• Home
• Topics
• Enterprise Network Security
• Network Intrusion Detection and Analysis
• Monitoring Network Traffic and Network Forensics
• How to check for attack data on network logs without SIMs

How to check for attack data on network logs without SIMs

Requires Free Membership to View

Login



SearchSecurity.com members gain immediate and unlimited access to breaking industry news, virus alerts, new hacker threats, highly focused security newsletters, and more -- all at no cost. Join me on SearchSecurity.com today!

Michael S. Mimoso, Editorial Director

• E-mail Address: 

By submitting your registration information to SearchSecurity.com you agree to receive email communications from TechTarget and TechTarget partners. We encourage you to read our Privacy Policy which contains important disclosures about how we collect and use your registration and other information. If you reside outside of the United States, by submitting this registration information you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Your use of SearchSecurity.com is governed by our Terms of Use. You may contact us at webmaster@TechTarget.com.

Network logs are a treasure trove of security data. It's true that security information and event management (SIM or SIEM) systems provide an easy and effective way to analyze logs, but they also come with a price tag. Fortunately, there are ways you can detect network attacks without purchasing a SIM. Here are some examples:

• Use an intrusion detection system. IDSes provide the most reliable, time-tested way to search for signs of intrusion on an enterprise network. If the organization doesn't have the budget to purchase a commercial IDS, consider using a free product like Snort.
• Mine network logs. As you point out, it's impossible to spend an eternity staring at log data. You'll go cross-eyed before you make any sense of it. However, scripts can be written to do the heavy lifting. This approach will require knowledge of a programming language as well as a good idea of what types of events are of interest to you. For example, you might write a Perl script that searches the network logs for signs of an unauthorized IP address appearing on a restricted network.
• Watch for anomalies. You can also use software (home-brewed or commercial) that learns the patterns of normal behavior on your network and alerts you to deviations. For an example of this approach, read my paper Authentication Anomaly Detection: A Case Study on a Virtual Private Network.

If your budget can swing it, I'd strongly recommend the purchase of a commercial SIM product, as it will save hours of work, but it is indeed possible to cobble together a similar solution with tools such as those described above.

For more information:

• Find out more about mining enterprise SIM logs for relevant security data.
• What reporting tools are available for an enterprise IDS? Read more.

Dig Deeper

This was first published in March 2009

More from Related TechTarget Sites

• Security Channel
• Cloud Security
• SMB Security
• Financial Security
• Security UK
• Security AU
• Security IN

• Security Channel

  • Survey results: VARs report customers’ IT spending 2012 expectations

    VARs expect customers to increase spending on security more than any other IT area in 2012. See which security segments will grow the most.

  • Create a computer security blog to attract and retain customers

    Blogging can produce new leads for security solution providers. Focus on content in your computer security blog that connects with customers.

  • Penetration testing tutorial: Guidance for effective pen tests

    This penetration testing tutorial contains essential tips to help solution providers uncover vulnerabilities in clients’ networks.

• Cloud Security

  • SaaS security: Weighing SaaS encryption options

    A look at SaaS encryption techniques and challenges.

  • Panel debates cloud computing governance issues

    Problems with data governance in the cloud aren’t much different than traditional outsourcing.

  • The proposed EU data protection regulation and its impact on cloud users

    Cloud customers and cloud providers would face stricter data security requirements under draft European regulation.

• searchMidmarketSecurity

  • Windows Phone 7 security: Assessing WP7 security features

    Windows Phone 7 security features are proving to be a mixed bag. Sam Cattle assesses the enterprise security pros and cons of the latest Windows mobile platform.

  • Choosing the best security certifications for your career

    Whether starting your career or planning your next step as an IT security professional, this tip will guide you toward the best certifications for your interests and experience.

  • Midmarket security tutorials

    SearchMidmarketSecurity.com’s tutorials offer IT professionals in-depth lessons and technical advice on the hottest topics in the midmarket IT security industry. Through our tutorials we seek to provide site members with the foundational knowledge needed to deal with the increasingly challenging job of keeping their organizations secure.

• searchFinancialSecurity

  • Web application threats: What you really need to know

    In this special presentation, Mike Rothman details today's top Web application threats and pragmatic methods to integrate security into the Web application development process.

  • Ramnit worm variant now dangerous banking malware

    The Ramnit worm now supports man-in-the-middle attacks, giving cybercriminals the ability to drain a victim’s bank account.

  • SIEM vendors make the case for extending SIEM product capabilities

    Advanced features can reduce the threat of wire fraud. New rule sets can be shared among banks and credit unions.

• Security UK

  • Survey: Types of DDoS attacks on the rise due to hacktivist groups

    New DDoS statistics suggest hactivist groups are to blame for an increase in the number and types of DDoS attacks across the Internet.

  • Web application vulnerability statistics show security losing ground

    New Web application vulnerability statistics show the number of vulnerabilities is rising, despite the use of Web application development frameworks.

  • Microsoft spurs Browsium to rewrite tool for running IE6 on Windows 7

    Microsoft has spurred Browsium to rewrite its tool for running IE6 on Windows 7, limiting the security threat posed by continued use of IE6.

• searchSecurityAU

  • AISA launches new website

    With a reinvigorated look and feel, improved back-end infrastructure, and regularly updated information about the association the Australian Information Security Association website has been re-launched for the benefit of its members and the Australian IT Security industry.

  • Cisco hardening guides for IOS, IOS-XR and NX-OS devices

    Patching routing and switching infrastructure in any organisation is often delayed, sometimes due to the potential impact on production systems and sometimes because the IT resources are simply too busy fighting fires.

  • Cloud providers and data sovereignty issues

    Australian cloud provider Ninefold warn that understanding who has legal access to company and personal private data is not as simple as checking a box and selecting the 'in-country' option.

• Information Security

  • IDFC’s information security awareness week tastes success with ‘Mr Gobo’

    Financial major IDFC set out to craft its information security awareness initiative with a portal that led users via a ‘Mafia don’s den’. Step in for more.

  • Longstanding security problems plague enterprises, Trustwave finds

    While organizations focus on mobile security and other emerging threats, an analysis of more than 2,000 penetration tests conducted by Trustwave found older threats often overlooked.

  • Backtrack 5 PDF tutorial compendium: A pen-tester’s ready reckoner

    Our BackTrack 5 PDF tutorials collection will help you hone your edge, whether you are a security professional or an enthusiast. Best yet, they are free!

• About us
• Contact us
• Site index
• Privacy policy
• Advertisers
• Business partners
• Events
• Media kit
• TechTarget corporate site
• Reprints
• Site map