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Experience and Technical Expertise: -
- Strong experience(3+ years) working with Splunk in a security operations environment.
- Deep knowledge of Splunks components (indexers, forwarders, search heads, and deployment servers).
- Experience in creating and tuning SPL queries , developing Splunk apps , and managing Splunk Enterprise Security (ES).
- Hands-on experience in data parsing, normalization , and event correlation using Splunk.
- Proficient in integrating third-party tools , such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and vulnerability scanners, with Splunk.
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Security Knowledge:
- Strong understanding of SIEM use cases for security monitoring and incident detection.
- Knowledge of network security, endpoint security, cloud security, and threat intelligence integration within a SIEM context.
- Experience in detecting and responding to cybersecurity threats (e.g., malware, DDoS attacks, insider threats, APTs).
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Cloud and Hybrid Environments:
- Experience with hybrid environments, where on-premises and cloud data sources are integrated into Splunk.
- Familiarity with deploying and managing Splunk in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
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Collaboration and Communication:
- Strong communication skills to work with cross-functional teams (SOC, IT, Compliance, etc.) and translate security data into actionable business insights.
- Ability to communicate technical information effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
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Problem-Solving and Troubleshooting:
- Strong troubleshooting skills, particularly when dealing with complex data integration or performance issues in a Splunk environment.
- Ability to identify root causes of security issues and design effective solutions using Splunk.
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Data Analytics and Reporting Skills:
- Ability to design and build custom dashboards, reports, and alerts to provide actionable insights from security data.
- Proficiency in data visualization to communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Knowledge of KPI and metric tracking for security and operational effectiveness.
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Scripting and Automation:
- Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell for automation tasks.
- Experience with Splunk REST API or SDKs to automate processes or integrate Splunk with other tools in the ecosystem.
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Certifications:
- Splunk Certified Power User or Splunk Certified Admin certification is typically required or highly preferred.
- Splunk Certified Security Admin or Splunk Certified Security Specialist for those focusing on security-related roles.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Splunk SME:
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Splunk Platform Implementation and Configuration: -
- Lead the deployment, configuration, and integration of Splunk with various data sources and security tools.
- Ensure that Splunk instances (indexers, forwarders, search heads) are set up correctly and optimized for performance.
- Customize Splunk for different security use cases (e.g., monitoring, incident detection, compliance reporting).
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Data Collection and Ingestion: -
- Configure data inputs, forwarders, and data parsers for various log sources (e.g., network devices, firewalls, endpoints, servers).
- Set up log forwarding and ensure efficient and secure data collection from a wide range of security and IT systems.
- Ensure data normalization and correlation to make it usable for analysis and detection.
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Search and Query Optimization: -
- Design and develop complex SPL (Search Processing Language) queries to analyse security data.
- Optimize searches for performance and efficiency, especially when working with large datasets.
- Create and maintain reports, dashboards, and alerts for security monitoring and incident response.
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Incident Detection and Response: -
- Use Splunk to monitor security events in real-time, identifying potential threats and anomalies.
- Configure and fine-tune Splunks correlation searches and alerts to ensure accurate detection of security incidents (e.g., intrusions, breaches).
- Work with security operations teams to investigate incidents and provide actionable insights from Splunk data.
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Security Monitoring and Threat Intelligence Integration:
- Integrate external threat intelligence feeds into Splunk to enhance security monitoring.
- Leverage Splunk s machine learning capabilities to identify patterns of suspicious activity.
- Create custom detection rules, machine learning models, and analytics to detect emerging threats.
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Reporting and Compliance: -
- Generate and deliver automated security reports (e.g., for compliance frameworks like GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPAA).
- Ensure that Splunk data is properly indexed, categorized, and stored to support compliance and auditing requirements.
- Create dashboards and visualizations for executives, managers, and technical teams to track security posture.
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Splunk Tuning and Optimization: -
- Perform regular health checks of the Splunk environment to ensure high availability, scalability, and performance.
- Tune Splunk configurations (indexing, search, data storage) to maintain optimal performance, especially during peak event loads.
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Splunk performance, data accuracy, or integration challenges.
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Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: -
- Work with other security teams (e.g., SOC, Incident Response, Threat Intelligence) to align Splunk s capabilities with organizational security needs.
- Provide training, mentoring, and best practices for other Splunk users and administrators.
- Stay up to date with new features, apps, and updates to Splunk, and share knowledge with the team.
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Documentation and Standards: -
- Maintain comprehensive documentation for Splunk configurations, use cases, search queries, and data pipelines.
- Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various Splunk-related tasks (e.g., creating reports, handling incidents, data ingestion).
- Document Splunk customizations, integration processes, and automation to ensure
Sme, Aws, Integraions, Splunk Admin & Development, Splunk, Network Security, Splunk Admin, Restapi
