System log aggregation and analysis for security events

Purpose

1.1. Automate system log aggregation, parsing, and analysis across all core digital and physical infrastructure in post office operations.
1.2. Automate the detection, alerting, and response to security events by centralizing logs from endpoints, servers, applications, databases, network appliances, and cloud services.
1.3. Ensure regulatory compliance, enable real-time threat intelligence, reduce manual investigation time, and automate correlation for emerging security threats relevant to postal services.
1.4. Automate security event retention, reporting, and forensics to meet government and postal industy standards.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. New log entries posted by any monitored system, user, or application.
2.2. Automated detection of log patterns indicating suspicious, anomalous, or policy-violating behaviors.
2.3. Scheduled automated scans for log volumes or integrity.
2.4. Manual initiation by authorized security staff for ad-hoc investigations.

Platform Variants

3.1. Splunk
• Feature: HTTP Event Collector API; automates log ingestion via REST endpoint "services/collector/event".
3.2. Datadog
• Feature: Log Intake API; automate log posting to "api/v1/input" for aggregation and monitor with security pipelines.
3.3. ELK Stack (ElasticSearch, Logstash, Kibana)
• Feature: Logstash Input Plugins; automate parsing pipelines per system log format.
3.4. Graylog
• Feature: GELF Input over UDP/TCP; automate log forwarding from syslog or filebeat to "/gelf".
3.5. Sumo Logic
• Feature: Hosted Collector Source; automate pushing logs via HTTP Source with automated event metadata.
3.6. New Relic
• Feature: Log API under "log/v1"; automates log centralization and security-event traces.
3.7. Azure Monitor
• Feature: Data Collector API; automate data posting to Log Analytics Workspace.
3.8. AWS CloudWatch
• Feature: PutLogEvents API; automate log streams aggregation from EC2, Lambda, S3.
3.9. Google Cloud Logging
• Feature: LogEntry "write" method; automate resource-labeled log transfers.
3.10. IBM QRadar
• Feature: Log Source Integration via REST API; automates push of syslog data for security incident detection.
3.11. Loggly
• Feature: HTTP/S Endpoint for customer tokens; automate forwarding from onsite syslog.
3.12. Papertrail
• Feature: Log Destination URL; automate application/server log streaming to Papertrail endpoint.
3.13. SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Feature: LEM Agent/Connector Configuration; automate server and device log aggregation.
3.14. Rapid7 InsightIDR
• Feature: Log Search & Collectors; automate log streaming via cloud or appliance forwarding.
3.15. AlienVault (AT&T Cybersecurity)
• Feature: AlienVault Agent; automates syslog and event forwarding for OTX correlation.
3.16. McAfee ESM
• Feature: Receiver Log Parsers; automate multi-format log intake and normalization.
3.17. Cisco SecureX
• Feature: SecureX API “ingest-events”; automates log posting for threat investigation.
3.18. Fortinet FortiSIEM
• Feature: Log Collector Policy; automate ingestion, correlation, and rule-based alerting.
3.19. Logz.io
• Feature: HTTPS Bulk Input; automate cloud and application log delivery with ELK-based parsing.
3.20. Zabbix
• Feature: Log Monitoring Item; automate triggers on log file content patterns.
3.21. Nagios Log Server
• Feature: Filebeat or rsyslog integration; automate centralized log event sending and automated alert rules.

Benefits

4.1. Automates consistent log collection, reducing manual security monitoring workload.
4.2. Automates real-time detection and correlation of security events, minimizing incident response time.
4.3. Provides scalable, automatable reporting and compliance documentation as per government requirements.
4.4. Enables automated alerts for suspicious activity, improving threat prevention in postal operations.
4.5. Automates log retention and forensic analysis to support audits and investigations.