What is a Cloud SIEM? The bad, the good, and the ugly.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is software that collects security information from different sources, analyzes log data, and identifies patterns that may indicate a threat or breach. Using SIEM, the IT teams can real-time detect and respond to a wide range of threats across networks. However, traditional on-premises SIEMs are staying back and being replaced by new security focuses with better advantages.

What is a Cloud SIEM?

The emergence of cloud SIEM has been a boon for organizations that need monitoring and managing their all data, users, servers, devices, applications, and other endpoints effectively and efficiently from anywhere, at any time. All from one central cloud-based dashboard where administrators can identify and address any potential cyber security threats.

A cloud-based SIEM allows IT teams to manage threats with more flexibility, convenience, and power across multiple environments.

This SIEM, called Cloud SIEM-as-a-Service (SaaS), provides organizations with an enterprise-grade security solution without the need for on-premise costly hardware and software. Organizations can deploy a cloud SIEM in minutes without any upfront infrastructure or staff training investment. So,

What are the benefits of cloud-based SIEM vs. on-premises SIEM?

Cloud-based SIEM solutions offer several advantages over traditional SIEM on-premise solutions:

1. Cost-effective – Cloud SaaS providers offer monthly subscriptions with no upfront investments and no expensive, long-term contracts. A cloud-based SIEM delivers access to a wide range of plans so much more profitable than an on-premise SIEM. Also, as you don’t need additional capital expenditures according to hardware, software maintenance, support, and updates, this model lets you reduce the cost.
2. Flexible – Cloud-based SIEM solutions are designed to simplify implementing and maintaining the solution. As the Saas doesn’t require installation reduces the expertise level required and staff number necessary to manage it. Also, you can access the SIEM from any device and have faster custom implementations due the SaaS comes with an experts team that can configure it to your needs.
3. Scalable – As an organization grows, cloud SIEM solutions should provide all the agility and scalability to handle massive amounts of data. These SIEM providers offer high data storage capacity, more speed in data transfer rates, and much more quickly running. There can be a lengthy onboarding process when installing an on-premise SIEM solution before the system is fully operational. With the Cloud SaaS solution, deployment time is faster.
4. Update  – The Cloud SIEM removes the need to handle updates and stay on top of emerging capabilities. Therefore, the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) is charged with keeping the SIEM updated and secure.

Downsides of cloud-based SIEM

As we know, there is no such thing as a perfect SIEM solution. Cloud SIEM also comes with its own set of possible limitations, such as:

1. Sensitive data is moved off-site: Data management is always risky. An organization is always facing risks when moving sensitive data off-site, being the risks associated with data in transit are always greater than data in rest. When hiring Cloud SIEM, you should know how often the providers update their systems and integrations and what encryption practices they use for your logs. Therefore, if managed data correctly, they can mitigate the risks arising from transferring and storing data with a third party.
2. Focus on Monitoring and Reporting: Some Cloud-based SIEM providers focus on the monitoring and reporting features, forgetting the risks associated with the lack of threat management and threat remediation. You need to ensure that your provider is as dedicated to threat mitigation and remediation as you are.
3. Limited data access: Frequently, some Cloud SIEM vendors don’t give you access to your data, even though this is your data that comes from your endpoints and systems. Your provider should be reliable, giving you access to your data at any time; still, you receive reports based on the data collected from your endpoints. If your provider does not do it, preferably through a customized dashboard, it’s probably time to reconsider your service.

Today, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) have the chance of hiring SIEM tools for both compliances and tracking down and diagnosing security problems. UTMStack is an excellent on-premise and cloud-based SIEM provider. In both cases, UTMStack offers affordable, cost-effective solutions for SMBs, enabling companies to reduce TCO.

Then, what specific features do cloud-based SIEM UTMStack offer that makes it attractive?

Features of  UTMStack in the cloud

UTMStack is currently integrated with Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, SaaS, and PaaS such as Office365 and AWS Lamda.

With UTMStack, you don’t have to worry about deploying your Managed SIEM, monitoring the infrastructure, or managing compliance. You won’t have to protect your organization actively, but you will have full access to your dashboard. UTMStack’s expert team is thoroughly trained to manage SIEM, detecting and responding to any suspicious behavior that can compromise your environment.

Features of UTMStack’s Cloud-based SIEM:

• Log Management
• Dashboard Builder
• Vulnerability Scanners (Vulnerability Management)
• Identity Management
• Incident Response
• HIDS and NIDS
• Cloud Monitoring (AWS, Azure)
• Endpoint Protection compatibility
• Compliance Management (HIPAA, GPDR, ISO, SOC, and GLBA)
• Custom reports
• File Tracking and Classification
• Threat Intelligence

Choosing the right cloud SIEM provider becomes an essential arsenal for your organization to combat cyber threats. One of the most important reasons organizations should adopt this SIEM technology is because it allows them to meet security compliance standards at a cost-effective price.