SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) has been with us for more than 30 years. During this time, the cybersecurity technology landscape has changed dramatically and new challenges need to be addressed.
To say that SIEM is ‘dead’ is a statement that is highly debated in the cybersecurity community. It is true that in recent years new approaches and tools such as XDR (Extended Detection and Response) have emerged, which are often compared to SIEM and sometimes seen as its replacement. However, SIEM still plays an indispensable role in many organisations, especially those dealing with complex and sensitive data where robust detection and analysis of security incidents is essential.
What is a SIEM
A SIEM is a system designed to collect, store, and analyze security events and information. Its role is to collect logs and other data from all systems, applications, and devices in an organization’s infrastructure, and then process that data for the purpose of detecting, evaluating, and responding to security threats.
In the beginning, SIEM was mainly a tool for auditing and ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR or ISO/IEC 27001. But its capabilities have evolved over time and today it is an integral part of an organisation’s comprehensive cyber defence.
The primary goal of a SIEM is to identify potential security incidents that can compromise an organization such as data leaks, unauthorized access, ransomware attacks, or other malicious activities. It does this by analyzing large amounts of data that is generated within an organization and then correlating it to reveal patterns and anomalies indicative of attacks.
SIEM today and its comparison with newer tools
At a time when security technology is constantly evolving, many are wondering if SIEM is still relevant. However, new approaches presented as a full-fledged alternative may not always cover all of an organization’s cybersecurity needs.
For example, XDR is more of a tool aimed at detecting and responding to security incidents in real time. It targets specific threats, such as unauthorized access or infiltration attempts, and often relies on blocking communications exhibiting suspicious behavior. However, this methodology has its limitations, especially when it comes to detecting new, unknown threats or complex attacks that require the analysis of historical data and the identification of behavioural patterns.
In practice, we’ve seen cases where organizations have deployed XDR in combination with SIEM to get the best of both worlds – advanced detection and rapid response to specific threats with visibility into security events across the infrastructure. SIEM, analyzing metadata from a variety of sources, provides a deeper and broader analysis that XDR cannot offer.
Normality and anomaly detection
In the area of safety, one of the key challenges is identifying what is normal behaviour and what is no longer. These patterns are usually defined based on the history and context of a particular organization’s operations. From a SIEM perspective, the goal is not just to detect specific, known threats, but to identify patterns of anomalies that may signal attacks. It is this ability to detect unknown, complex threats that makes a SIEM indispensable.
We can use a multi-detection rule-based approach to identify the aforementioned anomalies. For example, if multiple suspicious activities occur in a short period of time, it is a signal that something worrisome may be happening and the SIEM should trigger an alarm. This approach has proven successful in practice, especially in preventing zero-day attacks, which are difficult to detect with traditional security tools.
Benefits of SIEM in practice
In the real world, we see how implementing SIEM solutions improves cybersecurity and business protection. We can illustrate this with the example of a small automotive parts manufacturer that faced a ransomware attack. Prior to implementing a SIEM, the attack only became apparent after causing significant damage – production downtime, financial losses and reputational damage. However, after deploying a SIEM, the company was able to respond quickly to a similar attack within minutes, and they were able to prevent further losses.
In addition, the SIEM has proven to be an invaluable tool in detecting insider threats, making unauthorized access to sensitive data an attempt. In one case, the system identified an unusual access pattern to a company’s proprietary designs, which could have led to an intellectual property leak. The SIEM identified this threat early on, protecting valuable data, plus ensuring that the company did not lose its competitive advantage.
SIEM and its indispensable role in ensuring regulatory requirements
Many manufacturing industries are required to adhere to strict security standards such as ISO/IEC 27001. Implementing a SIEM in these organizations simplifies the process of meeting these standards. The system provides continuous monitoring of security incidents and enables rapid reporting, which is key to maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.
In addition, by consolidating security data from all systems into one place and then analyzing it, organizations can respond to incidents faster and more efficiently, which is not possible with dispersed security tools. This brings not only time but also financial savings.
SIEM is still essential
Although security tools are evolving and new approaches are emerging, SIEM still plays a key role in modern security infrastructures. Its ability to correlate data from all systems, detect anomalies and search for complex patterns of behaviour is indispensable. That’s why implementing the system, while time-consuming and costly, is one of the best cybersecurity investments an organization can make.
SIEM is a tool that provides deep insight into the security landscape of an organization and enables effective detection of new threats. Combined with other options such as XDR or IDS, it offers organizations a balanced and effective way to protect against different types of cyber-attacks.
So if you’re deciding how to convince your CEO of the importance of SIEM, focus on its ability to mitigate risk, stabilize operations, and protect the company’s competitive advantages. A SIEM is not just a protection tool, it’s a strategic necessity for the future of cybersecurity in the enterprise.
