← All tools

SIEM Platforms (Splunk / Elastic / Sentinel)

Tool manual · Kali & common usage

SOC · Intermediate · SOC lane

IntermediateSIEM
Authorized usage only. Capture and inspect traffic only on systems and networks you own or have written permission to analyze.

What is SIEM Platforms (Splunk / Elastic / Sentinel)?

SIEM platforms (Splunk, Elastic, Microsoft Sentinel, etc.) centralize logs for search, correlation, and alerting.

Detect, investigate, and report using aggregated telemetry — product choice varies by org.

Official website: SIEM Platforms (Splunk / Elastic / Sentinel) · Documentation

When do you use it?

  • Investigate auth failures, malware callbacks, or policy violations across many hosts.
  • Build detections mapped to ATT&CK.

Who uses it?

  • DFIR analysts
  • SOC / blue team
  • Malware analysts

How do you use it? (typical flow)

  1. Install SIEM Platforms (Splunk / Elastic / Sentinel) using the steps below (prefer Kali package or official installer).
  2. Confirm you have authorization for the target (lab VM, own system, or written scope).
  3. Run --help / man (or the Help section) to see current flags for your version.
  4. Start with a safe example from Basic commands against localhost or an authorized lab target.
  5. Record what you ran, what you observed, and any follow-up (filter, report, remediation).

Help & manual (like man / --help)

Every serious tool has a built-in way to look up flags. Learn these first so you are not stuck memorizing every option.

  1. 1. Elastic docs

    https://www.elastic.co/security

  2. 2. Concept

    Practice searches against sample logs in your lab SIEM.

Kali Linux

Not a single Kali binary. Learn query languages (SPL, KQL, Lucene) against lab SIEMs or Elastic trials.

1. Installation

OSInstallation
Kali LinuxNot a single Kali binary. Learn query languages (SPL, KQL, Lucene) against lab SIEMs or Elastic trials.
OfficialSee official docs: https://www.elastic.co/security

2. Basic commands

  1. 1. Safe example against your own lab data or localhost

    index=auth action=failure | stats count by src_ip

    Safe example against your own lab data or localhost

  2. 2. List all options

    --help / -h

    List all options

Options / flags

OptionPurpose
--help / -hList all options

5. Useful features

  • Core workflow and interface
  • Reading and interpreting output
  • Key configuration options
  • Integrating into a professional workflow

6. Practical examples

  1. Example 1: Safe example against your own lab data or localhost

    index=auth action=failure | stats count by src_ip

    Safe example against your own lab data or localhost

  2. Example 2: List all options

    --help / -h

    List all options

7. Important notes

  • SIEM Platforms (Splunk / Elastic / Sentinel) is used by professionals for legitimate defense, testing and research.
  • Authorized targets only — labs, systems you own, or written permission.
  • Prefer reading --help / man / official docs for your installed version; flags change over time.

Related course: soc analyst blue team · Commands: /commands#siem