The number of businesses and organisations adopting cloud-based Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems is on the rise every passing year. A recent market research report predicts that the cloud-based SIEM market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15% between 2020 and 2025.
The estimated market size of cloud-based SIEM was around USD 4.75 billion in 2020, and it is expected to reach USD 9.78 billion by 2026. The transition to cloud-based SIEM solutions by businesses is driven by the numerous benefits it offers compared to traditional solutions. In this article, we will explore the basics of cloud-based SIEM and the advantages it provides over traditional SIEM solutions.
What is a cloud-based SIEM?
A cloud-based SIEM refers to a security tool that uses cloud computing tools to collect, store, and analyse security-related data from various sources, including network devices, servers, applications, and endpoints. The data collected by these tools is used to identify potential security threats in an organisation’s IT infrastructure.
With cloud-based SIEM systems, all data collection, storage, and analysis are performed in the cloud rather than on-premise servers and data centers. That means the computing resources required to support and run the SIEM system are provided by the cloud-service provider.
The goal of cloud-based SIEMs is to help organisations improve their cyber security by providing real-time visibility into their security infrastructure, detecting and responding to potential security threats, and complying with industry regulations and standards.
Some of the popular SIEM platforms include the following;
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Security Hub
- Microsoft Azure Sentinel
- Google Cloud Security Command Center
- Splunk Cloud
- LogRhythm Cloud AI-Driven SIEM
- McAfee MVISION Cloud SIEM
- Sumo Logic
- Proofpoint Cloud SIEM
- Rapid7 InsightIDR
- IBM QRadar on Cloud
The choice of which cloud-based SIEM to use in your organisation largely depends on your infrastructure size, security budget, and the ecosystem you’re already into. It is also best to choose a platform your cybersecurity team is already conversant with or one they can easily adopt.
Benefits of cloud-based SIEMs
1. Scalability and rapid deployment
Cloud-based SIEMs can handle large amounts of data, making it easier to scale your security infrastructure as needed. Scaling your security system with the traditional SIEMs may require investing in more advanced computing hardware and software, which can be very costly and time-consuming.
With SaaS SIEM models, you simply need to upgrade to a more advanced plan whenever you scale up your security infrastructure. The lack of hardware limitations will also encourage your security team to test and implement new ideas much faster. In the long run, this flexibility will allow your team to implement more robust security solutions for your IT infrastructure.
It should also be noted that service providers of SIEM solutions also offer pay-as-you-go plans where users are charged per GB-ingested. If you are not so sure of how much data you want the cloud-based SIEM system to ingest per day, consider going for the pay-as-you-go plans. You can later decide the data size you want to ingest per day after looking at the trends over time.
2. Reduced costs
Like all cloud-based solutions, cloud-based SIEMs typically have lower upfront costs, as you do not need to invest in hardware or software licenses. After subscribing to a cloud-based SIEM service, all the hardware and software requirements you need are taken care of by the service provider.
As we shared earlier, organisations have the option to pay for the resources they need at any given moment, thanks to the pay-as-you-go plans. This allows organizations to only spend money on the resources they use within a given period. Utilizing this option alone can save an organisation several dollars every month.
Running a SIEM system locally is more costly since it requires having an experienced team on the ground and investing in expensive hardware and software solutions. Some small businesses and startups may not be in a position to meet the upfront costs to deploy the hardware and software required to effectively run SIEMs.
3. Accessibility
Cloud-based SIEM systems allow users to access their SIEM data from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. This makes it easier to manage their security infrastructure remotely. With remote monitoring, the cybersecurity team will have access to real-time updates regarding the state of security of the organisation’s IT infrastructure.
Remote monitoring comes in handy for organisations running multiple offices and remote workers. It also gives startups and small businesses the freedom to hire cybersecurity experts from all over the world since all configurations can be done remotely.
4. Improved efficiency and effectiveness
Cloud-based SIEMs are typically managed by experienced security professionals (put in place by the SIEM service provider). These professionals are responsible for maintaining the platform and providing support to customers. Ultimately, this can lead to more efficient and effective security operations, as organisations do not need to hire in-house security experts.
Hiring such professionals would be almost impossible for most small businesses and startups, mainly because of their high remuneration requirements. It should also be noted that cloud-based systems are much more intuitive and easier to use, saving your security several hours every day. This allows them to focus on other security tasks of your organization, boosting their overall productivity.
5. Enhanced security
Since all the hardware and software resources running SIEM cloud-based systems are hosted in the cloud, organisations don’t have to worry much about their security. Cloud-based SIEMs are housed in secure data centers, which reduces the risk of theft or loss of data, and provides access to state-of-the-art security features.
Cloud-based SIEMs also save help organisations save on security costs, making them an ideal option for small businesses and startups. Implementing the security measures used by platforms like Microsoft Azure Sentinel or Amazon Web Services (AWS) Security Hub would be very costly for even large enterprises. SIEM solutions providers invest millions of dollars annually to ensure the security of their systems is tight at all times.
6. Job satisfaction for cybersecurity teams
Cloud-based SIEM platforms offer advanced security features that make the job of cyber security teams easier and more interesting. These platforms also release new features and capabilities more frequently than locally-hosted SIEM systems, with updates focused on enhancing the user experience for cyber security teams.
Ensuring the success of an organisation depends heavily on its security team, making it crucial to prioritise providing them with the tools they need. Giving the cutting-edge technologies they need is one of the ways to motivate your security team.
7. Automation
Many cloud-based SIEMs include cutting-edge built-in automation features that can help you streamline security operations and reduce the risk of human error. Thanks to automation, tasks previously performed by humans can now be automated, freeing up your cyber security personnel to focus on other critical tasks that require human judgment and decision-making.
Some come tasks that can be automated with cloud-based SIEMs include the following;
- Sorting alerts: Cloud-based SIEMs can automatically sort alerts, prioritising the most critical ones that need immediate attention from the cyber security team.
- Incident response: These systems can also automate responses for common security incidents in organisations. For instance, an alert for a potential security breach can trigger an automated response that includes steps to deal with it. Availing this information to the relevant stakeholders can help minimise the damage of security attacks.
- Compliance reporting: Cloud-based SIEMs can automatically create and send compliance reports to the relevant stakeholders. This simplifies the process of meeting regulatory requirements, as the SIEM can automatically collect, analyse, and report on security-related data to meet specific compliance requirements.
- Threat hunting: You can also use cloud-based SIEMs to automate the threat-hunting process for common security threats. Most modern cloud-based SIEMs use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to identify potential threats and alert security personnel in real time. This also minimised the potential damage that could be caused by certain security threats.
8. Lower barrier to entry
Many on-premise SIEM solutions have a lot of complexities and could only be operated by well-trained and experienced cybersecurity experts. The cost of deploying such solutions is also pretty high when compared to cloud-based SIEMs. This makes on-premise SIEMs out of reach for small businesses and startups that don’t have the capacity to invest in hardware, software, and experienced cybersecurity professionals.
9. Integration
Another underrated benefit of cloud-based SIEMs is their ability to integrate with other cloud-based tools you may need to effectively manage your security infrastructure. However, the integrations of the different cloud-based SIEM services vary depending on the provider. So, if there is a particular integration you care about, make sure the cloud-based SIEM provider you choose has it.
Final thoughts
Cloud-based SIEMs have made it possible for organisations to quickly deploy and monitor complex security infrastructure without incurring significant expenses. The use of cloud-based SIEMs leads to a more cost-effective, scalable, accessible, and efficient management of an organisation’s security infrastructure. These systems offer a much better and more sustainable solution for monitoring the security infrastructure of organisations.
If you are considering investing in cloud SIEMs, check out our managed Azure sentinel solution. Our team will take care of your security infrastructure’s real-time monitoring.
