Which function does a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system perform?

A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system is primarily designed to collect, analyze, and manage security data from across an organization's IT environment. This includes logs and events generated by servers, network devices, domain controllers, and more. By aggregating this data, a SIEM provides real-time analysis of security alerts and facilitates incident response.

The ability to analyze this vast amount of data helps organizations detect potential security threats, monitor compliance, and respond to incidents more effectively. While it encompasses some elements of security management and can support compliance by allowing for forensic investigation, the core function revolves around data collection and analysis to improve the overall security posture.

Other functions like developing new security software, conducting vulnerability assessments, or managing user accounts are outside the primary scope of a SIEM system. These roles are typically assigned to other security tools or dedicated personnel within the organization.