We utilize the product for our Security Operations Center operations. Additionally, we extend its use to our customers, employing it for tasks such as threat hunting, investigation, and triage analysis.
IBM Security QRadar Suite Software: SIEM & SOAR
IBM SecurityExternal reviews
External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
Useful for threat hunting, investigation, and triage analysis
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The tool's most valuable feature is log source management. It enables us to connect to various log sources, including content, authentications, or other customized integrations. These integrations can be tailored for use with other platforms that don’t already have built-in IBM add-ons.
Its scalability is also important. It is also compatible with ISO 27001, DSS API, and various certifications.
As part of our security infrastructure, this tool excels in detecting a wide range of attacks. Its responsiveness surpasses that of alternative solutions. Moreover, the user-friendly interface greatly benefits our analysts. The product is helpful in anomaly detection scenarios.
Additionally, we leverage out-of-the-box content and libraries within the IBM ecosystem. Its user behavior analysis helps us to ensure that our customers are protected.
Correlation plays a pivotal role in our security strategy. It helps us to analyze logs from different sources. This process helps to correlate logs from endpoints.
What needs improvement?
Certain updates—especially when using Azure—don't apply directly. Our engineering team must invest additional effort to implement these updates. However, the tool's cloud-based version poses no issues. However, upgrading the product can sometimes be challenging for on-premises instances.
Our current query language (KQL) serves its purpose, but there's room for improvement. Consider introducing a more human-friendly language to streamline analyst training. Analysts could then express queries in a manner akin to human language. This change would expedite processes, making it easier for new analysts to adapt.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the product for five years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool's scalability an eight to nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Troubleshooting delays have been a recurring challenge. Occasionally, responses take two to three days, leading to escalations. While their website’s knowledge base is commendable, troubleshooting scenarios demand more time. My observation is that they may be understaffed.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
My company has customers using Splunk and Chronicle SIEM. When comparing Splunk and IBM Security QRadar, they indeed offer similar features, but their business models differ. Chronicle SIEM predominantly operates in the cloud. However, we cannot offer the cloud model if a customer prefers an on-premises solution.
Splunk and IBM Security QRadar both cater to diverse deployment preferences. Splunk boasts a slightly more robust correlation engine than IBM Security QRadar. Splunk tends to be marginally more expensive than IBM Security QRadar.
How was the initial setup?
The number of log sources significantly impacts deployment complexity. The process becomes more complicated for environments with 50 log sources compared to those with fewer sources (e.g., 20 or 10).
Each log source requires a connection to IBM, a task that can take several days or hours, depending on its complexity.
On average, the entire deployment process spans six to eight weeks.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool's on-premise version is expensive. However, it is cheaper than Splunk. The hybrid model offers shared instances for customers, which is not expensive. Customers with a limited budget can opt for it. You can get premium support with licenses. However, if you need customized integration, you need to buy it.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.
A security solution to manage logs from multiple devices
What is our primary use case?
We use IBM Security QRadar for storage. These tools are setting high tools on the usage of the logs from multiple devices. It manages millions of logs from multiple devices, such as firewalls, routers, switches, etc. The solution is stable and has better support than LogRhythm. It doesn't have multiple components or servers, troubleshooting, or remote servers. It is based on a CentOS platform, and implementation is difficult.
How has it helped my organization?
We make use of the tool to ensure company security. We have the firewall services and switches integrated. We use the solution for attack-related loss, firewall and blacklist IP. There are multiple use cases, like, internal firewalls, internal Windows servers and Internet controllers. It protect us from multiple authentication values, unauthorized access and antivirus threats. We don't open and see the console all the time, so we need automated alert access to all Windows. There's a malware incident and wireless incident. The QRadar has antivirus which detect cache files, etc.
What is most valuable?
IBM Security QRadar is stable. The tool exhibits minimal vulnerabilities and does not encounter multiple issues. It is not easy to operate, it ensures minimal downtime. Its usability, synchronization with systems, user interface, and storage capabilities are crucial. Storage is essential for research and hunting, as it involves delving into logs. The response time of IBM QRadar is commendable, and even when processing large amounts of data, it maintains a consistently high level of performance. The tool utilise RAM efficiently.
What needs improvement?
IBM Security QRadar lacks automated response. With this feature, there's no need to visit VirusTotal or other sites for IP reputation. There should be a small plug-in where users can click to retrieve details about the reputation and organization of public IP.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using IBM Security QRadar for 4 years. We are using V7.5 of the solution.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. It's crucial for maintaining the company's security.
I rate its stability as nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution’s scalability is excellent.
25 users are using this solution.
I rate the solution’s scalability a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
IBM provides good support.We have paid licenses, which come with special performance enhancements.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and can be done within a day. It is based on Linux. If there is any issue, you need to bang your head to solve the issue.
IBM Security QRadar requires a specific server with a minimum of 128 GB RAM and can support up to 2,000 endpoints. The installation process involves obtaining the ISO and setting up the necessary configurations. Once installed, we must ensure the components are properly located and configured.
One person is required for maintenance and deployment each.
I rate the solution's setup as a seven out of ten.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We opted for IBM Security QRadar based on its market rating and recommendations from previous alumni who have experience with it at our company. QRadar is a software solution provided by IBM for security purposes.
What other advice do I have?
QRadar supports connectivity with a 2800 vendors, including Cisco and Fortinet FortiGate. These integrations encompass various platforms such as VMs, Linux distributions like Red Hat and CentOS, and Symantec and Microsoft Windows for CRM databases and other server functionalities. Cloud technologies such as Office 365 are also supported.
The tool is flexible and I recommend it.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
A highly scalable and stable tool with a responsive support team
What is our primary use case?
I use IBM Security QRadar in my company as it provides features like SIEM, SOAR, and QNI.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of IBM Security QRadar stems from the fact that it is a product that is like a complete suite.
What needs improvement?
The price of IBM Security QRadar is an area of concern where improvements are required. IBM is never known to provide products at a cheap price.
IBM Security QRadar's UI is an area with certain shortcomings where improvements are needed.
In the future, I would like IBM Security QRadar to have a library of adapters or APIs.
The area around recovery time is an aspect of IBM's technical support where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using IBM Security QRadar for more than a year. I use the solution's latest version. My company is in the process of being declared as a golden partner of IBM.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
My company currently deals with around four to five organizations comprising medium to large companies where IBM Security QRadar is used.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's technical support is responsive. The only area where I don't agree with IBM Security QRadar's technical support stems from the lack of proper or defined recovery time, even though their response time is good.
I rate the technical support a seven out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have experience with Splunk. My company deals with Splunk since we had no choice owing to the fact that one or two customers wanted it.
In the past, I was using open-source products, including solutions like Elastic Security and Wazuh.
My company decided to switch from Wazuh to IBM Security QRadar.
How was the initial setup?
The product's deployment phase can be described as an average one.
I rate the deployment process of IBM Security QRadar a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy.
The solution is deployed on an on-premises model.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
On a scale of one to ten, I rate the price a one, where one is an extremely expensive product, and ten is a cheap product. IBM Security QRadar is an expensive product. A customer gets discounts only when they ask for them from IBM.
The challenge is that if someone submits a request or proposal and finds that the prices of the products our company deals with are too high, we may not even be shortlisted for negotiations. If my company gets shortlisted for the next round, then we get questioned over the high prices.
What other advice do I have?
My company takes care of the maintenance part of the solution for our clients who use IBM Security QRadar in their environments. Nine engineers and one manager take care of the maintenance process of IBM Security QRadar. My company has a lot of certified employees to take care of IBM Security QRadar's maintenance. My company can be considered a powerhouse when it comes to products from IBM.
I recommend the solution to those who plan to use it.
Splunk and IBM are leaders as per Gartner Magic Quadrant. I believe that IBM Security QRadar should be fairly priced for SMEs.
I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.
A highly stable and scalable solution that provides good technical support
What is our primary use case?
I've got use cases where we monitor positive controls wherein something doesn't allow something to happen. It alarms when somebody changes the control.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of IBM Security QRadar are flexibility, IBM support, and scalability.
What needs improvement?
IBM Security QRadar’s GUI could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using IBM Security QRadar for 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate IBM Security QRadar ten out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Around five to ten users are using the solution in our organization.
I rate IBM Security QRadar ten out of ten for scalability.
How was the initial setup?
The solution's initial setup is pretty difficult. I rate IBM Security QRadar a four or five out of ten for the ease of its initial setup.
What about the implementation team?
Based on the size and the number of use cases, the solution's deployment can take three or four days to a few months.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
IBM Security QRadar is about 50% less expensive than Splunk. SIEM solutions charge by the amount of data, whether EPS or gigabytes. They directly incentivize you not to put things in it, which doesn't make sense since the goal is to put everything in it. They'd make it where you can't afford to do it.
On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate IBM Security QRadar's pricing a five out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate IBM Security QRadar a nine out of ten.
A scalable and easy-to-deploy incident management tool that provides good support
What is our primary use case?
The product is a threat detection and response solution. It is useful for consultants or security analysts. It is an incident management tool.
What is most valuable?
We had enabled federated search. It allows us to search data both on-premises and on the cloud. We can check the functional insights. We use keywords for threat investigation. We use the product mostly for AWS delivery models.
What needs improvement?
Most people handling QRadar in organizations are IT engineers. They do not have experience with the tool. They read from manual documentation. If there is an emergency to search for details about malware, we need a response team’s help. Sophos has a team called Managed Threat Response. The team conducts investigations in our network. This feature is not available in IBM Security QRadar. They only provide technical support. The product does not have a team for investigating malware.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool is stable. SIEM is important for every company. It is needed if any attack occurs.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We deployed the solution for an enterprise business. I rate the scalability of the tool an eight out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
I rate the ease of setup an eight out of ten.
What about the implementation team?
The deployment takes almost half a day. If the environment is good, we can deploy the solution in 25 to 30 minutes. It will be helpful to have people who have knowledge of malware analysis and know specific languages that are relevant to the domain to deploy the tool.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
In India, the solution is expensive. Only enterprise businesses can afford the tool. We need more than 3000 people in the organization to use it. We might have to pay for technical support separately.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We use Sophos now. Sophos provides us with a team called MTR. The team analyzes the vulnerabilities in our network. We need to pay separately for it. However, compared to us, they have better product knowledge. This kind of support is not available in QRadar. It will be great if IBM adds these features.
What other advice do I have?
I am using the current version of the solution. We do not have a team to analyze malware. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.