Modern cybersecurity solutions: SIEM or MSSP?

What does SIEM mean?

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) – the definition is that it is a software system that allows you to detect threats and respond to security incidents. It monitors data about security events in real time and provides a historical analysis from a wide range of sources that record events and contextual data.

More advanced SIEM systems and managed SIEM providers are able to combine events from different components of the IT system together to create a new higher-level event.

The main problem for security engineers is that there is too much data to be able to get even a rough overview. That’s why we need automation to distinguish those events that pose a threat or are otherwise interesting to our business from the multitude of events.

The main task of a SIEM is to monitor security threats and help manage user access, directories, and other changes to system configurations, as well as monitor logs and respond to incidents.

What is an MSSP?

MSSP (managed security service provider) has been on the market for at least 15 years. These are professional outsourcers that monitor and manage security devices and systems.

They usually provide firewalls, intrusion detection, virtual private network, vulnerability scanning, and antivirus services. MSSPs use security management centers (which can be in-house or from other data centers) to provide their services 24/7.

How to choose between SIEM and MSSP

• If you already know that you can’t hire additional staff and your existing employees are working at full capacity, don’t decide on a SIEM.
• If you know that your data shouldn’t leave the organization, don’t decide on an MSSP, but buy managed SIEM providers.
• If you have both restrictions – no staff and data should not leave the organization – then buy a SIEM and outsource its management.

Why do some organizations decide MSSPs over SIEMs?

• Cybersecurity is a field that is developing at an extremely fast pace. Most organizations lack highly skilled staff to keep up with this rapid evolution. Recruiting and training the right staff comes at a cost.
• Most existing IT professionals are forced to spend most of their working days on day-to-day security activities and do not have time to implement new strategic projects.
• It can even be the case that organizations need more capacity to effectively monitor and manage their security infrastructure to ensure optimal use of the system they already have in place.
• The biggest concern is that IT security tools and processes are reactive rather than proactive in addressing risks. They are aimed at minimizing data loss and downtime.
• Therefore, it is more appropriate for such organizations to choose external Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs).

SIEM capabilities of UnderDefense

Aggregation of log data

UnderDefense aggregates log from heterogeneous sources (Windows, Unix/Linux, applications, databases, routers, switches, and other Syslog devices) into a central database. We use the Universal Log Parsing and Indexing (ULPI) technology, which allows us to decipher all log data, regardless of the origin and format of the log.

Log analysis

• This workflow greatly simplifies forensic investigation by using the powerful log search function to search both raw and formatted logs and instantly generates forensic reports based on the search results.
• This allows network administrators to search through raw logs to determine the exact entry that triggered security activity, find the exact time the security event occurred, who started the activity, and the location where it started.

Event correlation and alerts

• Event correlation and real-time alerts allow network administrators to proactively protect their network from threats. With managed SIEM providers in 2023, you can configure rules and scenarios to correlate events based on thresholds or anomalous events and receive real-time alerts about potential threshold violations or network anomalies.
• Our powerful correlation engine has over 70 pre-built correlation rules covering user access, logins, file integrity, user creation, group policies, unintentional software installation, and more.

File integrity monitoring

• File integrity monitoring means checking if files are changed, and making sure they aren’t changed without permission.
• We check files all the time to make sure important information is safe and follows the rules. With File Integrity Monitoring, our security experts can monitor all actions taken on files and folders from one location. This includes when files and folders are made, opened, viewed, removed, edited, renamed, and so on.

Log analysis

• Log analysis means studying records of events or actions that are stored electronically.
• UnderDefense looks at logs right away and shows what it found as easy-to-read pictures and summaries.
• Users can easily analyze the log data displayed in the dashboard to gain more insight and perform root cause analysis in minutes. The solution also provides real-time alerts based on the latest threat information from STIX/TAXII Threat Data.

User monitoring

UnderDefense SOC provides comprehensive user monitoring reports. This allows you to track suspicious user behavior, including privileged administrative users.

Learn more about who did what and where in your system. Find out which user did something, what happened, where it happened, and where the user was when it happened.

Audit access to objects

• UnderDefense SOC helps you check who has done something with your files and folders like deleting, editing, and moving. You can also learn where your files and folders are located.
• UnderDefense provides object access reports in user-friendly formats (PDF and CSV) and sends alerts via SMS or email whenever unauthorized access to your confidential files/folders is attempted in real time.

Compliance reports

• Compliance is at the heart of a SIEM system, and with UnderDefense, organizations can meet regulatory requirements by monitoring and analyzing log data from all network devices and applications. UnderDefense allows you to generate predefined/prepared compliance reports, such as PCI DSS, FISMA, GLBA, SOX, HIPAA, and so on.
• UnderDefense also provides an additional feature to customize existing compliance reports and, in turn, allows users to create new compliance reports to help meet the growing number of new regulations that require compliance in the future.

Log data storage

UnderDefense retains historical log data to meet compliance requirements, conduct forensic log investigations, and perform internal audits. All stored data logs are compressed and time-stamped to protect against unauthorized access.