Discerning and deducing what’s real in alert management keeps data from detonating. We know firsthand how hard this can be—when every ping, flag, and notification demands attention, the noise can overwhelm even the sharpest security teams. False positives waste time, while false negatives can be catastrophic. Striking the right balance is critical. Here’s an easy checklist to assess whether you’re seeing a smoke-screen or seeking a fire-starter:
I. Initial Alert Analysis
- Examine the alert details carefully
- Identify the affected endpoint(s) and user(s)
- Note the type of activity or threat detected
II. Asset Identification
- Determine the role and importance of the affected endpoint
- Check if it’s a critical system or contains sensitive data
- Identify the primary user and their access levels
III. Timeline Assessment
- Establish when the suspicious activity began
- Look for any precursor events or related alerts
- Determine if it’s an ongoing issue or past event
IV. Lateral Movement Check
-
- Look for signs of spread to other systems
- Check for unusual network connection from the affected endpoint
- Examine authentication logs for suspicious login attempts on other systems
V. Data Impact Evaluation
- Assess what data could have been accessed or compromised
- Check for any unusual data access patterns of exfiltration attempts
- Determine if sensitive or regulated data is involved
VI. User Account Analysis
- Check if the associated user account shows signs of compromise
- Look for unusual account activity across other systems
- Determine if it’s a single-user issue or affects multiple accounts
VII. Similar Threat Hunting
- Search for similar IoCs across your environment
- Use threat intelligence to identify related attack patterns
- Run queries to find similar behavior on other endpoints
VIII. Network Traffic Analysis
- Examine network logs for unusual traffic patterns from the endpoint
- Look for communication with known malicious IP addresses or domains
- Check for anomalies in data transfer volumes or destinations
IX. Historical Context
- Review past alerts or incidents involving this endpoint or user
- Check if this is part of a larger trend or an isolated incident
X. Application & Process Examination
- Analyze running processes and installed applications on the endpoint
- Look for unauthorized or suspicious software
- Check for any tampering with security tools or system configurations
XI. Peripheral System Check
- Examine systems that frequently interact with the affected endpoint
- Look for signs of compromise on connected devices (e.g., USB drives)
XII. Environmental Factors
- Consider any recent changes in the IT environment that might be relevant
- Check if similar alerts are triggering on systems with similar configurations
XIII. Severity & Impact Assessment
- Assess the potential impact per the gathered information, assess the potential impact
- Determine if this is a localized issue or a widespread threat
XVI. Escalation Evaluation
- Decide if the scope warrants escalation to higher-tier analysts or incident response teams
- Consider if external entities (e.g., legal, PR) need to be notified based on the scope
Step up Your Game with Bricklayer
No false moves.
With Bricklayer AI, you can run multi-task workflows where AI agents and your human team work together to assess and respond to security incidents. Learn how in our latest playbook.
Get the Playbook →
