Security information and event management (SIEM) software combines a variety of security software components into one platform. Companies use SIEM solutions to centralize security operations into a single location. IT and security operations teams can gain access to the same information and alerts for more effective communication and planning. These products provide capabilities to identify and alert IT operations teams of anomalies detected in their systems. The anomalies may be new malware, unapproved access, or newly discovered vulnerabilities. SIEM tools provide live analysis of functionality and security, storing logs and records for retrospective reporting. They also have products for identity and access management to ensure only approved parties have access to sensitive systems. Forensic analysis tools help teams navigate historical logs, identify trends, and better fortify their networks.
SIEM systems may be confused with incident response software, but SIEM products provide a larger scope of security and IT management features. Most also do not have the ability to automate security remediation practices.
To qualify for inclusion in the SIEM category, a product must:
Aggregate and store IT security data
Assist in user provisioning and governance
Identify vulnerabilities in systems and endpoints
Monitor for anomalies within an IT system