Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- The NSA released Best Practices for Event Logging and Threat Detection in collaboration with international partners.
- The guidance provides recommendations for cybersecurity professionals on how to defend against threat actors using LOTL techniques.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has released the Best Practices for Event Logging and Threat Detection across various networks and technologies to ensure the delivery of vital systems. The guidance, developed in collaboration with international partners, provides recommendations for organizations to improve their resilience in the face of cyber threats, particularly those using living off-the-land (LOTL) techniques.
The document outlines four key best practices for event logging and threat detection, including the development of an enterprise-approved logging policy, centralized event log access and correlation, secure storage practices, and the implementation of a detection strategy for relevant threats.
Key components of an effective logging policy include focusing on capturing high-quality cybersecurity events, including essential details in event logs, considering operational technology (OT) limitations, and ensuring content and timestamp consistency across all systems. Centralized log collection and correlation are recommended to strengthen threat detection, incident response, and compliance efforts.
Secure storage and event log integrity practices include implementing a secured data lake for log aggregation, using TLS 1.3 and cryptographic methods for log protection, restricting access to sensitive logs, and ensuring timely log ingestion for early incident detection.
To detect LOTL techniques, organizations are advised to use user and entity behavioral analytics (UEBA), leverage SIEM systems for anomaly detection, and implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. Proactive threat hunting is also recommended to identify and investigate potential LOTL activities and refine detection rules based on the evolving threat landscape.
Overall, implementing and maintaining an effective event logging solution is crucial for improving the security and resilience of systems by enabling network visibility and facilitating quicker incident response, as stated by Dave Luber, NSA Cybersecurity Director.
