Log data is one of the most valuable assets in IT security intelligence. Logs can give you a general overview of your network and let you gain powerful insights into its vulnerabilities.
Almost every device whether virtual or physical, is able to generate logs. Raw generated logs coming from different vendors can be different in format and severity type. Solving security problems with this data would be very time-consuming.
When critical information is needed, it is usually difficult to find a solution from the large pool of different raw logs. They would have to be manually collected from each device and analyzed independently. Not very effective for today’s security needs!
Specialized event log management tools will make the IT admin’s life easier. A log manager + analyzer tool collects and analyzes log event data automatically. It can help you identify attack attempts, devices that are mis-configured, track user activity or even help you to meet regulatory compliance.
Event Log Managers are so helpful because they will automatically sort out all raw events and let you easily browse through them.
Security Information and Event Management “SIEM”, products provide real-time analysis of logs generated by network appliances or applications. In a few words, SIEM solutions are the synonym of a sophisticated event log analysis system.
The components of a SIEM can be (but are not limited to):
- Log centralization
- Data aggregation and collection
- Correlation
- Compliance
- Dashboards
- Long-term storage
- Forensic Analysis
The following list of products have some or all of the common components of a good SIEM.
Here’s the Best Log Analysis Tools/Software:
1. SolarWinds Event & Log Manager
SolarWinds Inc. is one of the leaders in IT infrastructure management and security software. They are trusted by more than 250,000 customers worldwide and have been in the market since 1999.
Among their favorites, “Log and Event Management” has been around since 2001 and is one of the industry’s most trusted log tools.
How does the Software work?
It automatically collects logs from multiple servers, applications, and network devices. Then it centralizes the logs into a single device. Finally correlates all logs, providing specific information such as event name, date, source, and severity.
What makes is so GOOD?
Most of the log analysis tools approach log data from a forensics point of view. But, Log and Event management uses log data more proactively. It can learn from past events and alert you on real-time before a problem causes more damage.
Troubleshooting can be simpler by using the pre-defined filters organized by categories. With these categories, you can specify more details of an event, such as source, destination, IP, port number and more.
To maintain adequate governance over the whole environment, the software can let you store and evaluate historical data. You can use stored data to run automated audits to establish a strong compliance.
Price?
The FREE Version of Solar Winds “Event Log Consolidator” can let you View logs from multiple Windows systems and filter them by ID.
But if you want more, the “Log & Event Manager” can provide extended capabilities for $4495.00.
Try it out!
Download a fully functional free trial of the Log & Event Manager by registering to SolarWinds website.
Official Download:
http://www.solarwinds.com/log-event-manager
Free Event Log Consolidator Download Link:
2. ManageEngine EventLog Analyzer
ManageEngine is a big name in the IT security and management software. ManageEngine is trusted by more than 120,000 organizations worldwide to help them manage and secure their IT.
Their log solution “EventLog Analyzer” has all the basic functionalities of a SIEM product. It was voted as the winner of the SC award for best SIEM product.
How does the software works?
It collects, analyzes, correlates, searches, reports, and stores logs from a centralized platform. The data collected is converted into easy to understand reports and graphs. When it detects abnormal behavior, the software sends security alerts in real-time to email or SMS.
Why is EventLog Analyzer one of the best?
EventLog Analyzer is a complete event manager and one of the most cost effective solutions. It can support almost 700 different devices from multiple vendors. Its documentation and simple installation make it a very competitive SIEM product.
Some of the outstanding features from EventLog Analyzer are:
- Real-Time Event Correlation
- Compliance Reports
- Universal log collection
- File integrity monitoring
- Privilege user monitoring
- Real-time alerting
- Log forensics
It is also one of the easiest to install and use event management software in the market.
What’s the price?
EventLog Analyzer is available in three different editions. Free, Premium (at $495) and Distributed (at $1,995), which makes it the most cost efficient event manager in the market. The priced edition comes with annual maintenance support and additional upgrades.
Try it out! Download a free and fully functional version of the EventLog Analyzer for a limited time.
3. LOGalyze
LOGalyze is an open-source centralized log management and network monitoring software. It is easy to use and has a low operational cost. It can provide support to Unix, Linux, Windows servers and many networking devices.
How does the software works?
- Collect: It collects log events data from hosts and network devices.
- Parses and Stores: It determines source host, severity, and type from the collected logs. It will then store the identified logs into its appropriate field.
- Analyzes: It analyzes log data with its powerful engine.
- Alerts: When an event matching specific criteria is generated, LOGalyze will notify the user.
- Creates compliance reports: LOGalyze can help you comply with multiple regulatory acts like HIPAA, PCI DSS and more.
Why is LOGalyze one of the best?
LOGalyze provides you with multi-dimensional statistics and detection of events in real-time. It also comes with an extensive ability to explore stored logs. You can organize and examine each log collected from any device.
But the best thing about LOGalyze is that it is open source, supported by a strong community and it is completely free.
What’s the price?
You can download full featured LOGalyze, without time limit, and completely free.
Try it out!
Download the full LOGalyze software.
4. NetVizura EventLog Analyzer
Netvizura builds easy-to-use, flexible and inexpensive network monitoring solutions. They have popular monitoring solutions such as the NetFlow Analyzer.
With a strong reputation on security tools, Netvizura released EventLog Analyzer in 2014. EventLog Analyzer helps you troubleshoot operational problems and identify security events.
How does the software works?
It collects system logs from any device, analyzes them by making decisions and stores them in a single central location. EventLog Analyzer can store many logs that can help for further investigation.
Why is NetVizura EventLog Analyze one of the best?
The central log management is so powerful that it can process more than 20,000 logs per second.
It is also easy to browse and search for logs. Its search platform allows you to use filters or zoom to a specific time. The filters can let you see the most important part of the log, such as severity level, device, and alarms. You can create customized filters to avoid showing unnecessary information.
Its database is automatically maintained. You can define a maximum size for your database and allow automatic deletion based on data age.
What’s the price?
Starting price for $1,300. Full support is included in the price for the first year. You can also purchase the product as a yearly subscription.
Try it out!
Download and try NetVizura for free for a limited time of 30 days.
