Entra workbooks, such as CA Insights and Reporting, provide powerful tools for identifying security impacts or gaps. A lesser-known feature is that when you apply filters in these workbooks, you are essentially building Kusto Query Language (KQL) queries. By editing these queries and removing project statements, you can extract raw data for deeper analysis. This functionality bridges the gap between intuitive filtering and advanced KQL scripting, enabling users to export data to Excel for further manipulation and analysis.
Practical KQL Commands and Examples:
1. Basic KQL Query Example:
[kql]
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4624
| summarize count() by Account
[/kql]
This query retrieves successful login events and summarizes them by account.
2. Exporting Data to Excel:
After refining your KQL query, use the `export` command to save the results:
[kql]
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4624
| export to Excel
[/kql]
3. Advanced Filtering with KQL:
[kql]
SecurityEvent
| where TimeGenerated > ago(7d)
| where EventID in (4624, 4625)
| summarize count() by bin(TimeGenerated, 1d), EventID
[/kql]
This query filters events from the last 7 days and categorizes them by day and event type.
4. Combining Multiple Data Sources:
[kql]
union SecurityEvent, SigninLogs
| where TimeGenerated > ago(1d)
| summarize count() by EventType
[/kql]
This combines security and sign-in logs for a comprehensive view.
What Undercode Say:
KQL is an indispensable tool for cybersecurity professionals, enabling efficient data analysis and threat detection. By leveraging Entra workbooks, users can intuitively create queries without extensive KQL knowledge, while advanced users can refine these queries for granular insights. The ability to export data to Excel further enhances usability, making it accessible for teams with varying technical expertise.
For those looking to deepen their KQL skills, Microsoft’s official documentation provides extensive resources: KQL Documentation. Additionally, integrating KQL with PowerShell can automate repetitive tasks, such as querying and exporting logs. For example:
Invoke-AzOperationalInsightsQuery -WorkspaceId <WorkspaceID> -Query "SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4624"
Combining KQL with Linux commands like `grep` and `awk` can further streamline log analysis:
cat security_logs.txt | grep "4624" | awk '{print $1, $2}'
In conclusion, mastering KQL and its integration with tools like Entra workbooks empowers security teams to proactively identify and mitigate risks, ensuring robust defense mechanisms in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
References:
Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI
