SIEM, SOAR and XDR: Three Pillars of Security

Today, Internet security is no longer just empty words. Unfortunately, many users, including corporate ones, have already seen this for themselves. Internet attackers are making more and more efforts to gain access to user devices, as well as to the information stored on them. As a result, such concepts as data compromise, loss of privacy, infection of the device with malware and more arise.

But in parallel with the improvement of cybercriminal technologies, the information security niche does not stand still. In particular, tools capable of resisting even quite serious cyber threats are also being actively developed here. And it would be useful for users to be aware of advanced trends and solutions that will help them increase the resistance of their device to external threats, thereby ensuring high security indicators for work on the network.

Today, the most technologically advanced, effective and reliable solution in managing cyber threats can be called a combination of 3 key technologies: SIEM, SOAR and XDR. Each such solution is endowed with its own functional capabilities, has distinctive features, advantages, areas of use. But if you combine them all together, you can create a truly reliable shield that will repel various cyber threats, while maintaining maximum flexibility and convenience for users when working on the Internet.

In today's review, we will dwell in detail on why it is worth thinking about cyber threat management and what technologies such as SIEM, SOAR and XDR are. We will highlight their distinctive features, areas of application, advantages. We will tell you how to correctly implement all this in your own business processes. The information presented will help you increase your resistance to even the most modern and sophisticated cyber attacks that can jeopardize the overall operation of your company, the reputation built up over the years, the trust of consumers, business partners, colleagues. By combining these software solutions, you will be able to identify, analyze and eliminate potential threats, returning to full and functional work as quickly as possible.

If you are interested, we suggest studying the material about what cyber wars of the past and future are.

Why do you need to think about cyber defense?

The last few years have clearly shown how sharply and seriously the number of cyber attacks has increased, as well as the activity of various hacker groups. This is something that carries quite serious threats to business, including leading to material damage, blocking of work and other negative consequences. All those hacker attacks that are most often encountered in practice today can be divided into 2 separate classes:

1. Non-targeted attacks. These are the types of actions by Internet attackers that are focused on the widest possible user audience. Most of them are viruses that target the most common vulnerabilities in software. Hackers target them at user devices and if it turns out that the environment is poorly protected, then with a high degree of probability they will achieve their goal. Alternatively, this could be theft of data for the purpose of subsequent blackmail, extortion, blocking work, etc. Such viruses are distributed via the Internet and are capable of hooking a fairly large audience of potential victims. Their success is noticeably decreasing every day, since today there is already a fairly good and successful practice of combating such actions by attackers. It is based on blocking the most common and well-known sources in combination with the use of classic means of protection.
2. Targeted attacks. Here we are already talking about such actions of Internet intruders that are aimed at a specific victim. In this case, hackers develop unique variations of malware that take into account zero-day vulnerabilities. And the entire future cyberattack turns out to be as well-developed as possible. Reconnaissance is carried out, allowing to identify gaps in the security system. And only after that the virus is launched. Initially, it practically does not make itself known, slowly spreads, and at one point reaches the target. And here there is no longer any possibility to counteract, at least on the basis of classical means using signatures. Practice shows that attacks of this level in duration can take from several months to several years. And all this time the user will not even understand that he is in the crosshairs of cybercriminals.

At the same time, the damage from targeted attacks is several times greater than the indicators of non-targeted impact. According to preliminary estimates, over the past few years, small and medium-sized businesses have suffered approximately 10 million rubles, while the damage to large businesses has approached 100 million. And these are estimated figures, because in practice, in some cases, the damage turns out to be much more serious. Along with the material equivalent, it is also worth considering reputational losses: for some companies, this will be much more catastrophic than the loss of money.

3 elements at the core of comprehensive protection

Many modern information security experts agree that a high level of protection from aggressive external influences can be ensured by combining 3 key technologies in practice:

1. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM). This is a tool that can collect and analyze information from logs, events, identifying suspicious activity there. With its help, even hidden threats become visible to specialists.
2. Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR). This is a software solution that can automate the analysis of the received information and even the response to the identified incidents. Thanks to this, the relevant specialists can identify problems much faster and eliminate them before they cause harm to the user device and the system as a whole.
3. Extended Detection and Response (XDR). A unique solution of its kind, offering extremely broad functionality in ensuring security, including threat management, detection of false positives and their automatic filtering, creation of analytical reports.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that all these tools complement each other, and also allow you to create a powerful security system that will effectively respond to various actions of Internet intruders, preventing serious consequences. Now we will consider each of these technologies in more detail so that you can navigate their features and see how advanced and technologically advanced the solution can be in protecting your security when working on the Internet.

SIEM as a basis for collecting and analyzing data

Security information and event management is specialized software based on a client-server architecture, where the client is directly the user device. In this case, the server is the equipment to which the collected data will be sent for subsequent processing. The main functionality of SIEM is to collect, store and subsequently manage incoming data in order to identify potential threats among them and ensure a timely response to them. That is, here this tool will monitor all actions occurring within the IT infrastructure, identifying deviations from normal behavior among them, including violations of security policies, cyber attacks.

Main SIEM Functionality

The following are some of the SIEM-specific functionalities:

• Information Collection. The program will collect security information from various sources related to a specific computer network. This will include data coming from clients, network devices, the built-in security management system, or any other sources present in your network architecture.
• Data Storage and Management. The system will structure the data that it receives in the storage itself, which will ultimately ensure sufficiently flexible and effective management of large volumes of information. Auditing will also be performed automatically in accordance with the main requirements.
• Information Analysis and Identification of Hidden Threats. The program will analyze all events directly related to security and perform real-time monitoring, identifying incidents that contain potential danger.
• Correlation and analysis of events. Here we are talking about the fact that the system is able to analyze the detected events and determine the relationships and patterns in them. Thanks to this, non-obvious threats or vulnerabilities are identified.
• Recording incidents, as well as automatic notification of specialists. These works are carried out literally in real time. It turns out that as soon as the system detects an incident that threatens security, it will immediately send a corresponding notification. Also, a script will be automatically launched that blocks access, sends notifications and other actions that prevent the spread of the threat.
• Audit and reporting. The SIEM system is able not only to track and record user actions, as well as related events related to security, but also to provide specialists with a set of all the necessary information so that they can compile an analytical report and draw appropriate conclusions, which will prevent such things in the future.

Who should use SIEM

SIEM systems are quite popular among consumers today. Experts recommend their practical use in a wide range of industries and individual organizations. Here are just some of the areas where the use of this software product will be indispensable:

• mobile network operators;
• banks and other financial institutions;
• representatives of small, medium and large businesses;
• companies using DLP;
• organizations with several geographically distributed branches.

By and large, SIEM will be useful wherever it will be necessary to ensure high information security indicators in practice.

How SIEM works

SIEM software is capable of collecting and analyzing information in real time and continuously, as well as responding to any deviations from the norm. That is, when potential threats are identified, the system will work, send a corresponding notification, and also take a number of measures that can stop the problem and prevent its spread. After that, the event itself is analyzed, reports are compiled. As a result, specialists will have information that will allow them to understand the reason for such a failure and take appropriate measures to prevent problems.

The capabilities of modern SIEM are significantly enhanced by artificial intelligence technologies. In particular, we are talking about creating the most accurate algorithms, identifying threats. The specialist monitors the situation through a special monitoring panel, which is highly visual and allows you to identify the problem literally at a visual level.

The main advantages of using SIEM

SIEM is a truly advanced and technological solution, endowed with a number of more than significant advantages:

• Multifunctionality. With the help of this system, information security specialists will be able to simultaneously solve a number of key tasks that they face in their daily work.
• The entire process of storing and analyzing data is centralized. Information from various sources enters the database, which allows for more in-depth research of problems and their causes at any time.
• Centralized reporting, document generation in strict accordance with current security requirements and standards established by regulatory authorities.
• Quick threat detection and mitigation. Due to the fact that SIEM operates in real time, has an advanced alert system and built-in response mechanisms, any security incidents are detected instantly. This minimizes the serious consequences of attacks.
• Ability to configure integration with related security systems. It can be used as a basis for creating a whole range of solutions aimed at ensuring high levels of network and individual device protection.
• The system is capable of optimizing consumed resources while minimizing monitoring and analytics costs, which will ultimately have a positive impact on performance indicators.

Enterprises and organizations that already use SIEM have probably seen for themselves how advanced and technologically advanced the software product is at their disposal.

SOAR as an automation and orchestration tool

SOAR is an impressive software suite designed to increase an organization's resilience to external cyber threats. With its help, you can track information about the security of your system coming from various sources, including platforms designed for threat intelligence, information systems, and security management. SOAR can significantly increase the efficiency of relevant specialists and minimize the time and response to potential threats.

The functionality of this system includes collecting information about threats and classifying them by complexity level, and automating routine responses. Most of the work is performed automatically, without requiring specialist intervention. Information security department employees are involved in the work only when a serious threat is detected that the system itself cannot handle. SOAR solves other routine and similar tasks independently.

Distinctive features of SOAR

SOAR can independently set priorities, standardize the sequence of actions in the course of responding to threats specified in playbooks. The content of this system depends on its developer, but in any case, the following functional capabilities will be present here:

• Orchestration. SOAR will help to significantly simplify the interaction between security tools and tools that ensure the necessary performance, in particular, intrusion detection systems, firewalls.
• Response. This platform is capable of interacting with both manual and automated processes, ensuring the fastest possible response to any threats to the security system.
• Automation. SOAR is capable of automating many similar and routine processes in the field of IT security, including the detection of potential threats, intrusions.
• Integration. You will be able to implement this tool into the overall security system of your organization, providing the most stable and effective protection from various external influences.

What tasks should SOAR be used for?

The information security of any company quite often faces various external threats, including phishing, malware, and more. If the cybersecurity system is automated, then it will be possible to keep all these threats under reliable control. Machine learning tools make incident response as efficient as possible. They use the data already available in their history as a basis. At the same time, their work will be carried out in parallel with specialists. That is, the latter will be able to work on those tasks that a priori cannot be automated.

Thanks to high-quality automation, SOAR can respond to incidents that have not even occurred yet, that is, it can identify potential threats, thereby ensuring high resistance of the corporate system to dangers. SOAR has found wide application in financial institutions. Here, it is used to assimilate data from individual user devices, minimizing the success of a hacker attack as a whole.

But before implementing this product in practice, it is important to evaluate and comprehensively analyze the security system that your organization is currently using. SOAR is implemented only where good standardized action scenarios are used, there is a large library of response workflows. That is, before you automate something, you should already have it and work stably enough. Then the system will be able to identify potential dangers, manage incidents as quickly and efficiently as possible, while setting priorities and standardizing response measures.

Thanks to the use of SOAR in practice, the time for identifying threats and subsequent response to them is minimized, work processes are optimized, and the productivity of security specialists increases. That is, in practice, this system will be useful to many business representatives. Among other things, it will also help prevent false positives, without wasting specialists' time on empty work.

Advantages of using SOAR in practice

The advantages of using SOAR in a security system are largely provided by the unique capabilities of this technical solution, namely:

• providing significant assistance to information security specialists in collecting information about the general state of the system in order to optimize the solutions used;
• distribution of threats into separate classes depending on their level of complexity, potential danger and the formation of corresponding notifications, which will ultimately significantly simplify the work of specialists;
• compilation of a visual and detailed report that will significantly help information security teams identify not only the problem itself, but also trends in its occurrence;
• an informative, easy-to-use control panel that allows you to monitor the situation in real time and jointly respond to identified threats.

As you can see, SOAR also can significantly simplify the work of information security specialists, helping them to automatically identify threats and instantly respond to particularly complex and dangerous ones.

XDR as a universal solution when working in complex environments

As any company develops and grows, significant changes also occur in the IT infrastructure itself. Most of it will already include hybrid and cloud environments, complex technical solutions. And in such conditions, it will be quite difficult to do without XDR. The fact is that it can cover the maximum volume of threat management, from their detection to restoring the system's operability.

We have already mentioned above that targeted threats, especially quite complex ones, are extremely problematic to detect. Attackers hide them in isolated security systems and can easily spread across the local network simultaneously with scattered warnings. As a result, information security specialists, overloaded with work with analytical reports, may simply miss a serious threat, because they will only have disparate data at their disposal.

Modern XDR solutions are designed to eliminate this problem. Thanks to a comprehensive and all-round approach to detecting threats and responding to them, they will provide maximum visibility of the situation and are guaranteed to attract the attention of specialists. The program will collect and correlate all information about identified threats, collect advanced activity data, immediately covering multiple levels of security, including endpoints, email, cloud workloads, network, servers. By automating the analysis of a huge data set, any potential threats are identified as quickly as possible, due to which appropriate measures will be taken immediately, minimizing the success of a hacker attack.

Main features of XDR

If we talk directly about the functionality of XDR, then here it will be quite advanced. But all these solutions can be divided into 3 separate categories:

1. Ensuring comprehensive coverage of different levels of security, including the endpoint. To set up advanced detection and response, you will need to connect at least 2 levels, but ideally there should be many more, exactly as many as external points are used by your business. It turns out that the XDR system will send information about activity at all these levels to one block, called the "data lake". Thanks to this, the analysis of the relevant information will be significantly simplified. In this case, you will use software products from one developer, that is, they will be ideally balanced with each other. This eliminates the need to involve third-party suppliers. It is worth remembering its deep integration and absolute complete interaction between threat detection, investigation and response tools.
2. The implementation of a specialized neural network and expert-level security analytics in XDR. The fact that this system is capable of collecting information is only one of its capabilities. But users have highly appreciated its ability to detect threats and instantly provide a full set of information about the identified threat. And this program will be able to draw appropriate conclusions and even offer various solutions in the field of response to these threats. But here it is also worth using intelligent sensors and an analytical module from a single developer, because this significantly increases the accuracy of the upcoming work. The whole point is that suppliers select solutions that give the best results in practice in a particular case. This is largely due to their thorough knowledge of their own products.
3. Using a single integrated platform operating in automatic mode is what will provide the most complete overview of the current state, as well as its visual reflection. In particular, answers to key questions related to the attack will be collected in one place. Alternatively, information security specialists will understand how the system was infected, where the attack entry point is, who it was aimed at and who suffered in this case. It also identifies where the threat came from, how it spread across the network, and allows you to identify those devices that are at risk.

As you can see, the XDR system provides specialists with a huge range of options for viewing relevant data and analyzing it. At the same time, it is possible to optimize work processes, including through their partial automation.

The main advantages of using XDR solutions

We would like to immediately draw your attention to the fact that there are many advantages of using XDR solutions in practice, but now we would like to highlight 3 key aspects. They provide maximum security and stability of networks, their protection from external threats. In particular, we are talking about such points as:

• ensuring the most comprehensive coverage: protection will extend to all end devices, the cloud environment, remote offices, networks and more;
• integration of artificial intelligence into the product, which increases the accuracy of threat detection, provides recommendations for their elimination and automatically launches measures to combat them;
• providing specialists with a full management cycle, including automatic system recovery after threats are eliminated, which minimizes downtime.

But all these advantages of XDR, its stability and efficiency in operation are ensured by combining with SIEM and SOAR. This is what will significantly expand the functionality. As a result, you can get a solution that will be optimal, including for large businesses that need the most comprehensive and centralized protection.

We perform the correct integration of SIEM, SOAR and XDR

Despite the fact that all these 3 systems, SIEM, SOAR and XDR are designed to solve the same type of problems, their role in practice will still be different. In particular, SIEM collects and analyzes data, SOAR responds to potential threats automatically, and XDR keeps all work with incidents under full control. Thanks to this, truly reliable protection is created, capable of covering the entire life cycle of a threat.

But in any case, the efficiency of this complex will directly depend on how high-quality the products you choose are and whether you can correctly integrate them into the workflow. The following recommendations will help you cope with the latter task:

1. Conduct a comprehensive audit of your own security system. This is necessary in order to identify existing problems and assess needs. Here you need to focus on what business tasks are relevant for you and what systems exactly can be targeted by intruders.
2. Evaluate the growth prospects of your own business and, as a result, the expansion of the corporate network. You must be sure that your existing solutions can withstand the growing loads.
3. Determine the budget within which you will select a comprehensive security system, agree on all necessary expenses, if necessary.
4. Compare all the platforms offered by modern suppliers. Pay attention to their functionality, the implementation of artificial intelligence technology, evaluate compatibility and scalability.
5. Develop a project for the future phased implementation of such systems into work. You must have a clear strategy that you will follow in the future, which will minimize errors.
6. Conduct staff training. You must be sure that all employees understand the essence of the new tools and how to work with them correctly.
7. Launch the complex system into operation and monitor its effectiveness. In the future, it will be necessary to regularly update the policies, which will allow maintaining high network stability.

The work ahead is quite large-scale, but today this is one of the most effective ways to ensure high security indicators for corporate systems. And this means that this opportunity should not be neglected.

Summing up

Despite the wide variety of all the tools that the modern market offers in the field of ensuring corporate network security, in practice the best indicators can still be achieved by combining three advanced technologies that we talked about in today's review. In particular, these are SIEM, SOAR and XDR. It will be enough to choose a reliable supplier of such systems and correctly integrate this tool into the work in order to ensure the highest possible indicators of safe and stable operation, automation of many tasks.

Thanks to this, the network will be monitored in real time, all, even the slightest deviations from normal behavior will be identified, analyzed, appropriate measures will be taken to prevent serious consequences. And all this is — with minimal involvement of information security specialists.

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