While these tools are designed to dig through copious amounts of logs and identify anomalous behavior or opportunities vulnerable to threat actors , they are slow to derive immediate context , especially in the event of a security breach where response times are critical . When building a trusted end-to-end security offering , it is vital to understand how logging tools work , their benefits , and their limitations so you can make an informed decision on how to better secure your IT environment .
Cannot Provide Real-Time Response
During a security event , cutting down on response times is crucial to safeguarding sensitive data . To do so , MSPs need a proactive and agile approach to real-time response . While many logging platforms are good for defending against known threats within fixed parameters , their rule-based approach may not translate well to advanced threat response . Since they are built to alert on potential threats after locating evidence within aggregated data logs , their reactive models can lack the context needed to provide actionable data right away . If you are unable to pinpoint anomalies in real time , you will not be able to make timely decisions on how to tackle critical events . Real-time logging is a start to collecting valuable information and ensuring visibility across an IT environment , but the true value is in real-time data interpretation allowing for immediate action .
Requires Expert Configuration And Manual Upkeep
Logging tools need to be configured specifically to meet an MSP ’ s business needs and its unique threat landscape . Many logging tools require management from a dedicated team to parse logs and reports , update rules , respond to alerts , and keep the software updated . Much of this work is manual , which can be a significant hit to efficiency levels . And consider this : The configuration will need to be reviewed often to ensure that the platform augments data analysis rather than hindering it . If it is not regularly calibrated to monitor evolving types of networks , it cannot keep up with logging dynamically changing data .
Managing Data Collection , Analysis , And Search
The effectiveness of logging tools is based on both the quality and amount of data they logs . It is easy to overload your systems with huge volumes of data sources , creating noise and alert fatigue . If a team is busy responding to an unfiltered stream of alerts , they may miss the ones that are critical in identifying bad actors . The team would also need to perform manual parsing , filtering , and consistent re-evaluation for validity . Furthermore , many logging tools operate under the use case scenarios that you implement . There is simply no way to categorize incoming data into a simple binary of “ malicious ” or “ safe .”
In the long term , the key takeaway is to understand that traditional logging platforms and tools are designed to log thousands of events daily . As you store these ongoing logs , it can be overwhelming to keep data organized enough to ensure efficient search capability . The more information that you must interpret , the more inefficient it is to derive real meaning from the data .
HOW TO ENHANCE LOGGING WITH MDR
Combining both data logging and advanced tradecraft detection technologies means that you can monitor your account activity and behavior in real time — a critical factor in staying ahead of threat actors . A 24 / 7 , active threat hunting-and-response service provided by experienced analysts can detect reconnaissance activities at their earliest stages . With logging , monitoring , detection , and response executed in tandem , managed detection response ( MDR ) analysts have unparalleled visibility into hacker tradecraft , lateral spread , and remote privileged activity .
While traditional logging tools such as SIEM and LMS are not effective for real-time threat detection and response , they are an excellent means of discovering raw data and meeting compliance expectations . Their strength lies in housing the substantial amounts of data needed to aid in investigative efforts and audits . Also , they are valuable in helping organizations build monitoring controls and improving threat profiles based on logged evidence of suspicious behavior .
To create a more robust security solution and ensure full threat visibility , place the power of log aggregation with an MDR platform . MDRs are designed to provide real-time response across your IT environment , proactively threat hunt for evidence of advanced malware , and identify key indicators of compromise . Experienced analysts can sift through complex security logs , collecting the threat intelligence needed to actively search networks , then detect and detain threats that evade antivirus or anti-malware solutions . Implementing an MDR solution allows the data to be quickly parsed for patterns and correlations that may not have otherwise been recognized .
In the hands of an experienced MDR team , real-time comprehension , threat hunting , and response can enhance the value of security logs and telemetry collected from your network processes , devices , and systems . Maximize the power of log collection by pairing it with active threat hunting and immediate response provided by an MDR . MDR analysts can leverage the raw data logs to help MSPs stay ahead of cyberthreats . Rather than overwhelm your teams and systems with complex data logging platforms , extensive data logs , and alerts , an MDR team would be able to pinpoint indicators of threat in the data quickly so you can fight back against threats within minutes and hours , not days and weeks .
About Blackpoint Cyber
Eliminate cyberthreats before they take root in your network . Visit BlackpointCyber . com to learn more .
MSPSUCCESS . COM | 17