Logs play a vital role in cybersecurity. As we explained in a previous post, How Comprehensive Logging Can Stop the Next Big Cyberattack, logs act as digital breadcrumbs, recording every action and interaction, including who, when, and how a system was accessed and what actions were taken. However, their value extends far beyond being mere data points.  

Just as an artist uses a variety of colors to bring a painting to life, a security analyst uses diverse log sources to paint a picture of an attack. Data from each log source contributes its unique hue to the canvas, gradually revealing an all-encompassing narrative of what has happened across the entire IT environment. Without this vivid image, known as an attack story, security teams would struggle to see the full picture or scope of an attack, making it challenging to respond effectively to threats. 

The Value of Diverse Log Sources 

Each log source offers a unique but complementary perspective on the same chain of events, filling in gaps that would remain unseen if only a single-source approach were taken. Endpoint logs can show malicious activity on individual devices, while network logs capture the broader picture of network traffic, providing details about the attacker’s movements across the network. Server and application logs can identify compromised systems and vulnerabilities in specific software, while cloud logs might expose unauthorized access to cloud resources and infrastructure usage. 

By combining data from these diverse sources, security teams can begin to develop a more complete and accurate understanding of the entire attack lifecycle and the ultimate goal of the threat actor. The attack story becomes clearer as experts: 

• Determine the root cause of an attack: Understand how the attacker gained access to the network and what vulnerabilities were exploited. 

• Track the attacker’s movements: Create a timeline of events by mapping the attacker’s lateral movements across the network and targeting of additional systems and data. 

• Detect compromised systems: Identify malware-infected devices or additional compromised applications that might be missed by analyzing individual sources in isolation. 

• Identify patterns and anomalies: Recognize unusual behavior that may indicate a threat, even if it doesn’t match a known attack pattern. 

The Powerful Role of an Attack Story 

An attack story is more than a collection of alerts. It’s a focused narrative that unites seemingly unconnected dots so security teams can understand the sequence of events during a security incident. It helps them mitigate the impact of the threat, eradicate it from the system, and bolster their defenses by closing gaps and gaining visibility. 

By weaving together the various elements of an attack, security teams can: 

• Respond more effectively: Understand the threat’s scope and prioritize containment and mitigation efforts. 

• Improve incident response capabilities: Identify weaknesses in their security posture and implement measures to prevent similar attacks. 

• Reduce mean time to respond (MTTR): Resolve incidents quicker by understanding the root cause and taking targeted actions. 

• Enhance threat intelligence: Build a more informed threat intelligence database to stay ahead of emerging threats. 

In contrast, relying solely on isolated alerts that lack context can lead to: 

• Overwhelmed security teams: A flood of alerts can make it difficult to prioritize threats and respond. 

• Missed threats: Important indicators of an attack may be overlooked if they are not viewed in a broader narrative context. 

• Inefficient response efforts: Time and resources may be wasted on investigations that do not produce meaningful results. 

How Integrated Logs Prevented a Crisis: A Real-World Example 

A mid-sized North American e-commerce company concerned about protecting customer data and payment systems partnered with CYREBRO to strengthen its security posture – a partnership that proved invaluable when a sophisticated attack unfolded. 

One evening, CYREBRO’s Security Operations Center (SOC) received an alert from the e-commerce’s intrusion detection system (IDS). Initially, three separate log sources indicated unusual activity: 

• Firewall logs showed unusual inbound traffic from a foreign IP address accessing non-standard ports. 

• Web server logs revealed multiple failed login attempts on the admin portal, indicative of a brute-force attack. 

• Endpoint security logs detected an unexpected outbound connection from a finance department workstation. 

If reviewed individually, these signs of an attack might have been missed or given low priority. However, CYREBRO’s advanced security data lake (SDL), powered by multiple AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms, aggregated and correlated these separate logs to uncover the attack story: 

• The attacker first probed the network through the firewall. 

• Then they breached the admin portal after identifying a vulnerability. 

• Next, the threat actor moved laterally to reach a finance department workstation. 

• Finally, the attacker attempted to use the compromised workstation to exfiltrate data to an external server. 

CYREBRO’s SOC immediately activated the incident response (IR) protocol, disabling compromised accounts, isolating the affected workstation, and blocking malicious IPs. Vulnerabilities in the admin portal were promptly patched, and a thorough forensic analysis was conducted to assess the extent of the breach and ensure no back doors remained. 

This fast response, which was only possible because of extensive log monitoring and analysis, significantly reduced MTTR from potentially days to just hours and minutes. Swift action prevented data exfiltration, saving the company from potential regulatory fines, recovery expenses, customer notification processes, and reputational damage, which would have cost an estimated $500,000. 

This incident exemplifies the power of integrated log analysis across multiple systems. CYREBRO’s ability to correlate data from different sources painted a clear attack story, facilitating a rapid and precise response.  

Enhance Security with Comprehensive Logging and Attack Stories  

The ability to piece together an attack story is crucial, but it’s not just about having logs; it’s about having a unified Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution that can collect, correlate, and analyze logs from all corners of your IT environment to build a detailed story. With that narrative in hand, security teams can understand the root cause, identify vulnerabilities, and respond quickly and effectively. 

As threats continue to evolve and attackers find novel ways to cover their tracks, the importance of leveraging diverse log sources will only grow. Organizations that take full advantage of their logs and next-gen solutions will stand strong and continuously harden their security posture, while those that don’t are likely to fall.