Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Simple Definition for Beginners:

SIEM is a security technology that combines log management and security event correlation to provide real-time monitoring, threat detection, and incident response capabilities.

Common Use Example:

An organization deploys a SIEM solution to centralize security logs from various systems, analyze security events for anomalies, and generate alerts for suspicious activities, enhancing overall cybersecurity posture.

Technical Definition for Professionals:

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a cybersecurity technology that enables organizations to collect, store, analyze, and correlate security-related data from across their IT infrastructure in real time. SIEM solutions aggregate logs and security event data from network devices, servers, applications, and other sources to provide centralized visibility into security incidents, threats, and vulnerabilities. Key functionalities of SIEM include log management, event correlation, threat detection, incident response, compliance reporting, and security analytics. SIEM systems use rule-based engines, machine learning algorithms, and behavioral analytics to identify abnormal or malicious activities, generate alerts, and facilitate rapid incident response and forensic investigation. SIEM helps organizations improve threat detection, monitoring, and regulatory compliance while enhancing overall security operations.