and deliver protection at the individual host level. This SIEM integration feature forms the basis of other security tools, like Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR). Often based on an API infrastructure, it makes for widely-applicable, consolidated SIEM tools that are more efficient – and well-suited for MSSP deployment.
Low Total Cost of Ownership
Understanding the costs associated with implementing and maintaining a platform is essential for the long-term success of any MSSP offering. Traditional SIEMs require the necessary hardware, software, and storage to be appropriately sized, deployed, and maintained, either on the customer’s premises or within the service provider’s environment. This significantly increases the TCO faced by MSSPs – and SIEMs no longer need to be physically situated on-premises. This is why cloud-based features now offer a way to significantly reduce TCO and free up resources to invest in highly-trained staff. Even better are features that are offered on a single, predictable license, rather than multiple, highly-volatile costing structures.
The 5 Top SIEM Tools for MSSPs
Given the sheer variety of SIEM providers on the market today, it’s important to establish exactly which tools match the features we just covered.
1. Stellar Cyber
Stellar Cyber’s next-generation SIEM is a comprehensive choice for MSSPs due to its unified, automation-driven platform that seamlessly integrates open XDR capabilities. Designed with built-in multi-tier multi-tenancy, it enables MSSPs to manage numerous clients through a single, intuitive dashboard, ensuring strict data segregation and tailored access controls. This architecture facilitates efficient scaling and centralized security operations, allowing MSSPs to deliver services to hundreds
or thousands of end-users without the complexities associated with traditional SIEM solutions.
On the alert and analysis front, Stellar Cyber collects logs from any device or endpoint, and assesses it with Interflow. This places every potential alert within its wider context, to establish the alert’s legitimacy and build a picture of how alerts may be connected. This drastically reduces the false positive rate seen within many other SIEM tools, and enables lean security teams to manage complex environments with greater efficiency than ever before.
Finally, Stellar’s platform is offered on a single license, making total cost of ownership far more predictable long-term.
On the alert and analysis front, Stellar Cyber collects logs from any device or endpoint, and assesses it with Interflow. This places every potential alert within its wider context, to establish the alert’s legitimacy and build a picture of how alerts may be connected. This drastically reduces the false positive rate seen within many other SIEM tools, and enables lean security teams to manage complex environments with greater efficiency than ever before.
Finally, Stellar’s platform is offered on a single license, making total cost of ownership far more predictable long-term.
2. Sumo Logic
Sumo Logic is a cloud-native SIEM with strong support for log management, analytics, and real-time threat detection. Its MITRE ATT&CK™ Explorer maps client-based logs and alerts according to the framework. This gives universally-applicable context to the logs being managed, which are then prioritized according to the tool’s alert clustering. Once enough Signals are clustered, and a risk threshold passed, a prioritized Insight is generated.
All of this is then communicated through an approachable heads-up display, with entities displayed in context with one another in a panoramic view.
All of this is then communicated through an approachable heads-up display, with entities displayed in context with one another in a panoramic view.
3. Splunk
Splunk’s robust SIEM tool is known for its powerful analytics and extensive app integrations. It applies behavioral analytics to the logs being collected, before applying incident investigation that correlates this data. Visually, like Sumo, Splunk categorizes and maps security events against a presumed kill chain. This capability aids in optimizing threat hunting, reducing alert volumes, and increasing the accuracy of threat detection.
However, Splunk’s licensing model is based on the volume of data ingested, which can be cost-prohibitive for MSSPs managing the security data for multiple clients. The high cost of storage, processing, and infrastructural requirements mean that running Splunk at scale can impact profitability.
However, Splunk’s licensing model is based on the volume of data ingested, which can be cost-prohibitive for MSSPs managing the security data for multiple clients. The high cost of storage, processing, and infrastructural requirements mean that running Splunk at scale can impact profitability.
4. LogRhythm
LogRhythm integrates SIEM tools, file integrity, and endpoint behavioral monitoring into a unified platform. Their AI response platform, SmartResponse, enables basic automated playbooks to be implemented. However, MSSPs may find these tools limited in addressing complex, multi-client scenarios, as these automated workflows need to be set up individually for each client. This is worsened by LogRythym’s lack of native multi-tenancy. As a result, MSSPs relying on Logrhythm may need to deploy separate instances or implement custom configurations that ensure data remains segmented.
5. Exabeam
Focused on user behavior analytics and anomaly detection, Exabeam provides MSSPs with a baseline of log activity and user behavior. This then allows anomalies to be granted a risk score, depending on their deviation from that baseline. Depending on this score, analysts can then be either alerted directly, or continuously updated on any ongoing changes. By detecting anomalies through risk scoring and prioritization, MSSPs can identify potential threats more accurately, enhancing their clients’ security postures.
Alongside this, Exabeam’s architecture is suitable for MSSP-level scaling, as it’s built on a cloud-native, open architecture. However, Exabeam’s pricing is often based on the number of user sessions analyzed, which may not align well with MSSPs’ requirements to manage high volumes of diverse client data.
Alongside this, Exabeam’s architecture is suitable for MSSP-level scaling, as it’s built on a cloud-native, open architecture. However, Exabeam’s pricing is often based on the number of user sessions analyzed, which may not align well with MSSPs’ requirements to manage high volumes of diverse client data.
How Stellar Cyber Empowers MSPs & MSSPs
Stellar Cyber for MSSPs has continuously delivered efficiency and real-world security. The SIEM tool extends beyond simple log collection and analysis, by cross-referencing the alerts it generates. From there, alert scores are generated that reflect the fidelity of the alert, alongside its severity. This allows it to map alerts along an attack patch chain, significantly expediting the remediation process.
This is supported by the automation process: Stellar Cyber’s SIEM allows for in-depth playbooks to be applied across similar alert protocols, allowing teams to orchestrate their automated responses through numerous clients at once. Furthermore, these responses can be channeled through the firewalls, endpoint tools, ticketing systems, and IAM solutions that are already implemented. Explore how Stellar can jumpstart the security for thousands of end customers with rapid, fully-supported implementation today.
This is supported by the automation process: Stellar Cyber’s SIEM allows for in-depth playbooks to be applied across similar alert protocols, allowing teams to orchestrate their automated responses through numerous clients at once. Furthermore, these responses can be channeled through the firewalls, endpoint tools, ticketing systems, and IAM solutions that are already implemented. Explore how Stellar can jumpstart the security for thousands of end customers with rapid, fully-supported implementation today.
