From Logging to Active Monitoring

Logs without analysis are just disk consumption. Implement real-time monitoring that alerts on suspicious patterns. Set thresholds for events like failed login attempts, but also look for anomalies like unusual access patterns or deviations from baseline behavior. It's the difference between having a security guard who actively patrols versus one who sleeps at the desk.

Create escalating alerts based on severity and confidence. A single failed login might generate a low-priority log entry, while ten failed logins from the same IP in a minute triggers an immediate alert. Implement automated responses for clear attack patterns—temporarily blocking IPs showing scanning behavior or locking accounts after excessive failed attempts. However, be cautious about automated responses that attackers could exploit to cause denial of service.

Regularly test your monitoring by conducting drills. Simulate various attack scenarios and verify that your monitoring systems detect and alert appropriately. Review logs periodically, not just during incidents. Patterns often emerge in historical analysis that real-time monitoring missed. Train your team to investigate alerts properly—the best monitoring system becomes useless if alerts are ignored or improperly investigated. Remember, security monitoring is like a smoke detector—it's not preventing fires, but early detection can mean the difference between minor damage and total loss.