How does the "SIEM" functionality in Splunk ES differ from standard logging?

The emphasis on real-time analysis for threat detection is what distinctly sets the SIEM functionality in Splunk Enterprise Security apart from standard logging practices. While standard logging primarily involves capturing and storing logs, SIEM enhances this by enabling users to monitor security events and incidents as they occur. This real-time capability is critical for identifying potential threats in dynamic environments, allowing organizations to respond swiftly to security incidents before they escalate.

SIEM integrates data from various sources and applies analytics to detect patterns indicative of security threats, giving analysts the tools to perform immediate investigations. This proactive approach to security monitoring is essential for maintaining a robust defense against evolving threats.

In contrast, standard logging may not have advanced analytic capabilities, nor the mechanisms to correlate events across multiple data streams in real-time. This makes SIEM a powerful tool for security operations, as it not only identifies threats but also helps prioritize responses based on the severity of the detected events.