# Log Source Onboarding Runbook
A log source onboarding runbook is a standardized operational procedure that defines the systematic process for integrating new log-generating systems into an organization's security information and event management (SIEM) or log management infrastructure. This document serves as a comprehensive guide that ensures consistent, repeatable execution of all tasks required to successfully collect, parse, normalize, and monitor security-relevant events from diverse IT systems, applications, and network devices.
The runbook exists because log source integration represents one of the most complex and error-prone activities in security operations. Each system generates logs in different formats, at varying volumes, with unique parsing requirements and distinct security relevance. A Windows domain controller produces authentication logs structured differently than a Linux web server's access logs or a network firewall's connection records. Without standardized procedures, organizations frequently experience incomplete log collection, parsing failures, storage inefficiencies, and most critically, security blind spots where threats operate undetected.
Within the broader security operations ecosystem, log source onboarding runbooks bridge the gap between IT asset discovery and active threat detection. They transform passive system inventory into active security telemetry, ensuring that every relevant system contributes meaningful data to the organization's security monitoring capabilities. The runbook represents the operational foundation that enables Security Information and Event Management platforms to fulfill their core mission: providing comprehensive visibility into organizational security posture through centralized log analysis and correlation.
Log source onboarding runbooks typically follow a structured five-phase approach: discovery and assessment, technical configuration, data validation, monitoring implementation, and operational handoff. Each phase contains specific procedures, verification checkpoints, and rollback mechanisms to ensure successful integration without disrupting existing operations.
The discovery and assessment phase begins with comprehensive system identification and log source evaluation. Technical teams catalog the target system's operating system, installed applications, network configuration, and existing logging capabilities. They determine log formats, typical volume rates, retention requirements, and regulatory compliance obligations. For example, a Microsoft Exchange server requires collection of security logs, application logs, and message tracking logs, each with different parsing requirements and storage considerations. The runbook specifies exact procedures for gathering this information, including required tools, access permissions, and documentation standards.
Technical configuration represents the most complex phase, involving multiple interconnected components. The runbook defines specific steps for installing and configuring log forwarding agents, establishing secure communication channels between source systems and log collectors, and implementing appropriate filtering and preprocessing rules. For Windows systems, this might involve configuring Windows Event Forwarding subscriptions and installing universal forwarders. For Linux systems, procedures might specify rsyslog configuration modifications and secure syslog transport setup. Network devices typically require SNMP configuration and syslog destination specification.
Parsing and normalization procedures ensure that raw log data transforms into structured, searchable events within the SIEM platform. The runbook specifies field extraction rules, timestamp normalization procedures, and data enrichment requirements. A Cisco ASA firewall log requires different parsing rules than a Palo Alto Networks device, even though both generate similar security events. The runbook details these device-specific configurations while maintaining consistent output formats that enable cross-platform correlation and analysis.
Data validation phases verify successful log collection and accurate parsing before declaring the onboarding complete. Procedures include volume validation to ensure expected log rates, content verification to confirm all relevant event types are captured, and accuracy checks to validate that parsed fields contain correct information. Test procedures might involve generating specific events on the source system and verifying their appearance and correct parsing within the SIEM platform within defined timeframes.
Monitoring implementation establishes ongoing operational oversight for the newly onboarded log source. The runbook defines specific monitoring rules for detecting collection failures, parsing errors, volume anomalies, and communication disruptions. These might include automated alerts when log volumes deviate significantly from established baselines or when parsing failure rates exceed acceptable thresholds.
Alert tuning procedures ensure that security-relevant events from the new log source integrate effectively with existing detection rules and correlation logic. The runbook specifies which detection rules should include the new log source, any modifications required for existing correlation searches, and new monitoring rules specific to the onboarded system type.
Rollback procedures provide clear steps for removing or disabling log collection if problems arise during onboarding. These procedures specify how to safely remove forwarding agents, disable collection rules, and clean up any configuration changes without impacting other systems or log sources.
Log source onboarding runbooks directly impact organizational security visibility and operational efficiency. Security teams can only detect and respond to threats within systems they monitor. Each unmonitored system represents a potential blind spot where attackers can operate undetected. A systematic onboarding process ensures comprehensive coverage while maintaining consistent data quality across all monitored systems.
The business impact extends beyond security operations into compliance and risk management. Regulatory frameworks like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX require comprehensive logging and monitoring of systems handling sensitive data. Standardized onboarding procedures ensure that compliance requirements are consistently met across all relevant systems while providing auditable documentation of security controls implementation.
Operational efficiency gains compound over time as teams follow established procedures rather than custom-configuring each log source. Inconsistent onboarding approaches lead to configuration drift, where similar systems are monitored differently, making maintenance and troubleshooting significantly more complex. Standardized runbooks enable consistent configuration management and reduce the specialized knowledge required to maintain log collection infrastructure.
Common misconceptions about log source onboarding include the belief that simply pointing systems at a SIEM automatically provides security value. Poorly configured log sources generate noise rather than actionable intelligence. Without proper parsing and normalization, logs become difficult to search and correlate. Without appropriate filtering, systems become overwhelmed with irrelevant events while security-critical events become buried in the noise.
Another misconception involves treating onboarding as a one-time activity rather than an ongoing operational process. Systems change over time through patches, configuration updates, and application modifications. Log formats evolve, new log sources become available, and monitoring requirements change based on emerging threats. Effective runbooks include procedures for maintaining and updating log source configurations throughout the system lifecycle.
The consequence of inadequate log source onboarding extends far beyond operational inefficiency. Security incidents frequently involve lateral movement across multiple systems, and incomplete logging coverage provides attackers with unmonitored pathways for maintaining persistence and expanding access. During incident response activities, gaps in log collection directly translate to gaps in forensic evidence and incident timeline reconstruction.
CDA approaches log source onboarding through the Security Posture Hygiene (SPH) and Threat Intelligence and Detection (TID) domains within the Passive Defense Model (PDM). SPH owns the systematic procedures and configuration management aspects that ensure consistent, maintainable log collection infrastructure. TID focuses on the detection and response capabilities that log sources enable, including correlation rules, detection logic, and threat hunting procedures.
The Autonomous Posture Command methodology ("Your posture adapts. Your hygiene never sleeps.") applies directly to log source onboarding through adaptive configuration management and continuous validation. Traditional approaches treat log source configuration as static: once configured, systems are assumed to continue working correctly indefinitely. CDA's approach implements continuous validation of log source health, automatic detection of configuration drift, and adaptive responses to changing system conditions.
CDA differs from conventional thinking by treating log source onboarding as a security-first process rather than a data collection exercise. Conventional approaches often prioritize comprehensive data collection, leading to overwhelming volumes of low-value events that mask security-relevant activity. CDA's methodology emphasizes security relevance and detection value throughout the onboarding process, ensuring that each log source contributes meaningful security telemetry rather than merely generating data.
The CDA approach also emphasizes integration between log source onboarding and broader security architecture. Rather than treating SIEM platforms as standalone systems, CDA integrates log source planning with threat modeling, detection engineering, and incident response capabilities. Log source selection and configuration decisions directly support specific detection use cases and threat scenarios rather than following generic best practices.
Automation plays a central role in CDA's log source onboarding methodology. Manual procedures are inherently error-prone and don't scale effectively as organizations grow and system diversity increases. CDA advocates for Infrastructure as Code approaches that treat log collection configurations as version-controlled, testable, and deployable artifacts. This approach ensures consistency while enabling rapid deployment and rollback capabilities.
• Standardized log source onboarding runbooks ensure consistent security visibility across all organizational systems while reducing operational complexity and human error rates.
• Effective runbooks address the complete lifecycle from initial discovery through ongoing maintenance, including validation procedures, rollback mechanisms, and configuration drift detection.
• Security-first onboarding prioritizes detection value over comprehensive data collection, ensuring that log sources contribute actionable intelligence rather than overwhelming noise.
• Continuous validation and adaptive configuration management prevent the configuration drift and collection failures that create security blind spots over time.
• Integration with broader security architecture ensures that log source decisions support specific detection use cases and threat scenarios rather than following generic practices.
• Change Management for Security • CIS Controls v8 • Iron Iris Operational Resilience Overview • SIEM Architecture and Design Patterns • Security Operations Center Procedures
• NIST Special Publication 800-92: Guide to Computer Security Log Management (https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-92/final) • CIS Control 8: Audit Log Management, CIS Controls Version 8 (https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/audit-log-management) • ISO/IEC 27035-1:2016 Information Security Incident Management (https://www.iso.org/standard/60803.html) • SANS Institute: Log Management and Analysis Guidelines (https://www.sans.org/white-papers/1168/)