Security information and event management (SIEM) is a field within computer security that combines security information management (SIM) and security event management (SEM) to enable real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. SIEM systems are central to security operations centers (SOCs), where they are employed to detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents. SIEM technology collects and aggregates data from various systems, allowing organizations to meet compliance requirements while safeguarding against threats. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) definition for SIEM tool is application that provides the ability to gather security data from information system components and present that data as actionable information via a single interface.
SIEM tools can be implemented as software, hardware, or managed services. SIEM systems log security events and generating reports to meet regulatory frameworks such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The integration of SIM and SEM within SIEM provides organizations with a centralized approach for monitoring security events and responding to threats in real-time.
First introduced by Gartner analysts Mark Nicolett and Amrit Williams in 2005, the term SIEM has evolved to incorporate advanced features such as threat intelligence and behavioral analytics, which allow SIEM solutions to manage complex cybersecurity threats, including zero-day vulnerabilities and polymorphic malware.
In recent years, SIEM has become increasingly incorporated into national cybersecurity initiatives. For instance, Executive Order 14028 signed in 2021 by U.S. President Joseph Biden mandates the use of SIEM technologies to improve incident detection and reporting in federal systems. Compliance with these mandates is further reinforced by frameworks such as NIST SP 800-92, which outlines best practices for managing computer security logs.
Modern SIEM platforms are aggregating and normalizing data not only from various Information Technology (IT) sources, but from production and manufacturing Operational Technology (OT) environments as well.
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