What is the primary difference between real-time and historical search in Splunk ES?

The primary difference between real-time and historical search in Splunk Enterprise Security lies in their focus on data timing and availability. Real-time search is designed to analyze current data as it is ingested into the system, allowing users to monitor live events, detect incidents, or respond to alerts as they happen. This capability is crucial for security operations where timely responses are essential to mitigate threats.

On the other hand, historical search involves querying past data that has already been indexed. This allows users to conduct in-depth analyses, generate reports, and investigate incidents after they have occurred. Historical searches are typically used to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies over a specified time range.

This distinction is important because it influences how analysts approach investigations and incident response. Real-time search is critical for immediate action, while historical search provides insights necessary for understanding long-term trends and behaviors in the data.