Malicious cyberattacks on companies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so a company’s security measures must be adapted accordingly. One very effective threat detection measure is SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) software. We present several SIEM use cases that you should be aware of.
A SIEM system is designed to detect and respond to a wide range of security events and incidents. By analyzing log data from multiple sources and applying advanced analytics, SIEM systems can give organizations a comprehensive view of their security posture and help them identify and respond to potential security threats even before the situation becomes serious.
Many companies are also required to comply with certain regulations such as the DSGVO or PCI DSS. SIEM software can help monitor compliance in this case as well. Maybe these SIEM use cases also affect your company?
How a SIEM system detects threats
But how can a SIEM system identify and alert on such events?
Specific security events or incidents that the system should detect and respond to are called “detection use cases” or “analytic stories.” The secret here is to implement detection patterns that come from threat intelligence information or machine learning/AI capabilities. The different SIEM use cases can vary from company to company.
Typical SIEM Use Cases
Suspicious user account activity: A SIEM system can detect suspicious user account login activity by analyzing log data from authentication systems such as Active Directory. If an employee attempts to log in with multiple incorrect passwords or from an unusual location, the SIEM can trigger an alert to the security team.
- For example, in the familiar use case of "impossible travel," a SIEM detects user activity from two locations that cannot be traveled to in the intervening time.
Data exfiltration attempts: Another category of anomalies is data exfiltration attempts, which SIEMs detect by analyzing log data from network devices such as routers and firewalls.
- For example, if a device is transmitting large amounts of data to an external IP address, the SIEM may trigger an alert and initiate an automated response to block the traffic.
Insider threats: So-called insider threats are monitored by SIEM systems by analyzing log data from various sources such as activity logs and file access logs.
- If an employee attempts to access sensitive data outside of their normal working hours or attempts to access data they do not have permission to access, the SIEM can raise an alert to the security team.
Malware infections: SIEMs can also play a role in malware defense alongside traditional endpoint protection systems. A SIEM system can detect malware infections on devices by analyzing log data from various sources, such as firewalls, antivirus software and intrusion detection systems.
- For example, if a device attempts to connect to a command-and-control server, the SIEM can warn and automatically isolate the device from the network.
Compliance violations: One final example – a SIEM system can detect compliance violations by analyzing log data from multiple sources such as database logs and access control systems.
- For example, if an employee accesses sensitive data without proper authorization, the SIEM can trigger an alert and initiate an automated response to ensure the employee's access is revoked.
In addition to looking for known patterns and SIEM use cases, a SIEM solution can help security teams proactively look for potential threats by analyzing large amounts of data.
For example, systems can analyze network traffic to identify anomalies that could indicate a potential security threat.
Individual SIEM Solutions
COCUS provides services to implement and operate efficient and effective SIEM solutions. Not quite sure where to even start to implement the various SIEM use cases? We offer you a Rapid SIEM approach based on Splunk that helps organizations start their SIEM implementation at a fixed, affordable price and quickly realize value.
