What is the best way to handle false positives in network security monitoring?

1 Identify the source of false positives

The first step to handle false positives is to identify the source or cause of them. This can help you to determine whether they are due to technical issues, operational issues, or environmental issues. Technical issues are related to the configuration, performance, or functionality of your security tools, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), or security information and event management (SIEM) systems. Operational issues are related to the policies, procedures, or workflows of your security team, such as alert thresholds, escalation paths, or incident response plans. Environmental issues are related to the characteristics, behaviors, or changes of your network, such as traffic patterns, network topology, or software updates. By identifying the source of false positives, you can prioritize and address them accordingly.

2 Tune and update your security tools

The second step to handle false positives is to tune and update your security tools. Tuning refers to the process of adjusting the settings, parameters, or rules of your security tools to match your network environment and security objectives. For example, you can tune your IDS to filter out irrelevant or noisy alerts, or customize your SIEM to correlate and analyze events from multiple sources. Updating refers to the process of applying the latest patches, signatures, or versions of your security tools to ensure their accuracy, reliability, and compatibility. For example, you can update your firewall to block new threats, or update your antivirus to detect new malware. By tuning and updating your security tools, you can reduce the number of false positives and improve your network security monitoring.

3 Review and validate your alerts

The third step to handle false positives is to review and validate your alerts. Reviewing refers to the process of examining and verifying the details, context, and severity of your alerts. For example, you can review the source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, or payloads of your alerts to determine their relevance and impact. Validating refers to the process of confirming or rejecting the alerts based on evidence, logic, or experience. For example, you can validate the alerts by cross-referencing them with other sources of information, such as logs, network maps, or threat intelligence. By reviewing and validating your alerts, you can manage false positives and focus on true positives.

4 Document and report your findings

The fourth step to handle false positives is to document and report your findings. Documenting refers to the process of recording and storing the information, analysis, and actions related to your alerts. For example, you can document the date, time, type, source, cause, and resolution of your alerts in a database, spreadsheet, or ticketing system. Reporting refers to the process of communicating and sharing your findings with relevant stakeholders, such as managers, peers, or vendors. For example, you can report the frequency, distribution, and impact of your alerts in a dashboard, report, or presentation. By documenting and reporting your findings, you can learn from false positives and improve your network security monitoring.

5 Train and educate your security team

The fifth step to handle false positives is to train and educate your security team. Training refers to the process of enhancing the skills, knowledge, and abilities of your security analysts to perform network security monitoring effectively and efficiently. For example, you can train your security analysts to use your security tools, follow your security policies, or handle your security incidents. Educating refers to the process of raising the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of your security analysts about the importance, challenges, and trends of network security monitoring. For example, you can educate your security analysts about the latest threats, best practices, or research in network security monitoring. By training and educating your security team, you can reduce human errors, increase motivation, and foster collaboration among your security analysts.

6 Evaluate and optimize your strategy

The sixth step to handle false positives is to evaluate and optimize your strategy. Evaluating refers to the process of measuring and assessing the performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of your network security monitoring strategy. For example, you can evaluate your strategy by using metrics, indicators, or feedback to quantify and qualify your results, outcomes, or impacts. Optimizing refers to the process of improving and enhancing your network security monitoring strategy based on your evaluation. For example, you can optimize your strategy by using methods, techniques, or tools to streamline, automate, or innovate your processes, workflows, or solutions. By evaluating and optimizing your strategy, you can handle false positives better and achieve your network security monitoring goals.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?