What is SIEM?

With data breaches popping up daily and compliance audits seemingly always around the corner, IT organizations need to be concerned about security. As organizations look to tighten up their security practices, especially regarding compliance, some may be interested in expanding their tool set. One such tool is an SIEM solution. But, what is SIEM?

What is SIEM?

SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management. SIEM solutions monitor and aggregate data regarding assets, security tools, and other network resources. With that data, a SIEM tool provides valuable information that IT admins can use to make security-minded decisions about their organizations.

Typically, SIEM solutions include:

• A data aggregator that collects info from various endpoints, applications, network equipment, infrastructure, etc.
• An analysis tool to help guide decisions and manipulate data as necessary. Many modern SIEM solutions have bolstered this functionality by using AI/machine learning
• A reporting module for displaying and storing collected data, especially for compliance purposes.

Using SIEM, organizations can gain valuable insights into the ways their employees utilize their IT resources, and make informed decisions about potential abnormalities that could constitute a security threat. Beyond that, SIEM solutions can also determine if and when an external attack might occur. As such, SIEM is often of high importance when working to achieve compliance regulations.

SIEM and Compliance

Achieving many modern compliance regulations is predicated upon the implementation of some sort of event logging. SIEM tools can cover the majority of these needs. For example, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR all require a form of SIEM in order to monitor events, address security concerns, and make decisions to prevent potential future security issues. Because compliance regulations rely upon maintaining control over an IT environment, using an SIEM solution as a watchdog and adviser helps admins keep their organizations in check.

SIEM Tooling

Although there are several full-stack SIEM solutions on the market today, IT organizations can also use several tools in conjunction to achieve similar purposes as a full SIEM tool at lower costs and quicker implementation time. One such solution is System Insights™, a new premium feature of the JumpCloud^® Directory-as-a-Service^® product.

System Insights provides IT organizations the ability to query their system fleets for valuable security information. For Windows^®, macOS^®, and Linux^®, System Insights provides system monitoring and data retention for IT organizations, including data on users, memory, performance, browser extensions, applications, and hundreds of other data points. 

JumpCloud’s System Insights can be used in tandem with other security tools to round out a robust SIEM solution. Beyond that, System Insights can be leveraged as a part of the JumpCloud Directory-as-a-Service whole, which provides comprehensive identity management to IT organizations. 

Learn More

If you are interested in bolstering your ability to keep tabs on your organization’s security, an SIEM solution will certainly provide for your needs. And, with JumpCloud’s System Insights, you can incorporate visibility with control over your users and their access to systems, applications, networks, infrastructure, and more. Learn more by contacting us or checking out our blog.