Table of Contents
Syslog is a standard for message logging across different devices and systems. It allows for the separation of the software that generates messages, the system that stores them, and the software that reports and analyzes them.
CEF is a text-based format designed to support multiple device types by offering a standardized event format.
Imagine a scenario where you have a set of Palo Alto firewalls that you want to send Syslog messages to Azure Sentinel.
For CEF collection, suppose you have an ArcSight SmartConnector that reformats security event logs into CEF.
Key Aspects | Syslog | CEF |
---|---|---|
Format | Less structured, variable based on device | Highly structured with defined schemas |
Parsing | May require custom parsing rules | Typically easier with pre-defined fields |
Transport | Commonly over UDP; can be less secure | Supports TCP, which can offer more reliable delivery |
Integration | Wide support in various devices | Requires devices to support CEF directly or via a connector |
In your role as a security operations analyst, effectively configuring Syslog and CEF event collection is paramount to obtaining visibility across your environment. Whether dealing with network devices, servers, or specialized security equipment, mastering the collection of these log formats will expand your threat hunting and incident response capabilities. As you prepare for the SC-200 certification, ensure you gain practical experience in setting up these collection methods in a lab or real-world environment to solidify your understanding.
Syslog is a standard for message logging that can be used to collect security and other system logs from a variety of devices, including both Windows and non-Windows systems, such as Unix/Linux, routers, and switches.
The Common Event Format (CEF) is actually designed to be compatible with Syslog. It is a text-based log format that includes structured data, making it easy to integrate with Syslog servers and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.
B) UDP 514
Syslog traditionally uses UDP port 514 for log transmission, although it can be configured to use TCP as well.
A) Informational and C) Debug and D) Critical
Informational, Debug, and Critical are common Syslog severity levels that indicate the importance or urgency of the logs. “Verbose” is not a standard Syslog severity level.
CEF event logging is not just limited to network devices; it can also be configured on security appliances, applications, and various other systems that support the CEF standard.
Windows Event Forwarding (WEF) does not use the Syslog protocol. It uses Windows protocols and services, such as the WS-Management protocol, to transfer event logs within a Windows environment.
C) Logs are sent in plaintext unless specifically configured for secure transfer.
By default, Syslog transmits logs in plaintext. To secure logs during transmission, additional configurations like implementing Syslog over TLS/SSL must be applied.
C) The optional part of the CEF message that contains additional event metadata.
In CEF event collection, “extension” refers to the optional part of the message that can include additional metadata about the event, providing more context to the collected logs.
CEF is not a proprietary event format; it is an open log management standard and can be used with various SIEM products that support it.
B) Syslog or rsyslog
Syslog or rsyslog is the standard logging utility for Unix/Linux systems, used for handling and configuring system logging.
Microsoft Sentinel supports the integration of CEF log data, enabling security analysis and threat detection. Microsoft Sentinel can parse and interpret CEF-formatted data for security insights.
A) auth
The “auth” facility code is commonly used in Syslog for security/authorization messages, though “authpriv” is used for messages with private authentication. “daemon” is for system daemons, “user” for user-level messages, and “local0” through “local7” are reserved for locally defined uses.
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