SIEM and CEF integration

Introduction

In today’s cybersecurity and IT management landscape, log forwarding is essential for maintaining system integrity, detecting threats, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Many organizations are increasingly adopting Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems to aggregate and analyze logs from various sources, providing better insights into potential threats. One of the most commonly used formats for managing event logs is the Common Event Format (CEF). This article will explore how to enhance log forwarding practices by integrating SIEM with the CEF format, while also optimizing performance, scalability, and security.

Before We Start - Four Things You Need to Know

  1. Importance of Logging

    Logging records information about events in IT systems, such as errors, user activities, and security incidents. It aids in troubleshooting, security monitoring, and regulatory compliance. Effectively managing and analyzing logs is challenging yet essential.

  2. What is SIEM?

    A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system centralizes log collection, analysis, and correlation. It allows for real-time monitoring, threat detection, and compliance reporting, providing a comprehensive view of your network’s security.

  3. Common Event Format (CEF)

    CEF standardizes log data, offering structured and consistent information for easier aggregation and analysis. Its real-time processing and extensive metadata make it perfect for SIEM systems.

Case Study - Export Acreto Logs to Splunk SIEM

Solawrind Papertrail is one of the most popular free SIEM solutions available on the web. What’s important for us is that this tool allows us to import logs in CEF, which makes it perfect for our example. This is just an example configuration—no matter what SIEM tool you use, the Acreto configuration part will be the same.

  1. Create a free account at Papertrail.
  2. Log in to your account at Papertrail Console.
  3. Click the “Add your first system” button. Logs - Add your first system button Logs - Add your first system button
  4. On the next screen, you will see a command to install the system daemon for Papertrail. All we need from this page is the URL address and port displayed at the top—remember/copy them, but don’t close this page! Logs - Add your first system button Logs - Add your first system button
  5. Log in to your Ecosystem on Wedge.
  6. In the side menu, choose Logs > Settings (1).
  7. Then, in the main part of the screen, click the +Add New (2) button to add a new destination for logs. Logs - Add logs destination Logs - Add logs destination
  8. Fill out the form with information from the Papertrail panel:
    1. Name - a name for the destination of the log
    2. Description - additional information about the log’s destination
    3. Protocol - for Papertrail, choose *Syslog (tcp+tls)
    4. Host - the host URL that you can find in the Papertrail panel
    5. Port - a port number available in the Papertrail panel. Logs - Add logs destination Logs - Add logs destination
  9. Click the Save button.
  10. Coming changes to the Ecosystem.
  11. Generate traffic at this Ecosystem to create new event logs - use a VPN connection or redirect traffic to the gateway.
  12. Return to the Papertrail panel - you should now see it has started receiving logs. Logs - Logs confirmation Logs - Logs confirmation
  13. Now, at the Papertrail panel, you can see all the logs in CEF format. Logs - Acreto logs in CEF format Logs - Acreto logs in CEF format

Conclusion

Acreto provides a seamless and efficient solution for integrating logs into SIEM tools using the Common Event Format (CEF). Acreto enhances security monitoring, threat detection, and compliance reporting by centralizing logs. Its ability to export logs in CEF format ensures compatibility with leading SIEM systems, allowing for real-time analysis and correlation of security events.

Key Benefits of Using Acreto with SIEM and CEF

  1. Standardized Log Format: Acreto’s support for CEF ensures structured and consistent event logging, making it easier to aggregate and analyze data across various platforms.
  2. Seamless SIEM Integration: Whether using Splunk, Papertrail, or any other SIEM solution, Acreto simplifies log export, requiring minimal configuration while maintaining high data integrity..
  3. Enhanced Security and Compliance: Acreto’s logging capabilities enable organizations to maintain security best practices and adhere to regulatory standards by providing real-time visibility into system events.

By leveraging Acreto’s powerful logging and SIEM integration features, organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture, enhance incident response capabilities, and gain deeper insights into their network activity.