ArcSight explained

ArcSight: Empowering Cybersecurity with Advanced Threat Detection and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

4 min read · Dec. 6, 2023

Glossary

Introduction
Understanding ArcSight
Key Features and Functionality
History and Background
Use Cases and Relevance in the Industry
Career Aspects and Industry Standards
Conclusion

Introduction

In today's ever-evolving cyber landscape, organizations face an increasing number of security threats, making it crucial to have robust tools for threat detection and response. ArcSight, developed by Micro Focus, is one such tool that plays a pivotal role in modern cybersecurity. ArcSight is a comprehensive Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform that helps organizations identify, prioritize, and respond to potential security incidents and threats.

Understanding ArcSight

At its core, ArcSight is designed to collect, analyze, and correlate security event data from various sources across an organization's IT infrastructure. It provides real-time visibility into security events and enables proactive threat detection, incident response, and Compliance management. ArcSight's main components include event collectors, event processors, and a centralized console for monitoring and analysis.

Key Features and Functionality

Event Collection and Normalization

ArcSight integrates with a wide range of data sources, including network devices, servers, databases, applications, and security appliances, to collect and normalize security event data. Through its flexible connectors and agents, ArcSight can ingest logs, events, and other relevant data from both on-premises and Cloud-based systems, providing a holistic view of an organization's security posture.

Correlation and Analysis

ArcSight utilizes advanced correlation algorithms and Machine Learning techniques to identify patterns and anomalies within the collected data. By correlating events across multiple sources, ArcSight can detect complex attack scenarios that might otherwise go unnoticed. This correlation capability helps security teams differentiate between normal and potentially malicious activities, reducing false positives and allowing them to focus on genuine threats.

Threat Intelligence Integration

ArcSight integrates with external threat intelligence feeds, such as open-source intelligence (OSINT) and commercial threat intelligence services. By leveraging these sources, ArcSight enriches security event data with contextual information about known threats, indicators of compromise (IOCs), and emerging attack trends. This integration empowers security analysts to make informed decisions and respond effectively to potential threats.

Incident Response and Workflow Automation

ArcSight provides Incident response capabilities, enabling security teams to define and execute predefined workflows in response to specific security events or incidents. These workflows can include automated actions, such as blocking an IP address, isolating a compromised system, or triggering an alert to a security analyst. By automating routine tasks, ArcSight helps streamline incident response and reduces the time and effort required to mitigate threats.

Compliance Management and Reporting

ArcSight supports compliance with various regulatory standards, including PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. It provides pre-built compliance reports and dashboards that help organizations demonstrate adherence to these standards. ArcSight also offers advanced Analytics capabilities, allowing organizations to perform trend analysis, identify security gaps, and continuously improve their security posture.

History and Background

ArcSight was founded in 2000 by three Stanford University graduates, Hugh Njemanze, Dominique Levin, and Tom Reilly. The company initially focused on log management solutions but quickly shifted its focus to SIEM technology. In 2010, ArcSight was acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HP), which further expanded its market reach and customer base. Later, in 2017, Micro Focus acquired ArcSight from HP, ensuring its continued development and support.

Use Cases and Relevance in the Industry

ArcSight finds application in a wide range of industries and organizations of varying sizes. Some notable use cases include:

Threat Detection and Incident Response

ArcSight helps organizations detect and respond to a wide range of security threats, including Malware infections, insider threats, unauthorized access attempts, and data breaches. By providing real-time visibility into security events and automating incident response workflows, ArcSight enables organizations to detect and mitigate threats quickly, minimizing potential damage.

Compliance Monitoring and Reporting

Organizations are subject to various regulatory requirements that mandate the Monitoring and reporting of security events. ArcSight's compliance management features simplify the process of collecting and analyzing security event data, generating compliance reports, and demonstrating adherence to regulatory standards. This helps organizations avoid penalties, maintain customer trust, and protect their reputation.

Advanced Threat Hunting

ArcSight's correlation capabilities and integration with Threat intelligence feeds make it a valuable tool for proactive threat hunting. Security analysts can leverage ArcSight to identify potential threats, investigate suspicious activities, and proactively respond to emerging attack trends. This proactive approach helps organizations stay ahead of cybercriminals and prevent security incidents before they occur.

Insider Threat Detection

ArcSight can play a crucial role in identifying insider threats, such as unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or policy violations. By Monitoring user activities, access logs, and data transfers, ArcSight can detect anomalous behavior that may indicate an insider threat. This capability helps organizations mitigate the risks associated with privileged users and compromised credentials.

Career Aspects and Industry Standards

Professionals with expertise in ArcSight and SIEM technologies are in high demand in the cybersecurity industry. Organizations across various sectors, including Finance, healthcare, and government, require skilled ArcSight administrators, analysts, and consultants to manage their security operations effectively.

To excel in an ArcSight-related career, professionals should possess a strong foundation in cybersecurity principles, network security, and incident response. Familiarity with industry standards and best practices, such as the Security Operations Center (SOC) Lifecycle and the MITRE ATT&CK framework, is also beneficial.

Certifications like the ArcSight Certified Security Analyst (ACSA) and ArcSight Certified Professional (ACP) can enhance one's credibility and demonstrate proficiency in ArcSight administration and analysis. Additionally, staying updated with the latest trends and advancements in SIEM technology, Threat intelligence, and cybersecurity as a whole is crucial for career growth in this field.