EP190 Unraveling the Security Data Fabric: Need, Benefits, and Futures
Sep 16, 2024
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Josh Liburdi, a Staff Security Engineer at Brex, dives deep into the concept of security data fabric and its transformative impact on security data management. He explains how this innovative technology shifts organizations from outdated syslog methods to modern data pipelines, improving log quality for threat detection. Josh discusses the importance of vendor selection and balancing costs with security needs, alongside the potential future of decoupled Security Information Management systems and the integration of open-source solutions.
Security data fabric enhances traditional security data pipelines by providing structured data management across multiple platforms, addressing complexities in modern environments.
Implementing a security data fabric can reduce costs for organizations by filtering data before it's ingested into expensive SIM systems, while also improving data quality for security operations.
Deep dives
Understanding Security Data Fabric
Security data fabric is increasingly recognized as a technology solution that enhances security data pipelines by adding value through features like data enrichment and normalization. Unlike traditional methods where logs were simply transferred from sources to a security information management (SIM) tool, security data fabric aims to provide a structured approach to managing security data across various platforms. This technology not only channels data effectively but also addresses the complexities introduced by modern cloud environments and numerous data sources. Vendors are now attempting to fill the gaps left by traditional SIM tools, pushing security practitioners to consider these systems for greater efficiency and investment returns.
Cost Efficiency and Filtering
One significant advantage of security data fabric is its ability to filter and route data, which can help organizations reduce costs associated with data storage and SIM usage. By implementing filtering strategies, companies can limit the amount of data ingested by costly systems, thereby lowering their overall expenses. This cost savings becomes particularly valuable for organizations with tight budgets or those using SIM solutions that charge per gigabyte. While filtering is essential for cost management, some security professionals argue that the focus should instead be on improving log quality and incident response, as cost reductions alone do not enhance security operations.
The Future of Security Data Fabric
As the industry evolves, the relationship between security data fabric and SIM solutions becomes more complex and intertwined, with potential for future developments in both areas. Some experts believe that while startup vendors will initially push the functionality of security data fabric, the larger, established players may ultimately dominate the market due to their resources and established customer bases. The success of a decoupled SIM, which relies on effective data fabric, remains uncertain, with many organizations needing to navigate their own unique challenges around data quality and reliability. Ultimately, a focus on unified data modeling and enriched data could lead to significant improvements in security analytics practices.