Critical Log Monitoring Guide for SOC Analysis

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Log monitoring is a crucial aspect of Security Operations Center (SOC) analysis. Effective log monitoring helps detect anomalies, identify security threats, and ensure compliance. Below is a detailed guide on critical log monitoring for SOC analysts.

You Should Know:

1. Key Log Sources to Monitor

  • Firewall Logs: Detect unauthorized access attempts.
  • Windows Event Logs: Monitor security events (e.g., failed logins, account changes).
  • Linux System Logs (/var/log/): Check auth.log, syslog, and `secure` for suspicious activities.
  • Web Server Logs (Apache/Nginx): Identify SQLi, XSS, and brute-force attacks.
  • Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) Logs: Track malicious processes and file modifications.

2. Essential Linux Commands for Log Analysis

 Monitor logs in real-time 
tail -f /var/log/auth.log

Search for failed SSH attempts 
grep "Failed password" /var/log/auth.log

Check for root login attempts 
grep "root" /var/log/secure

Analyze Apache logs for attacks 
cat /var/log/apache2/access.log | grep "php"

Count unique IPs accessing a system 
awk '{print $1}' /var/log/nginx/access.log | sort | uniq -c | sort -nr

3. Windows Event Log Analysis (PowerShell)

 Get failed login events 
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Security'; ID=4625}

Check account lockouts 
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Security'; ID=4740}

Export logs for further analysis 
wevtutil epl Security C:\SecurityLogs.evtx

4. Automated Log Monitoring with SIEM Tools

  • Splunk Query Example:
    index=linux sourcetype=syslog "Failed password" | stats count by src_ip
  • ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana):
  • Use Logstash filters to parse logs.
  • Visualize threats in Kibana dashboards.

5. Critical Log Monitoring Best Practices

  • Enable Centralized Logging: Forward logs to a SIEM.
  • Set Real-Time Alerts: Trigger alerts for suspicious activities.
  • Regularly Review Log Retention Policies: Ensure compliance.
  • Correlate Logs Across Systems: Detect multi-stage attacks.

What Undercode Say

Effective log monitoring is the backbone of SOC operations. By leveraging Linux and Windows log analysis commands, SOC teams can proactively detect intrusions and mitigate risks. Automation with SIEM tools like Splunk and ELK enhances efficiency. Always prioritize log integrity and retention to ensure forensic readiness.

Expected Output:

  • Real-time log monitoring alerts.
  • Detection of brute-force attacks via SSH logs.
  • Identification of malicious web traffic in Apache logs.
  • Compliance-ready log retention reports.

References:

Reported By: Shihab Hossen – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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