SIEM Logging: Overview & Best Practices
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Why SIEM Matters
What Is SIEM Logging and How Does it Work?
In order to provide real-time security, SIEM software gathers logs from multiple sources and transmits them to a central logging system. With ‘What is SIEM?’ answered, it’s possible to dig deeper into the varied methods employed by SIEM tooling
Agent-based Log Collection
Direct Connection
Event Streaming Protocols
In the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks, event streaming plays a crucial role by funneling comprehensive information about network traffic to security devices, including next-generation firewalls (NGFW), intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and security web gateways (SWG).
Overall, SIEM logging emerges as a pivotal element in modern cybersecurity, offering both real-time and historical threat analysis based on log data. However, it’s vital to keep in mind the differences between plain old log management and SIEM.
SIEM vs Log Management: Key Differences
SIEM takes this process one step further by cross-referencing event logs with contextual information pertaining to users, assets, threats, and vulnerabilities. This is achieved through a diverse array of algorithms and technologies for threat identification:
- Event Correlation involves the use of sophisticated algorithms to analyze security events, identifying patterns or relationships indicative of potential threats and generating real-time alerts.
- User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) relies on machine learning algorithms to establish a baseline of normal activities specific to users and the network. Any deviations from this baseline are flagged as potential security threats, allowing for complex threat identification and the detection of lateral movement.
- Security Orchestration and Automation Response (SOAR) enables SIEM tools to automatically respond to threats, eliminating the need to wait for a security technician to review alerts. This automation streamlines incident response and is an integral component of SIEM.
- Browser Forensics and Network Data Analysis utilize SIEM’s advanced threat detection capabilities to identify malicious insiders. This involves examining browser forensics, network data, and event logs to reveal potential cyber attack plans.
Accidental Insider Attack
These attacks occur when individuals inadvertently assist external malicious actors in advancing during an attack. For instance, if an employee were to misconfigure a firewall, it could expose the organization to increased vulnerability. Recognizing the critical importance of security configurations, a SIEM system can generate an event each time a change is made. This event is then elevated to a security analyst for thorough examination, ensuring that the alteration was intentional and correctly implemented, thereby fortifying the organization against potential breaches stemming from unintentional insider actions.
In cases of outright account takeover, UEBA allows for the detection of suspicious activities such as the account accessing systems outside their usual pattern, maintaining multiple active sessions, or making any changes to root access. In the event of a threat actor attempting to escalate privileges, a SIEM system promptly escalates this information to the security team, facilitating swift and effective responses to potential security threats.
SIEM Logging Best Practices
#1. Select Your Requirements With a Proof of Concept
This POC is where it’s possible to establish whether agent-based log collection is best for you. If you’re hoping to gather logs over Wide Area Networks (WANs) and through firewalls, using an agent for log collection could contribute to a reduction in server CPU utilization. On the other hand, agentless collection can relieve you of software installation demands, and result in lower maintenance costs.
#2. Collect the Right Logs the Right Way
#3. Secure Endpoint Logs
Stellar Cyber’s approach to endpoint logs supports a diverse range of endpoint logs, including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR). By applying different alert pathways to certain subsets across different EDR products, it further becomes possible to accurately and precisely clean endpoint log information.
#4. Keep an Eye on PowerShell
One logging option is Module Logging, which provides detailed execution information about the pipeline, encompassing variable initialization and command invocations. In contrast, Script Block Logging monitors all PowerShell activities comprehensively, even when executed within scripts or blocks of code. Both of these need to be taken into account to produce accurate threat and behavior data.
#5. Take Advantage of Sysmon
#6. Alert and Respond
The plan should appoint a senior leader as the primary authority responsible for incident handling. While this individual may delegate authority to others involved in the incident handling process, the policy must explicitly specify a particular position with primary responsibility for incident response.
From there, it comes down to the incident response teams. In the case of a large global company, there may be multiple, each dedicated to specific geographic areas and staffed with dedicated personnel. On the other hand, smaller organizations may opt for a single centralized team, utilizing members from various parts of the organization on a part-time basis. Some organizations might also decide to outsource certain or all aspects of their incident response efforts.
Keeping all teams cooperative are playbooks, which serve the foundation of mature incident responses. Despite the unique nature of each security incident, the majority tend to adhere to standard patterns of activity, making standardized responses highly beneficial. As this takes place, an incident response communication plan outlines how different groups communicate during an active incident – including when the authorities should be involved.
5. Define and Refine Data Correlation Rules
SIEM correlation rules, like any event monitoring algorithm, have the potential to produce false positives. Excessive false positives can waste the time and energy of security administrators, but achieving zero false positives in a properly functioning SIEM is impractical. Therefore, when configuring SIEM correlation rules, it is essential to strike a balance between minimizing false positive alerts and ensuring that no potential anomalies indicative of a cyber attack are overlooked. The goal is to optimize the rule settings to enhance accuracy in threat detection while avoiding unnecessary distractions caused by false positives.
Next-gen SIEM and Log Management with Stellar Cyber
Stellar Cyber’s platform integrates Next-Gen SIEM as an inherent capability, offering a unified solution by consolidating multiple tools, including NDR, UEBA, Sandbox, TIP, and more, into a single platform. This integration streamlines operations into a cohesive and accessible dashboard, leading to a significant reduction in capital costs. Our SIEM log management is powered with automation that enables teams to stay ahead of threats, while the design of Next Gen SIEM empowers teams to effectively combat modern attacks. To learn more, you’re welcome to book a demo for our Next Gen SIEM Platform.