What approach should an information security manager consider to optimize a SIEM system's alerting capability?

Configuring the SIEM system to alert when multiple login failures for the same account occur within a specified time period is an effective approach to optimizing the alerting capability. This method focuses on detecting potential brute-force attacks or unauthorized access attempts. By monitoring and alerting on multiple failures, security teams can quickly identify suspicious behavior, enabling them to respond promptly to potential threats before they escalate into successful breaches.

This approach helps to filter out noise from the system, as it specifically targets a pattern of behavior that is indicative of malicious activity rather than benign events like routine account creations or normal login activities. Alerting on excessive login failures is a strategic choice, as it balances the need for security vigilance without overwhelming the security team with alerts that may not represent genuine threats.

This targeted approach also facilitates prioritization in incident response, allowing security personnel to focus on the most critical alerts that could signify significant security issues. This makes the SIEM system more effective at reducing false positives and enhancing the overall security posture of the organization.