According to the Ponemon Institute, it takes 127 days on average to discover a data breach nowadays. Cybersecurity threats are detected early with complete visibility and in-the-moment analysis of device and application log data. Sometimes, those responsible for security information and event management (SIEM) and log monitoring make rash budgetary decisions to cut back on log sources, only to discover that doing so has an adverse effect on security decision-making and incident response. As you safeguard your infrastructure and assets, you may strike a balance between advanced threat detection and ease of use and price.

For security analytics including threat detection, intrusion detection, compliance, network security, insider vulnerabilities, and supply chain risks, logs are an essential source of information. Logs are generated by almost all devices and programs. Millions of logs may be produced per day by a medium-sized company, which would be too many for manual examination and correlation.

For essential security analytics including threat detection, intrusion detection, compliance, network security, insider vulnerabilities, and supply chain risks, a SIEM system correlates raw log data.

We advise you to keep an eye on log sources such as application logs, web servers, authentication servers, client devices like laptops, and infrastructure devices like routers, and security devices like firewalls. Domain controllers, wireless access points (WAPs), and IPS/IDS tools are additional log sources.

Both hands-on IT and security teams and business stakeholders, like CEOs interested in risk management, are interested in the topic of log monitoring.

Considerations for Log Monitoring and Recommended Practices

  • Log management should follow any applicable compliance guidelines: Establish whether any security and log monitoring laws, such as NIST 800-171 (applicable to U.S. government contractors), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), or PCI DSS, are applicable to your business or end-user clients (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
  • Logs are monitored continuously, 365 days a year. To meet audit requirements, identify true threats, and reduce false positives, logs are reviewed in real-time using a combination of machine learning and SOC (Security Operations Center) analyst skills.
  • Keep an eye out for unforeseen expenses: Some vendors of SIEM and log monitoring charge based on data volume, like events per second (EPS). Organizations may be penalized by variable pricing since increased log volume and sources lead to unpredictably higher costs.
  • Organize logs for archival purposes by adapting log storage and archiving to the needs of each client company, such as HIPAA compliance rules.
  • You must maintain the security, integrity, and availability of log data due to its significance in monitoring internal and external threats. Threat actors frequently remove log data that can reveal their covert activity.

With CYB3R-X as a dependable partner who comprehends the SMB industry and modern threat monitoring, you can broaden your cybersecurity portfolio. CYB3R-X, offered as a managed service, and its 24/7 SOC add hard-to-find analysts to your team, enabling you to speed up risk management and infrastructure protection.