Windows devices are the most popular choice in most business networks. To deal with the terabytes of event log data these devices generate, security admins need to use a powerful log management tool like EventLog Analyzer that can provide end-to-end Windows event log management by automating processes like log collection, parsing, analysis, correlation, and archival.
Archiving and properly disposing of collected event logs is an important part of the event log management cycle. Additionally, major IT security regulatory agencies scrutinize the process organizations have for event log archival. Most of them mandate the number of days event logs need to be stored before the logs can be permanently deleted.
By deploying EventLog Analyzer, organizations can automate event log archiving. You can designate the number of days after which the collected event logs will be moved to the archive, and customize the number of days after which the archived event logs are permanently deleted. These values can be decided based on the compliance mandates and internal audit requirements that your business needs to comply with. EventLog Analyzer's event log archival feature helps enterprises comply with all major IT mandates, such as HIPAA, SOX, GLBA, PCI DSS, and the GDPR.
An important function of an event log management tool is collecting event logs from every source possible. EventLog Analyzer's event log collection capabilities are exceptional with support for both agentless and agent-based methods of log collection.
1. Agentless event log collection
This method involves collecting event logs using native mechanisms in Windows devices. EventLog Analyzer can communicate with the Windows devices in your network and collect event logs via mechanisms such as WMI, DCOM, and RPC.
2. Agent-based event log collection
For situations where native mechanisms are unable to be used for native mechanisms, EventLog Analyzer comes bundled with an event log collecting agent. This agent needs to be installed in the log source in order to communicate with and deliver event logs to EventLog Analyzer's server.
Most of the event logs generated in a network denote routine activities. This presents two challenges:
To address these challenges, EventLog Analyzer provides event log filters, which can be used to sort through the collected logs to find those that are significant from a security perspective. These customizable filters are based on the event log source, user, or components of the log. All event logs can be archived automatically for future reference through EventLog Analyzer.
To gain the most from the collected event logs, it's vital for a log management tool to parse event logs. EventLog Analyzer has a built-in event log parser that can normalize, parse, and index event logs.
Let's take a log with a device name and username in it; while this information is readily available, it's not clear which name is for the device and which is for the user. EventLog Analyzer's event log parser breaks Windows event logs down so that different pieces of information—for this example, the device name and username—each appear as their own logs, which are then grouped into the appropriate sections.
Log analysis is important for an event log management tool to perform as an efficient security tool. EventLog Analyzer expedites event log analysis with its log parser. This is further strengthened by EventLog Analyzer's correlation engine.
EventLog Analyzer's correlation engine can save you from the painstaking process of manually correlating log data by automatically retrieving Windows event logs from their database and comparing them with formatted logs from other sources. This will help with detecting any chain of events that might represent an attack on the network.
IT administrators often need to perform forensic log analysis in their organization. During forensic log analysis, administrators have to search through logs to find the information they need, but the enormous volume of Windows event logs makes searching them manually almost impossible.
EventLog Analyzer has a dedicated search module that is easy to learn and use. It supports search queries containing wildcards and Boolean operators; you can also perform grouped and range searches. To search for a Windows event log using EventLog Analyzer, you can utilize continuous prompts to frame a logical query, and this tool will render all the logs that match your query.
Archiving and properly disposing of collected event logs is an important part of the event log management cycle. Additionally, major IT security regulatory agencies scrutinize the process organizations have for event log archival. Most of them mandate the number of days event logs need to be stored before the logs can be permanently deleted.
By deploying EventLog Analyzer, organizations can automate event log archiving. You can designate the number of days after which the collected event logs will be moved to the archive, and customize the number of days after which the archived event logs are permanently deleted. These values can be decided based on the compliance mandates and internal audit requirements that your business needs to comply with. EventLog Analyzer's event log archival feature helps enterprises comply with all major IT mandates, such as HIPAA, SOX, GLBA, PCI DSS, and the GDPR.
An important function of an event log management tool is collecting event logs from every source possible. EventLog Analyzer's event log collection capabilities are exceptional with support for both agentless and agent-based methods of log collection.
1. Agentless event log collection
This method involves collecting event logs using native mechanisms in Windows devices. EventLog Analyzer can communicate with the Windows devices in your network and collect event logs via mechanisms such as WMI, DCOM, and RPC.
2. Agent-based event log collection
For situations where native mechanisms are unable to be used for native mechanisms, EventLog Analyzer comes bundled with an event log collecting agent. This agent needs to be installed in the log source in order to communicate with and deliver event logs to EventLog Analyzer's server.
Automate responding to security incidents by constructing workflows. EventLog Analyzer offers multiple sets of workflow actions, like Windows actions, Active Directory actions, network actions, and logical actions. Use these actions to disable systems, delete user accounts, run scripts, disable USBs, and execute similar response measures.
EventLog Analyzer helps track changes made to Windows firewall configurations, Group Policies, and firewall rules. Additionally, the tool also detects common network flood attacks like SYN attacks, port scan attacks, and denial-of-service attacks by analyzing firewall event logs.
