CompTIA CySA+
1 Threat Management
1-1 Threat Landscape
1-1 1 Identifying Threat Actors
1-1 2 Understanding Threat Vectors
1-1 3 Threat Intelligence Sources
1-1 4 Threat Intelligence Lifecycle
1-2 Threat Hunting
1-2 1 Threat Hunting Concepts
1-2 2 Threat Hunting Techniques
1-2 3 Threat Hunting Tools
1-3 Threat Modeling
1-3 1 Threat Modeling Concepts
1-3 2 Threat Modeling Techniques
1-3 3 Threat Modeling Tools
1-4 Threat Mitigation
1-4 1 Threat Mitigation Strategies
1-4 2 Threat Mitigation Techniques
1-4 3 Threat Mitigation Tools
2 Vulnerability Management
2-1 Vulnerability Identification
2-1 1 Vulnerability Scanning
2-1 2 Vulnerability Assessment
2-1 3 Vulnerability Identification Tools
2-2 Vulnerability Analysis
2-2 1 Vulnerability Analysis Techniques
2-2 2 Vulnerability Analysis Tools
2-3 Vulnerability Prioritization
2-3 1 Vulnerability Prioritization Techniques
2-3 2 Vulnerability Prioritization Tools
2-4 Vulnerability Remediation
2-4 1 Vulnerability Remediation Techniques
2-4 2 Vulnerability Remediation Tools
3 Cyber Incident Response
3-1 Incident Response Planning
3-1 1 Incident Response Plan Development
3-1 2 Incident Response Team Roles
3-1 3 Incident Response Plan Testing
3-2 Incident Detection
3-2 1 Incident Detection Techniques
3-2 2 Incident Detection Tools
3-3 Incident Analysis
3-3 1 Incident Analysis Techniques
3-3 2 Incident Analysis Tools
3-4 Incident Response
3-4 1 Incident Response Techniques
3-4 2 Incident Response Tools
3-5 Incident Recovery
3-5 1 Incident Recovery Techniques
3-5 2 Incident Recovery Tools
4 Security Architecture and Tool Sets
4-1 Security Controls
4-1 1 Security Control Types
4-1 2 Security Control Implementation
4-1 3 Security Control Monitoring
4-2 Security Tools
4-2 1 Security Tool Categories
4-2 2 Security Tool Implementation
4-2 3 Security Tool Monitoring
4-3 Security Architecture
4-3 1 Security Architecture Concepts
4-3 2 Security Architecture Design
4-3 3 Security Architecture Implementation
5 Compliance and Assessment
5-1 Compliance Requirements
5-1 1 Compliance Standards
5-1 2 Compliance Audits
5-1 3 Compliance Reporting
5-2 Assessment Techniques
5-2 1 Assessment Methodologies
5-2 2 Assessment Tools
5-2 3 Assessment Reporting
5-3 Risk Management
5-3 1 Risk Management Concepts
5-3 2 Risk Management Techniques
5-3 3 Risk Management Tools
6 Software Development Security
6-1 Secure Coding Practices
6-1 1 Secure Coding Principles
6-1 2 Secure Coding Techniques
6-1 3 Secure Coding Tools
6-2 Software Development Lifecycle
6-2 1 SDLC Phases
6-2 2 SDLC Security Practices
6-2 3 SDLC Security Tools
6-3 Software Testing
6-3 1 Software Testing Techniques
6-3 2 Software Testing Tools
6-3 3 Software Testing Security
7 Security Operations
7-1 Security Operations Concepts
7-1 1 Security Operations Roles
7-1 2 Security Operations Processes
7-1 3 Security Operations Tools
7-2 Security Monitoring
7-2 1 Security Monitoring Techniques
7-2 2 Security Monitoring Tools
7-3 Security Incident Management
7-3 1 Incident Management Techniques
7-3 2 Incident Management Tools
7-4 Security Awareness Training
7-4 1 Security Awareness Training Concepts
7-4 2 Security Awareness Training Techniques
7-4 3 Security Awareness Training Tools
7-2 Security Monitoring Explained

7-2 Security Monitoring Explained

Security Monitoring is a critical practice in cybersecurity that involves continuously observing and analyzing an organization's IT environment to detect and respond to potential security threats. This process ensures that any unusual activities or vulnerabilities are identified promptly, allowing for timely mitigation. Here, we will explore the key concepts related to Security Monitoring and provide detailed explanations along with examples.

Key Concepts

1. Log Management

Log Management involves collecting, storing, and analyzing logs from various systems and applications. These logs provide valuable information about system activities, user actions, and potential security incidents. For example, a web server log might record all HTTP requests, which can be analyzed to detect unauthorized access attempts.

2. Event Correlation

Event Correlation is the process of analyzing multiple security events to identify patterns or relationships that may indicate a security threat. This technique helps in detecting complex attacks that may not be apparent from individual events. For instance, correlating login failures across multiple systems might indicate a brute-force attack.

3. Anomaly Detection

Anomaly Detection involves identifying unusual activities that deviate from the normal behavior of the system. This technique helps in detecting potential threats that may not be identified by traditional signature-based methods. For example, detecting an unusually high number of file downloads from a server might indicate data exfiltration.

4. Threat Intelligence

Threat Intelligence involves collecting and analyzing information about potential and existing threats to improve security monitoring and response. This includes data from external sources such as threat feeds, security advisories, and threat reports. For instance, integrating threat intelligence with monitoring systems can help detect known malicious IP addresses attempting to access the network.

5. Continuous Monitoring

Continuous Monitoring ensures that security monitoring is performed 24/7, providing real-time visibility into the organization's IT environment. This practice helps in detecting and responding to threats as they occur. For example, a continuous monitoring system might alert security teams to unusual network traffic patterns that could indicate a DDoS attack.

6. Alert Management

Alert Management involves processing and prioritizing security alerts generated by monitoring systems. This includes filtering out false positives and focusing on high-priority alerts that require immediate attention. For instance, an alert management system might prioritize alerts related to unauthorized access attempts over less critical events like system updates.

7. Incident Response Coordination

Incident Response Coordination ensures that security incidents detected through monitoring are promptly addressed. This involves activating the incident response team, gathering necessary information, and implementing appropriate mitigation measures. For example, upon detecting a malware infection, the incident response team might isolate affected systems and initiate a forensic investigation.

Examples and Analogies

Consider a secure building as an analogy for Security Monitoring. Log Management is like the building's security logs, recording all activities for future analysis. Event Correlation is akin to the security team analyzing multiple alarms to identify a coordinated threat. Anomaly Detection is like the building's surveillance system identifying unusual movements that deviate from normal patterns. Threat Intelligence is like the building's security team being aware of known threats in the area. Continuous Monitoring is like the building's security system operating 24/7 to detect any suspicious activities. Alert Management is like the security team prioritizing and responding to alarms based on their severity. Incident Response Coordination is like the security team quickly addressing any detected threats to ensure the building's safety.

By understanding and effectively applying these Security Monitoring concepts, organizations can ensure continuous protection of their IT environment and respond promptly to potential security threats.