SIEM and threat intelligence: Track emerging threats

Organizations confront a wide range of cybersecurity dangers as the average cost of a data breach rises to an all-time high of USD $4.45 million in 2023. These dangers might lead to data breaches and range from ransomware assaults to phishing schemes and insider threats. Businesses must employ cutting-edge security measures to safeguard their sensitive data and digital assets as hackers grow more expert and diverse in their approaches. Threat intelligence and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are two essential components of the current cybersecurity toolkit. By using these tools, companies may remain up to date on emerging risks and mount a proactive defense against enemies and possible assaults.

Understanding threat intelligence and SIEM

Solutions for Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) are essential for preserving an organization’s cybersecurity posture. They gather and examine enormous volumes of security-related data from numerous sources inside the IT architecture of a company. Real-time event log data collection, correlation, and analysis are performed on data from firewalls, antivirus software, users, endpoints, applications, data sources, cloud workloads, and networks. SIEM systems may provide a thorough overview of an organization’s security state by centralizing and linking this data.

Threat intelligence is information and analysis that contains specific knowledge about cyberthreats aimed at a particular company. It entails gathering, analyzing, and disseminating data on existing and future cybersecurity risks.

The indications of compromise (IoCs), strategies, methods, and procedures (TTPs) utilized by cybercriminals, as well as flaws in software or systems, may all be included in this data. Teams dedicated to threat intelligence continuously scan forums, dark web markets, and malware samples to provide businesses near-real-time insight into new risks. Threat intelligence may improve security teams’ detection and response capabilities, according to research by Gartner, by improving alert quality, cutting down on investigation time, and expanding coverage for the most recent attacks and adversaries. 

The interaction of threat intelligence and SIEM

Rule matching on log data from several sources is a feature of SIEM systems. SIEM systems can keep ahead of new risks and alerts by incorporating threat intelligence. Here are a few advantages of integrating threat intelligence into a SIEM platform:

1.Real-time threat detection: A SIEM solution’s capabilities are improved by including Threat Intelligence feeds. Businesses may spot trends and abnormalities that would otherwise go unreported by comparing internal data with external threat intelligence. As a result, vulnerabilities, new malware strains, or focused assaults might be discovered more quickly.

2.Defense that is proactive: Effective cybersecurity relies on threat hunting. Organizations may utilize SIEM and Threat Intelligence to find threat actors who may already be present in an environment and stop attacks before they start, as opposed to responding to threats after they have already done harm. Organizations may change their threat hunting approaches to discover and neutralize threats before they emerge by remaining educated about new tactics and weaknesses.

3.Improved incident response: The combined capability of SIEM and Threat intelligence is helpful in the event of a security problem. Threat intelligence provides information on the TTPs of the attacker and related IOCs that help speed up the investigation while SIEM systems give a timeline of the activities leading up to the breach. This supports efforts for incident response, containment, and recovery.

How can enterprises fight against contemporary dangers using a mix of QRadar SIEM and X-Force Threat Intelligence?

IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence, which is included with QRadar SIEM, leverages X-Force Exchange data that has been compiled to assist your company stay ahead of new threats and exposure from the most recent vulnerabilities. Events such as communication between endpoints and well-known malware distribution sites are detected by X-Force Threat Intelligence. Ranking new event types by risk value is made simple by integrating X-Force Threat Intelligence with QRadar.

You may create unique rules and watch lists for various risks using the information provided. Your SIEM platform can quickly identify significant and sophisticated international threats thanks to QRadar SIEM’s integration of the most recent malicious IP addresses, URLs, and malware file hashes from IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence and other threat intelligence sources. Avoid spending hours on research by staying ahead of new hazards.

Register for our upcoming webinar on September 7, 2023, “Unleash the Power of Threat Intelligence: How to Prepare and Respond Faster”, where our QRadar SIEM and X-Force Threat Intelligence experts will delve into cutting-edge trends, sophisticated techniques, and tried-and-true strategies to elevate your threat awareness and strengthen your security posture. If you want to learn more about utilizing threat intelligence to address emerging threats.

Organizations must be cautious and adaptable in their cybersecurity strategy in an environment where threats are continuously changing. Threat intelligence and SIEM solutions are essential tools that provide the required knowledge to remain on top of the game. Businesses may strengthen their defenses and safeguard their sensitive data from the constant threats of the cyber world by leveraging real-time threat detection, proactive defense capabilities, and increased incident response made possible by these technologies. Any business that takes cybersecurity seriously must now embrace SIEM and threat intelligence.

News source:IBM