Almost all organizations need to monitor and secure their network. Additionally, they must comply with several regulations that mandate them to store and monitor event logs (in other words, network activities). That is where the System logging protocol (or Syslog) comes into the picture. A robust Syslog Server solution offers a centralized logging mechanism to help the network administration team of the business gain.
In this article, we’ll learn what is a Syslog Server, how it helps in network monitoring and security, and which businesses can benefit from Syslog.
What is Syslog Server?
A Syslog server is a centralized logging server that collects and stores log messages from network devices such as routers, switches, and servers. These log messages contain information about the system’s activity, such as system startup and shutdown, system errors, and security events.
Syslog uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to send messages to a central syslog server, but it can also use the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) as an alternative.
Now that we’ve learned what is a Syslog Server, let’s understand why businesses need it for their network administration.
Severity Levels in Syslog
Syslog messages typically include a timestamp, hostname, and message text, as well as a severity level that indicates the importance of the message. The eight severity levels for messages, in increasing order of severity, are as below:
- Emergency: system is unusable.
- Alert: action must be taken immediately.
- Critical: critical conditions.
- Error: error conditions.
- Warning: warning conditions.
- Notice: normal but significant condition.
- Informational: informational messages.
- Debug: debug-level messages.
These levels are used to classify the messages and help the administrator to take appropriate actions. For instance, emergency and alert level messages usually require immediate attention, while lower levels such as warning and notice can be handled in due course. Informational and debug level messages are typically used for troubleshooting and monitoring.
Why Do Businesses Need Syslog Server?
Syslog servers are crucial for network monitoring and security as they store all the valuable log data and events at one location where network administrators can analyze them.
The log data is critical to identify and troubleshooting network issues. It also helps to detect and tackle network security threats and ensure compliance with regulations and litigations that mandates log retention and reporting.
Syslog Server allows network administrators to quickly and easily identify and troubleshoot issues and detect and respond to security threats. Additionally, consolidating log data in one location makes it easier to comply with regulatory requirements for log retention and reporting.
In other terms, centralized logging in Syslog will equip your network administration team with an easy way to gain control and visibility, making it easier for them to monitor the network and ensure network security.
What Kind of Businesses Need Syslog Solution?
Any business organization to whom the law mandates network monitoring and event log retention will need Syslog Servers. It can include:
- Large-scale corporations with complex network infrastructure require a comprehensive centralized logging mechanism to efficiently analyze log data from multiple devices and systems. Bigger organizations are more vulnerable to network security threats and they need a way to quickly identify and troubleshoot network issues.
- Small and Medium-sized Businesses (or SMBs) may not have the same level of complexity as large enterprises, but they still need to monitor their networks for security and performance issues.
- Service providers such as ISPs, web hosting companies, and cloud providers use Syslog Servers to monitor their networks and ensure that their services are running smoothly so that they can fulfill their obligation to provide seamless services to their customers.
- Government organizations have strict regulations, like FISMA (Federal Information Security Modernization Act), and compliance requirements for which they need to retain and report their log data. They also need to ensure that sensitive data in their systems are secured.
- Hospitals and Healthcare Centers need to ensure the security and availability of sensitive patient information. A centralized logging system can not only help them with network security but also guarantee compliance with HIPAA and other regulations.
Complying with Regulations using Syslog Server
Syslog Server can help organizations comply with various regulatory requirements. Here are a few examples:
- The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – This regulation requires organizations to maintain records of all personal data processing activities, and a syslog server can help with this by collecting and storing logs from devices that process personal data.
- The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) – This standard requires organizations that handle credit card transactions to maintain detailed logs of all access to cardholder data, and a syslog server can be used to collect and store these logs.
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – This law requires organizations that handle protected health information (PHI) to maintain detailed logs of all access to PHI, and a syslog server can be used to collect and store these logs.
- The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) – This law requires federal agencies to implement security controls to protect their information systems, and a syslog server can be used to collect and store logs from these systems to help with compliance.
- The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) – This law requires public companies to maintain accurate financial records and to implement internal controls to prevent fraud, and a syslog server can be used to collect and store logs from systems that are used to process financial transactions.
Syslog Server alone is not enough to comply with regulations, it is just one piece of the puzzle. Other measures such as data encryption, access controls and incident response plans are also required to be in place.
Conclusion
When it comes to your network administration and regulatory compliance needs, your business can hugely benefit from a top-notch Syslog Server – a centralized logging system for your network activity (events). Not only does it make it easier for you to keep track of everything, but it also plays a vital role in ensuring robust network security.
Advantal Technologies offers a comprehensive Syslog Server solution that can help augment your network monitoring and administration. With its advanced features and capabilities, our Syslog solution can provide you with the visibility and control you need to safeguard your network and confidential data.