Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, Digital Transformation Strategy (145-slide PowerPoint presentation). Digital Transformation is being embraced by organizations across most industries, as the role of technology shifts from being a business enabler to a business driver. This has only been accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Thus, to remain competitive and outcompete in today's fast paced, [read more]
How SIEM Tools Empower Business Security and Efficiency
Also, if you are interested in becoming an expert on Digital Transformation, take a look at Flevy's Digital Transformation Frameworks offering here. This is a curated collection of best practice frameworks based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. By learning and applying these concepts, you can you stay ahead of the curve. Full details here.
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In today’s high-stakes business landscape, a data breach isn’t a mere technical glitch – it’s a headline. One that will put your company’s good name and the trust of your customers on the line.
That’s why businesses nowadays can’t feel safe without an unyielding cybersecurity strategy designed to deal with such situations. SIEM tools (Security Information and Event Management) flag anomalies and offer an integrated approach to managing security alerts, so they can be a great asset for any business’s protection.
In today’s piece, we’ll quickly examine SIEM tools, how they can help your business, and how to turn them into powerful business allies.
What Are SIEM Tools and How Do They Work?
With a 20% increase in reported data breaches just this past year, businesses must be aware of the emerging risks that threaten their operations.
According to Comparitech “SIEM is a broad term for security software packages ranging from Log Management Systems to Security Log / Event Management, Security Information Management, and Security Event correlation. More often than not these features are combined for a 360-degree view.”
SIEM tools serve as centralized hubs for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity issues. Their main function is to sift through the noise of your business operations and identify patterns that signify potential security incidents before anything happens.
For this, the platform needs access to your company’s systems. To perform its task, it needs to collect and correlate information from various sources, like endpoint devices, servers, firewalls, and antivirus systems, to paint a picture of your organization’s cybersecurity posture at any given moment.
When used properly, an SIEM tool turns vast amounts of disparate data points into an easy-to-understand security story, which allows your IT teams to better discern between routine anomalies and serious threats.
How to Choose the Right SIEM Tool for Your Business
The best way to select such a platform is by comparing the features of the most expert-recommended SIEM tools on the market against your company’s unique demands.
Here are a few critical factors to consider:
- Scalability: Can the SIEM grow with your business? You need a tool that adapts as you expand and handles increased data without hiccups.
- Real-Time Analysis: Fast-paced threats require real-time responses. Ensure the tool can keep pace with live monitoring and instant alerts.
- Integration Capability: The right SIEM should dovetail seamlessly with your existing security measures and systems, creating a cohesive defense network.
- Compliance Assurance: If your business is subject to industry regulations, verify that the SIEM helps uphold those standards, not complicate them.
Best Practices when Implementing a New SIEM Tool
New tools, especially of this level of complexity can be confusing even for seasoned professionals. This is why it’s important to make a progressive implementation so everyone in your team can adjust.
Start by training IT staff on how to leverage the new system for maximum impact. This may require external assistance from your SIEM provider. Next, establish clear success metrics from day one. Delineate what “effective” looks like in terms of response times and issue resolution rates for this specific apparatus.
Lastly, don’t “set and forget” your SIEM system – schedule regular reviews of its performance, tweaking as necessary to optimize efficiency and accuracy. This is similar to a living, breathing system that needs your attention and love to grow.
How SIEM Strengthens Business Defenses
Nearly 7 out of 10 businesses faced some form of cyber incident last year alone. Also, 46% of all data breaches impact small and medium-sized businesses. Therefore, integrating a strong SIEM system can help you avoid becoming part of that statistic and move closer to safe operations and peace-of-mind productivity.
Here’s how:
- Smarter security – SIEM systems make sense of complex data patterns to prevent hacks before they happen.
- Smarter security – Like piecing together a puzzle, SIEM helps you connect different security events to identify a potential cyber attack, even if the individual pieces don’t look dangerous on their own.
- Smarter security – Instead of monitoring each part of your business separately – for example, your emails, customer databases, and employee activity – SIEM combines everything into a single screen for easy supervision.
- Time-saving technology – Responding to false alarms can be exhausting. SIEM smartly filters out the noise, which means your team spends less time chasing ghosts and more time on important tasks.
- Better use of resources – With basic threat-hunting duties managed by SIEM tools, your IT experts can focus on strengthening security measures or developing new strategies that help your business grow securely.
While cultivating a culture of information security in your company is also important, you need to do more to ensure your business’s safety.
Key Takeaway: Invest in Proactive Security
Let’s face it: in today’s world, the safety of your company’s data can make or break your success. Having strong and quick-acting security measures isn’t just smart; it’s essential for keeping everything you’ve worked so hard to build fully secure.
Getting the right SIEM tool on board is about more than dodging digital bullets. It’s an investment in your business’s smooth sailing into the future. This system not only fights off trouble – it gives you a clear view ahead, informing smarter decisions that contribute to your company’s growth and resilience.
Want to Achieve Excellence in Digital Transformation?
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Digital Transformation is being embraced by organizations of all sizes across most industries. In the Digital Age today, technology creates new opportunities and fundamentally transforms businesses in all aspects—operations, business models, strategies. It not only enables the business, but also drives its growth and can be a source of Competitive Advantage.
For many industries, COVID-19 has accelerated the timeline for Digital Transformation Programs by multiple years. Digital Transformation has become a necessity. Now, to survive in the Low Touch Economy—characterized by social distancing and a minimization of in-person activities—organizations must go digital. This includes offering digital solutions for both employees (e.g. Remote Work, Virtual Teams, Enterprise Cloud, etc.) and customers (e.g. E-commerce, Social Media, Mobile Apps, etc.).
Learn about our Digital Transformation Best Practice Frameworks here.
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About Shane Avron
Shane Avron is a freelance writer, specializing in business, general management, enterprise software, and digital technologies. In addition to Flevy, Shane's articles have appeared in Huffington Post, Forbes Magazine, among other business journals.Top 10 Recommended Documents on Cyber Security
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