Why SIEM is Non-Negotiable
Most organisations already collect logs. Few actually use them. A SIEM turns noise into alerts. Wazuh (fork of OSSEC) offers enterprise-grade SIEM, free and open source.
Deployment Checklist
- Install Wazuh Manager on a central server.
- Deploy Wazuh Agents to endpoints (Linux, Windows, cloud).
- Integrate Logs: journald, syslog, Apache, MySQL, cloud services.
- Enable Rules: detect brute force, privilege escalation, file integrity changes.
- Dashboarding via Kibana/Elastic for visualisation.
Applied Example
- Journald logs forwarded into Wazuh flagged multiple failed SSH attempts.
- Alert triggered playbook to temporarily ban source IPs (fail2ban style).
Why Clients Care
- Compliance evidence: CIS, ISO, PCI all require log monitoring.
- Cost efficiency: Open-source vs Splunk licensing.
- Real-time protection: Spotting brute force within minutes, not weeks.
Security gaps in Linux and cloud systems risk downtime, data compromise, lost business — and compliance failures.
With 20+ years’ experience and active UK Security Check (SC) clearance, I harden Linux and cloud platforms for government, corporate, and academic sectors — ensuring secure, compliant, and resilient infrastructure.