What is a benefit of user entity behavior analytics (UEBA) over security information and event management (SIEM)?

User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) offers a significant advantage in detecting advanced and unknown security threats, particularly those that do not directly involve malware, which is a limitation often faced by Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. UEBA utilizes machine learning and advanced analytics to monitor and analyze user behavior and identify anomalies that may indicate suspicious activities.

For instance, if a user’s habits suddenly change—like logging in from unusual locations or accessing a large volume of sensitive data after hours—UEBA can detect these irregular patterns and flag them for further investigation. On the other hand, traditional SIEM systems largely focus on correlating security events and alerts based on predefined rules and historical data, which may overlook subtle threats or sophisticated tactics employed by attackers, such as credential theft or insider threats.

This distinction highlights how UEBA complements SIEM by enhancing threat detection capabilities beyond what is typically achievable through traditional event monitoring and log analysis, making it more effective in addressing the challenges posed by modern security threats.