On August 21, 2024, a significant new guide titled “Best Practices for Event Logging and Threat Detection” was jointly released by the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC), the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Security Agency (NSA), and several international partners. This guide is designed to assist organizations in establishing a robust baseline for event logging, which is essential for identifying and mitigating advanced cyber threats. The release underscores the critical need for improved event logging to combat sophisticated attacks, including Living Off the Land (LOTL) techniques and fileless malware.
The guide highlights the increasing prevalence of LOTL techniques, which involve leveraging existing tools and processes within a system for malicious activities, making them difficult to detect. Effective event logging is crucial for maintaining network visibility and enabling organizations to identify and respond to potential security incidents. The collaborative guide outlines key strategies for enhancing event logging practices and threat detection capabilities, ensuring organizations can better protect their critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats.
Key recommendations include developing a comprehensive event logging policy that defines the types of events to be logged, the methods for logging, and retention periods. The guide emphasizes the importance of high-quality logs that capture relevant details, such as timestamps, event types, and device identifiers, to accurately detect and analyze potential threats. For Operational Technology (OT) environments, the guide suggests supplementing logging with additional sensors to balance data volume and device performance.
Additionally, the guide stresses the importance of secure log storage and timely log ingestion to prevent unauthorized access and ensure prompt detection of cybersecurity events. Organizations are encouraged to implement structured log formats, centralize logs from various systems, and utilize user and entity behavior analytics to identify anomalies. By following these best practices, organizations can enhance their ability to detect and respond to sophisticated cyber threats, ultimately strengthening their overall cybersecurity posture.
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