How Log Management Can Help You Protect Your Systems

Log management is an essential tool in the battle against cyber-crime. It might not be as glamorous as anti-malware software, or the use of honeypots, but it can be the single most important way of preventing a potential hack. It is effectively the gathering of information from your systems. Every PC and server you use will keep an audit of its activity, which gives you valuable insight into the behaviours of its users. You are able to track exactly who logged in at any given time, and where exactly they were accessing.

It is surprising how many bigger organisations are either oblivious to log management, or simply disregard their importance. The quantity of data that is wasted by these companies is staggering. What is more interesting though is that many of these firms will have a requirement to gather the information their logs impart as part of their compliance. This means that they have the data already acquired but fail to use it to their advantage. This is a terrible waste.

As well as alerting to potential breaches in security, log management can also highlight where power supply issues have arisen from, or why a particular system is performing badly. The data gathered can be turned into detailed reports for senior managers to assess, which in turn can lead to an organisation targeting the issues that are causing the problems and dealing with them directly at the source.

To individuals who value data, a log management entry reads as the story of a system. If regularly reviewed, the logs are able to warn of potential failures that might occur or alert you to the beginnings of a system hack. Written into the code will be the evidence of multiple failed logins for example or indications that an infection has occurred. For organisations that work across multiple systems, the logs read together can provide a map that highlights areas under persistent attack.

Even your Wi-Fi router will create logs, which offers the full picture of exactly which devices have connected to your network. This is, of course, useful for companies, but even more so domestically. Is there someone piggybacking on your connection? Are they draining your data usage, or worse viewing explicit websites that will show up as having come through your network?

To some, the thought of analysing and monitoring log management data is either confusing or tedious. Luckily, there are tools available to help simplify the process even further, so that you are able to integrate the practice more seamlessly into your company.

nSIEM – Data Protection Audit and Event Management

The first is nSIEM. This is a managed service that we offer at Digital Pathways which allows us to monitor logs on your behalf. By acting remotely, we can analyse and report on events as they happen. This helps you to reduce incidents of downtime, increase response time on serious breaches and increase the performance of your network. Click here to find out more

Assuria – Log Management

Assuria is a tool businesses are able to utilise in-house. Simple to install, Assuria focusses on delivering security, optimisation, compliance, auditing and monitoring features. The software itself is used by government, defence and financial service organisations across the globe, thanks to the fact that as well as meeting regulatory requirements, it also offers unparalleled intrusion protection and prevention. Click here to find out more

So, if you aren’t regularly monitoring your log data, then why not? It could be your single most valuable tool when it comes to battling against potential hackers and reducing the issues surrounding your systems. If you would like to know more about the services we offer, or about how log management could work for your business, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.