C1000-156 IBM Security QRadar SIEM V7.5 Administration Questions and Answers

When IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5 reaches the events per second (EPS) or flows per minute (FPM) shared license pool limits, the following occurs:

Burst Handling Queue: QRadar utilizes a temporary burst handling queue to manage the overflow of events and flows. This queue temporarily holds data until the system can process it.

Continued Processing: QRadar continues to process events and flows despite reaching the license limits, ensuring no data is lost.

Efficiency: This mechanism allows QRadar to handle short-term spikes in data volume without compromising the integrity or continuity of event and flow processing.

ReferencesThe handling of EPS and FPM limits is described in IBM QRadar SIEM’s system administration and configuration guides, which explain how QRadar manages data when license thresholds are exceeded.

The Server Discovery function in IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5 uses the Asset Profile Database to discover various types of servers on a network. This database stores detailed information about the assets, including server types, configurations, and roles within the network. Here’s how it works:

Asset Profile Database: This is the central repository that contains all the discovered asset information.

Discovery Process: During the discovery process, QRadar scans the network to identify servers and other devices, collecting information such as IP addresses, open ports, services, and operating systems.

Classification: The collected data is then analyzed and classified, updating the Asset Profile Database with the types of servers discovered.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM documentation specifies the use of the Asset Profile Database for server discovery functionalities and provides details on configuring and managing asset profiles.

In QRadar, when evaluating domain criteria based on an event, the precedence order for domain assignment if the event does not match the domain definition for custom properties is as follows:

Log Source: The first criterion checked is the log source. Each event is associated with a log source, and the domain is determined based on this source.

Log Source Group: If the log source does not provide a domain match, the next criterion is the log source group. Log sources can be grouped together, and domain definitions can be applied at the group level.

Event Collector or Data Gateway: If neither the log source nor the log source group provides a match, QRadar checks the event collector or data gateway for a domain definition.

DDS (Data Domain Service): As the final step, if no other criteria match, the DDS is used to assign the default domain.

This order of precedence ensures that the most specific criteria are checked first before falling back to more general criteria, ensuring accurate domain assignment for events.

ReferencesIBM Security QRadar SIEM and IBM Security QRadar EDR integration.pdf​

When a QRadar administrator creates a new saved search and wants it to open by default whenever the Log Activity tab is opened, they need to enable the "Set as Default" option. Here is a detailed explanation:

Creating a Saved Search: When saving a search in QRadar, the administrator can define specific criteria and filters to create a custom search that meets their requirements.

Set as Default Option: By enabling the "Set as Default" option, the administrator ensures that this particular search will be automatically executed and displayed whenever the Log Activity tab is accessed. This saves time and provides immediate access to the most relevant data.

Benefits: Setting a default search streamlines the workflow for security analysts by presenting the most important or frequently used search results right away.

This feature enhances efficiency by ensuring that users are presented with the most pertinent data as soon as they access the Log Activity tab.

ReferencesIBM Security QRadar SIEM and IBM Security QRadar EDR integration.pdf​

To optimize event and flow payload searches for log data stored for up to a month, an administrator should configure the retention period for payload indexes. Here’s the process:

Retention Period Configuration: Set the retention period for payload indexes to match the desired data storage duration (e.g., one month).

Improved Search Efficiency: By configuring the retention period appropriately, QRadar ensures that the indexed data is efficiently searchable, improving performance during searches.

Index Management: Regularly manage and clean up indexes to maintain optimal system performance and storage utilization.

ReferencesThe IBM QRadar SIEM administration guides provide instructions on configuring retention periods for various types of indexes, including payload indexes, to optimize search performance.

IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5 provides several types of resource restriction mechanisms to manage access control and data visibility. The three main types are:

Role-based restrictions: These restrictions limit what actions users can perform based on their assigned roles. Each role has specific permissions that dictate access to different functionalities and data within QRadar.

Tenant-based restrictions: This type of restriction is used in multi-tenant environments, where different tenants (organizational units) need to have isolated views and access to their data. Tenant-based restrictions ensure that users from one tenant cannot access data from another tenant.

Domain-based restrictions: Domains in QRadar are used to segment data logically. Domain-based restrictions control which data is visible to users based on the domains they have been granted access to.

These restriction types ensure that access control is granular and adheres to organizational security policies.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM documentation outlines the use of role-based, tenant-based, and domain-based restrictions for managing access control and data visibility.

In IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5, managing what functions a user can access is crucial for maintaining security and ensuring that users have appropriate permissions. TheSecurity Profileoption is used to manage these access controls. Here’s how it works:

Security Profile: Defines the specific permissions and roles assigned to users, dictating what actions they can perform within QRadar. This includes access to various modules, dashboards, and functionalities.

User Role: While related, user roles are more about grouping users with similar permissions rather than defining individual access.

Admin Role: Typically reserved for users with administrative privileges but does not manage the specific functions users can access.

Security Options: This is not a relevant option for managing user access to QRadar functions.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM V7.5 documentation details how security profiles are configured and managed, providing comprehensive steps on assigning and modifying user access based on roles and profiles.

To ensure that a rule in IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5 does not send an email more than 10 times in a 24-hour period, the "response limiter" can be used. Here’s how it works:

Response Limiter: This feature limits the number of times a rule action (such as sending an email) can be executed within a specified timeframe.

Configuration: Set the response limiter to a maximum of 10 actions in 24 hours.

Implementation: Apply the response limiter to the rule, ensuring that even if the rule conditions are met multiple times, the email will only be sent up to the specified limit.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM documentation on rule management and tuning includes detailed instructions on using the response limiter to control the frequency of rule actions.

QRadar event data is stored in the Ariel database on the Event Processor and any attached Data Nodes. The Event Processor is responsible for processing incoming events, performing correlation, and storing the event data. The attached Data Nodes provide additional storage capacity and can be used to extend the storage available to the Event Processor.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM V7.5 Administration documentation.

To quickly check the disk space for all managed hosts in IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5, the administrator uses the following command:

Command:/opt/qradar/support/all_servers.sh -C -k 'df -Th'

Function: This command checks the disk space across all managed hosts, providing detailed information about the filesystem types and disk usage.

Parameters:

-C: Executes the command on all managed hosts.

-k: Keeps the output in a human-readable format.

'df -Th': The specific command to display the disk space usage in a tabular format with human-readable file sizes.

ReferencesThe IBM QRadar SIEM documentation provides a comprehensive list of commands for system administration, including those for checking disk space on managed hosts.

If the option "Include in my Dashboard" cannot be selected when creating a saved search in IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5, a possible reason is insufficient permissions. Here’s why:

Permissions: The user needs appropriate permissions to add saved searches to the dashboard.

Role-Based Access Control: QRadar uses role-based access control to manage user permissions. The user’s role must include the necessary privileges to modify dashboards.

Verification: Ensure that the user has the correct permissions assigned. This can be checked and adjusted in the user management settings.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM administration guides explain the permissions required for various actions, including adding saved searches to dashboards, and how to configure user roles and permissions.

In IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5, the license giveback rate can be viewed in the License Pool Management section. Here’s the step-by-step process:

Access Admin Tab: The administrator needs to navigate to the Admin tab in the QRadar GUI.

License Pool Management: Under the Admin tab, there is an option for License Pool Management.

View License Giveback Rate: Within the License Pool Management section, the administrator can view details about license usage, including the giveback rate.

ReferencesThe QRadar SIEM administration guide provides detailed steps on accessing and managing license information, including the giveback rate, under the Admin tab.

The primary site for downloading software updates for IBM QRadar is IBM Fix Central. Here’s how it works:

IBM Fix Central: A centralized platform for downloading fixes, updates, and patches for IBM software products.

Accessing Updates: Administrators can log in to IBM Fix Central, select QRadar from the list of products, and download the necessary updates.

Regular Updates: Keeping QRadar updated with the latest fixes and patches ensures optimal performance and security.

ReferencesIBM QRadar SIEM documentation and support resources direct users to IBM Fix Central for downloading and applying software updates.

To see all of the events from a particular log source in the Log Activity tab, a user must have the appropriate permissions set in their security profile. The most restrictive permissions needed are:

Security Profile Inclusion: The log source must be included in the user's security profile. This means the user must have explicit permission to access events from this log source.

Permissions to Networks and Log Sources: The user's security profile must also include permissions to both Networks and Log Sources. This ensures the user has the necessary access to view events related to the specified log source within the network context.

These permissions are crucial to control and restrict access, ensuring users can only view data they are authorized to see while maintaining security and privacy within the system.

ReferencesIBM Security QRadar SIEM and IBM Security QRadar EDR integration.pdf​

When adjusting a custom email template in IBM QRadar SIEM V7.5, the two elements that need to be edited to include customizations are:

<subject>: This element defines the subject line of the email, which can be customized to provide a clear and relevant description of the email's content.

<body>: This element contains the main content of the email. Customizing the body allows administrators to include specific information, formatting, and messages relevant to the recipient.

Customizing these elements ensures that the email notifications are informative and tailored to the needs of the recipients.

ReferencesThe QRadar SIEM user and configuration guides provide instructions on customizing email templates, highlighting the<subject>and<body>elements as key areas for customization.