SolarWinds Security Event Manager - Short Review

Product Overview: SolarWinds Security Event Manager (SEM)

SolarWinds Security Event Manager (SEM), formerly known as Log & Event Manager (LEM), is a comprehensive Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution designed to help organizations enhance their security posture, comply with regulatory requirements, and efficiently manage security events.

What SolarWinds SEM Does

SolarWinds SEM is a centralized platform that collects, aggregates, and analyzes log data from various sources, including network devices, servers, applications, and security tools. It correlates and analyzes this data to identify potential security threats and incidents, enabling organizations to prioritize and investigate these threats effectively. The system also aids in compliance management by providing centralized logging and reporting capabilities.

Key Features and Functionality

Data Collection and Management

• Log Collection: SEM gathers logs from diverse sources such as network devices, servers, applications, and security tools. It uses lightweight agents to collect system logs, event data, and security tool output from devices that cannot send logs directly. Non-agent devices can also send log data directly to SEM for normalization and processing.
• Log Parsing and Normalization: The collected data is parsed and normalized into a unified format, regardless of the original format or source, facilitating efficient analysis.

Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis

• Real-Time Event Correlation and Analysis: SEM analyzes correlated data from multiple sources in real-time to identify potential threats and suspicious activity. It integrates external threat intelligence feeds to enrich the analysis and detect emerging threats.
• Rule Engine: The system applies pre-defined and custom rules to trigger alerts and prioritize events based on severity and potential impact. Automated actions can be initiated, such as stopping processes, detaching USB devices, blocking IP addresses, logging off users, and sending emails to support teams.

Threat Detection and Response

• Threat Intelligence: SEM leverages external threat intelligence to enhance its analysis and detect emerging threats. It provides real-time alerts and automated responses to potential security threats, aiding in incident investigation and forensics.
• Security Orchestration and Automation: The platform includes features for security orchestration and automation, enabling proactive and swift responses to security incidents.

Compliance and Reporting

• Compliance Management: SEM helps organizations comply with security regulations by providing centralized logging and reporting capabilities. It offers tools for real-time visibility into security events and automates compliance tasks.

Integration and Deployment

• Integration with Other Tools: SEM can be integrated with other security tools and software, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection and prevention systems, to provide a more comprehensive security solution.
• Deployment Options: The solution is available as a virtual appliance for VMware and Hyper-V platforms, and it also supports deployment on Azure.

Additional Features

• Active Response: SEM includes active response capabilities to immediately address detected threats.
• Endpoint DLP (Data Loss Prevention): It offers features for data loss prevention at the endpoint level.
• Audit Logon Events: The system can audit logon events and other user activities.
• Cyberthreat Analysis Tool: SEM provides tools for analyzing cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

In summary, SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a robust SIEM solution that offers centralized log management, real-time threat detection, automated incident response, and compliance management. Its ability to integrate with various security tools and its flexible deployment options make it a versatile and effective solution for enhancing an organization’s security posture.