Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms play a central role in modern enterprise cybersecurity. These platforms collect log data from across the organization and correlate activities to detect threats in real-time.

SIEM implementation is among the most complex undertakings an organization can attempt. As a security leader, you’re under a great deal of pressure to plan ahead and deliver predictable results that support security operations.

Since every organization is unique, finding the right solution is always a challenge. Make sure you consider every angle of your SIEM implementation before initiating the process.

Identify the problems you expect to solve with SIEM 

The SIEM market has many different options available, from free open source SIEM tools to prestige vendors like Exabeam and Microsoft Sentinel. Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses, which can vary based on the environment you want to secure.

At the same time, different SIEM platforms come with different features. Some of these may overlap with existing security solutions you already have. Understanding your IT environment and setting realistic expectations is of critical importance when considering SIEM implementation.

Don’t forget about your security operations team 

Your Security Operations Center (SOC) is more than the sum of its technologies. You will also need to commit human resources to your security operations. Keeping your SOC fully staffed can be a challenge, but it’s vital to success with your SIEM.

Many of the capabilities offered by best-of-breed SIEM solutions address this challenge directly. Advanced automation and streamlined investigation tools empower analysts to detect threats and complete investigations quickly. In an active threat scenario, this kind of efficiency can mean the difference between a disastrous cyberattack and a successfully mitigated threat.

Key criteria a modern SIEM platform should offer 

Before you go through the complex process of SIEM migration, consider some of the most important features and capabilities your new SIEM should offer.

1. Flexibility and customization

SIEM technology is not designed for plug-and-play performance. Keeping your SIEM in its default configuration puts strict limits on the security benefits you can gain from using it.

To truly make the most of your SIEM investment, you’ll need to customize it to address your unique security needs. That means building custom detection rules and fine-tuning them continuously over time. The more effort you put into improving security alert accuracy and preventing false positives, the faster and more efficient your security operations become.

Some SIEM platforms support customization better than others. Consider bringing a reputable managed detection and response provider on-board to help you establish a system for maximizing the value of your SIEM with a focus on continuous improvement.

2. Cross-platform automation

Modern SIEM platforms provide a centralized solution for managing third-party threat detection tools. To do that efficiently in a complex enterprise context, the platform must support automation across multiple tools and workflows.

This feature often overlaps with Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR). However, a standalone SOAR platform won’t provide the security benefits of a full-featured SIEM. For modern enterprise IT leaders, a SIEM with SOAR capabilities provides the best of both worlds in a single, unified package.

Standalone SOAR platforms don’t have the in-depth integrations that an enterprise SIEM requires. This gives the SIEM access to deeper context and analytics, and provides security teams with automation capabilities beyond what SOAR typically offers. With a fully integrated SOAR + SIEM solution, you can create context-aware incident response playbooks that meet strict security needs.

3. User and Entity Behavioral Analytics (UEBA)

User Entity and Behavioral Analytics (UEBA) is another technology that enhances the value of SIEM operations in an enterprise context. UEBA lets SIEM platforms contextualize user and asset activities on an individual basis. When a user, device, or application deviates from its normal course of action, it triggers alerts and prompts investigations into that activity.

Integrating this technology with SIEM makes sense because it allows analysts to quickly identify threats that are otherwise difficult to detect—like insider threats. Correlating behavioral analytics with log data provides much deeper insight into threat activities and reduces false positives, especially when supported by custom configurations and detection rules.

When enhanced with cross-platform automation, UEBA turns your SIEM solution into a robust platform for detecting, investigating, and responding to complex threats. You gain the ability to create incident response playbooks that take user behaviors and context into account while automatically responding to confirmed threats.

4. Efficient long-term log storage

Data storage is one of the biggest obstacles to efficient SIEM implementation and successful long-term management. Log data can take up an enormous amount of storage space, and SIEM solutions typically charge a steep premium for storing that data.

Many security leaders choose not to optimize log storage during implementation, judging that it will further complicate an already complex process. This is true, but the consequences can be severe. Instead of paying for additional high-cost storage, some organizations end up deleting logs—and simply hoping they won’t need them in a future investigation.

Data observability solutions like Cribl can dramatically reduce log storage costs by allowing security teams to keep log data in secure, low-cost cloud storage. When analysts need to review historical data, they can draw that data directly and replay it into the SIEM on demand.

5. Scalability

SIEM implementation is a major investment. The platform should not only streamline threat detection and response for the organization today, but tomorrow as well. A growing organization must plan its SIEM implementation to accommodate expanding infrastructure.

This makes efficient long-term storage increasingly important over time, but it also impacts the availability of security talent in your organization. Onboarding new security talent can cause your organization’s security expenditure to expand dramatically, underlining the importance of cross-platform automation and behavioral analytics integration.

Apart from integrating time-saving features and technologies, you should pay close attention to your SIEM’s licensing structure. Some SIEM vendors license by the volume of data processed, while others charge rates based on the number of devices or data sources connected. Take time to identify the right solution for your organization’s current and future needs.

Partner with Lumifi for industry-leading SIEM expertise 

Lumifi provides in-depth SIEM expertise to growing organizations and established enterprises alike. We have deployed thousands of custom detection rules in a wide range of industries and contexts, helping security leaders achieve operational security excellence without compromise. Find out how we can help you implement the right SIEM for your needs.