Maturity Model for Event Log Management - (M-21-31)

What is the Maturity Model for Event Log Management (M-21-31) and its requirements and deadlines for implementation?

For any organization, it’s important to have a robust event log management system in place to ensure the security of your information and networks. The federal government has established a Maturity Model for Event Log Management to provide guidance and direction for agencies looking to improve their log management practices.

The Maturity Model is a three-level framework, which includes Essential (EL1), Intermediate (EL2), and Advanced (EL3) levels. Each level provides a set of requirements and implementation guidance to help agencies gradually improve their log management capabilities over time.

How can SentryWire help?

SentryWire can be leveraged as a comprehensive network event log management solution designed to help organizations meet the federal government’s Maturity Model for Event Log Management requirements.

With SentryWire, organizations can ensure that their logs are stored in a consistent, standardized format that meets the requirements outlined in the Maturity Model. The solution includes robust analytic capabilities that allow administrators to quickly and easily identify trends, anomalies, and potential security threats.

SentryWire also features a user behavior monitoring module that leverages machine learning and techniques to detect anomalous user actions and help combat advanced threats. This capability is critical for organizations that want to achieve the highest level of security maturity according to the federal government’s Maturity Model.

Finally, SentryWire is designed to integrate with Security, Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) technologies, allowing organizations to automate the production of incident response playbooks and streamline their incident response process. With SentryWire, organizations can take advantage of the latest SOAR capabilities to ensure that they are able to quickly and effectively respond to security incidents.

In conclusion, SentryWire is a comprehensive and flexible solution that can help organizations meet the requirements of the federal government’s Maturity Model for Event Log Management. With its powerful logging and analytic capabilities, SentryWire provides organizations with the tools they need to ensure the security and reliability of their IT Systems and data.

Overview of each level of the Maturity Model

At EL0, organizations have just started collecting event logs and do not yet have a centralized event log management solution in place. This stage is characterized by the manual collection and storage of log data from various sources, with little to no analysis or correlation of the logs.

At the Essential (EL1) level, agencies must establish a basic event log management infrastructure. This includes implementing a consistent timestamp format, forwarding all required log data to a central system, and establishing a Domain Name System (DNS) logging system. Agencies should also start planning on how to implement user behavior monitoring and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) capabilities.

The Intermediate (EL2) level builds on the EL1 requirements and focuses on enhancing the security posture of the log management system. Agencies must implement encryption for log data in transit and perform real-time monitoring and triage of DNS requests. Agencies must also implement automated threat detection and incident response playbooks to quickly respond to potential security threats.

At the Advanced (EL3) level, agencies must finalize the implementation of user behavior monitoring and SOAR capabilities. This includes leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to detect anomalous user behavior and respond to potential security threats in a timely manner. Additionally, agencies must automate the production of a list of hostnames that are frequently accessed by legitimate users and provide this list to the relevant security agencies for analysis.

To summarize, the Maturity Model for Event Log Management provides a clear path for agencies to improve their log management practices and ensure the security of their networks and information. By following the implementation requirements at each level, agencies can increase their security posture and stay ahead of potential threats. By investing in a robust log management system, organizations can ensure they control their security posture and quickly respond to potential threats.

At a high level, here are the essential components of the ELMM:

Level 0 (EL0):

  • Ad hoc logging

  • The collected log data is not regularly monitored or analyzed


Level 1 (EL1): Basic Event Logging and Management

  • Collection of basic logs from all systems and devices

  • Storage of logs in a centralized repository

  • Basic management and analysis of logs for troubleshooting and incident response


Level 2 (EL2): Enhanced Event Logging and Management

  • Collection of detailed and comprehensive logs from all systems and devices

  • Storage of logs in a centralized repository with increased capacity and data retention

  • Automated management and analysis of logs for security monitoring, incident response, and audit trails


Level 3 (EL3): Advanced Event Logging and Management

  • Collection of high-quality and structured logs from all systems and devices, including metadata and contextual information

  • Storage of logs in a centralized repository with increased security and data integrity measures

  • Automated management and analysis of logs for security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR), threat detection and mitigation, and forensic investigations


OMB M-21-31 Deadlines:

  • EL0: Immediate

  • EL1: August 2022

  • EL2: April 2023

  • EL3: August 2023