What is our primary use case?
We use Splunk Enterprise Security as the main SIEM system for our operation center. We use it for monitoring detection, and alert management.
We implemented Splunk Enterprise Security to help detect attacks on our network.
How has it helped my organization?
Splunk Enterprise Security is highly flexible, allowing us to create whatever we desire. This exemplifies its inherent power. The visibility it offers is notably robust. We can craft it to our needs and even utilize various frameworks within Splunk, prepackaged for security purposes. We possess distinct applications hosting diverse dashboards, catering to numerous security products, including those from different vendors.
The effectiveness of Splunk Enterprise Security insider threat detection capabilities, aimed at identifying unfamiliar threats, relies on whether we establish alerts based on the rules we formulate. If we construct rules incorporating user behavior criteria, the system functions optimally. It appears that there is an Extended User and Entity Behavior Analytics add-on available, which requires a separate license in addition to the enterprise security license. This add-on utilizes machine learning and encompasses multiple developed use cases. While it has limitations, it effectively serves the specific use cases it is designed for.
The threat intelligence framework within Splunk is also highly potent. We can ingest, link, and integrate external data feeds. Concerning IOCs, there are numerous pre-configured alerts within the system that rely on a feed of undesirable IPs. If one of these IPs triggers any of the alerts, such as those generated by our firewall's traffic logs, and the IP matches the bad IPs in the threat intelligence feed, the system correlates this information. If the flagged IP is detected within our network or appears in our firewall logs, an automatic alert is generated. We simply need to ingest the external feed. Subsequently, if the system identifies the IP anywhere, we will receive corresponding alerts.
I appreciate the new MITRE ATT&CK feature. I believe it's a valuable addition and reasonably priced. It seems the feature has been largely developed through marketing efforts, utilizing the capabilities of Splunk to display the MITRE ATT&CK map and the associated rules. This is important since MITRE ATT&CK encompasses over a hundred techniques. It presents the information to us based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework to illustrate ongoing activities. However, achieving a comprehensive understanding of each technique within the MITRE ATT&CK framework requires significant effort and adjustments.
Splunk Enterprise Security has enhanced our organization by offering increased visibility. If any adverse incidents occur, we are promptly informed. Even without configuring the custom rules, Splunk provides effective out-of-the-box rules that help prevent attacks. Consequently, it effectively halts these attacks. In fact, we have been able to detect and thwart potential attacks in their initial stages. This exemplifies the benefits it provides us.
Splunk Enterprise Security has helped to speed up our security investigations. We are now able to complete our investigations within three or four days.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features include agility and Splunk Enterprise Security's ability to quickly search for alerted items, as well as the capacity to create custom alerts using the SQL language employed by Splunk. This makes it a highly potent and versatile solution tailored to both user and company needs.
What needs improvement?
Splunk could enhance its services by providing more comprehensive professional assistance aimed at optimizing our investment. This aspect seems lacking as our expenses increase with higher data connectivity, seemingly without much consideration, as this translates to increased revenue for them. The challenge lies in the fact that we don't always require all the amassed data. Oftentimes, clients are uncertain about their actual data needs. Therefore, if Splunk integrated a service dedicated to system optimization and pricing, focusing on essential monitoring data while eliminating less crucial elements, it could potentially lead to cost savings for the customers. This strategic move would demonstrate their commitment to customers beyond just financial gain. It would highlight their genuine intention to provide support, streamline operations, and maximize the potential of this technology for individuals and their respective companies.
Splunk provides automation for large-scale environments where numerous servers are present. Consequently, efficient management of these servers becomes imperative. Currently, our management server operates using a top-down approach. This involves establishing connections from the main management server to every individual leaf and subsequently, to each lower-level server.
However, this architecture lacks inherent security measures. In the current setup, Splunk employs multiple collectors to gather data. Subsequently, this data is relayed upward, filtered, and then once again transmitted to the main management server. Notably, data traffic consistently flows from external sources toward the central management hub. This design enhances security, as even if a hacker were to compromise or gain control of the management server, their influence would be limited. The data originates externally and travels inwards, preventing unauthorized access to the entire system.
In contrast, the proposed approach for managing extensive infrastructures situates the management hub at the core. This central position allows us to establish connections from the hub to the various peripheral components, even if they are located on a secure network. However, this configuration carries significant risks. A security breach at the central hub could potentially grant an attacker elevated permissions. This would enable them to compromise the entire network by gaining access to all Splunk nodes within the company. This architecture is vulnerable and has room for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Splunk Enterprise Security for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate Splunk Enterprise Security's stability a seven out of ten. This is because the system lacks built-in protection against certain issues. It alerts us when there are problems in the system, which we then need to address. However, these issues are not always easily fixable, setting it apart from other systems. For instance, sometimes the system slows down while we're working. This can occur when a new alert is implemented, leading to high resource usage and system instability. We are then required to identify and rectify the specific cause of this problem. This might involve disabling or adjusting the alert to ensure it doesn't negatively impact the system's performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Splunk Enterprise Security's ability to scale is good. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, I used QRadar, McAfee, and ArcSight. However, Splunk Enterprise Security is a more modern solution. While ArcSight from HP is powerful, it is an older system with limited flexibility and complex architecture. Many companies implemented SIEM systems before Splunk became available. It seems that most large companies might still be using ArcSight, but other competitors have entered the market since then.
McAfee attempted to develop a similar system, but it lacked scalability and was better suited for small businesses rather than larger enterprises. QRadar, on the other hand, remains robust, but it lacks Splunk's flexibility. One of Splunk's notable advantages is its ability to generate alerts and then allow users to enter searches and queries to investigate network activities and log data. This process, known as threat hunting, enables users to conduct specific searches, such as identifying individuals who accessed a particular system and the internet between four and five o'clock on a Friday. Splunk promptly provides the desired results, typically within a few minutes, making it a strong choice for this purpose. Additionally, Splunk Enterprise Security features a highly effective filtering mechanism.
How was the initial setup?
I participated in the planning and implementation of Splunk Enterprise Security, as well as the creation of all rulesets and alerts. I am also configuring it to align with our technical framework.
Individuals who market Splunk Enterprise Security often claim that it can be deployed within half a day, which is quite amusing. While it is conceivable to perform the installation in that timeframe, the real complexity arises when we must establish connections with numerous systems. This involves accessing each system external to our main setup, configuring it, and directing the system to send its logs to Splunk. On the Splunk side, we encounter the need to create parsing mechanisms that allow proper data reading. This entails installing applications capable of correctly parsing the data, and addressing issues where parsing is inadequate. We then proceed to work with the data. Although Splunk provides some pre-configured rules, we also need to develop our own rules to identify specific events and potential attacks. The process of rule creation demands a substantial investment in writing rule sets. Additionally, integrating a threat intelligence framework becomes essential. We aspire to leverage the micro-framework we have established. Splunk Enterprise Security undeniably possesses considerable capabilities. Nevertheless, it necessitates continuous effort to unlock its full potential and achieve ongoing enhancements.
The solution's complete implementation may require up to one year. Throughout most of the deployment, we had a team of two members, occasionally expanding to three.
What about the implementation team?
For the implementation, we used two integrators and Splunk Professional Services.
What was our ROI?
Considering the fact that Splunk Enterprise Security aids in thwarting attackers from gaining access to our environment, I would correlate this with a return on investment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Splunk Enterprise Security's pricing is high. Larger companies may afford it, but I believe that in the current market situation, where everyone is facing challenges, financial resources are tight. Even stock market tech companies are embracing cost-saving measures. Expenses are now more constrained compared to a few years ago when companies had greater spending capacity. Companies are reluctant to make hefty payments. While Splunk is cheaper than Microsoft Sentinel, QRadar is priced at half the cost of Splunk.
Splunk Enterprise Security's licensing is typically determined by the data throughput we handle. Additionally, they offer an alternative pricing model which involves payment based on CPU usage. This newer model was introduced as a response to Elastic Security. However, Splunk enforces licensing in either scenario.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Splunk Enterprise Security a nine out of ten.
We do not monitor the cloud environments with Splunk. While we have several cloud environments, we avoid using Splunk for this purpose due to its high cost. To utilize Splunk, it would be necessary to place the Splunk engine in the cloud and gather all the logs from various cloud sources, resulting in substantial expenses due to the large volume of logs. As a result, our primary usage of Splunk is on-premise. Instead, we employ different systems to monitor the cloud, generating alerts through various security mechanisms. These alerts are then processed in Splunk, reducing both data traffic and costs.
Splunk Enterprise Security's capabilities to analyze malicious activities and detect breaches are similar to those of other systems. Its effectiveness depends on the rules we develop within it. To truly maximize its value and tailor it to the organization's needs, a significant amount of additional work and utilization of professional services are required.
The reduction of the alert volume presents a challenge due to the X number of personnel in the security alert center. They can effectively handle only Y alerts per day without experiencing fatigue. When the volume surpasses this limit, they tend to merely open and close alerts without thorough investigation. It's as if they've become weary of the process. Therefore, we must determine the optimal number of alerts per day and adjust the rules accordingly. The primary objective is to achieve a statistically reasonable number of alerts per day. This number should be somewhat higher than the current rate, but not three times greater, as exceeding this threshold would render their efforts ineffective. Conversely, if the number of alerts is too high, the personnel's capacity to take action is undermined, resulting in a lack of meaningful outcomes. Striking a balanced middle ground is imperative. This approach enables us to effectively identify and address crucial matters while ensuring our personnel can thoroughly investigate each alert.
Depending on the goals an organization aims to achieve, if their sole focus is on finding the most economical solution and they do not prioritize comprehensiveness, then QRadar would suffice. However, if they seek instant access to answers, I would recommend Splunk Enterprise Security.
Splunk Enterprise Security is deployed across our entire network.
Maintenance is necessary for the system, and updates are needed periodically. Whenever we acquire a new system, we must connect it to Splunk.
Resilience constitutes a crucial component of Splunk Enterprise Security, contributing significantly to the safeguarding of our system.
I recommend Splunk Enterprise Security for organizations that have the budget, time, and skill to properly utilize the solution. I do recommend paying for Splunk Professional Services.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.