HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOG ANALYSIS TOOL FOR YOUR ENTERPRISE

In the digital era, we need to track and record all of our data at all times. From
a user logging into the dashboard to database queries, JavaScript errors, and
website traffic, everything that matters is recorded in a log. You name it, and
with due probability, you already have time-stamped documentation of all the events
saved somewhere in the form of a log.

When the number of logs generated every minute is so massive, finding that one
exact piece of information that you need at a given time can be a painfully long
process. How can you extricate yourself from this jungle of never-ending files to
find the metaphorical needle in the haystack? Logs can be centralized and analyzed
from operating systems, applications, and networks through log analysis tools
without learning a complex query language. Log management tools are a key element
in any enterprise workflow, but it�s hard to find the right one that is responsive,
scalable, and flexible enough for your specific digital ecosystem. Among the many
log analysis tools out there, how do you choose the right one for your business?

UNDERSTANDING YOUR NEEDS

Different businesses use log analysis tools for different purposes. Many
enterprises mostly use log files to search for bugs, spot unknown or hidden errors,
and understand the reasons for potential crashes. Instead of spending a ton of time
scouring through huge amounts of plain text log files, they rely on log management
tools to help them find the bug and squash it ASAP. Others use them to sift through
all their data in search of actionable insights.

Log analysis can be used to derive informative metrics that help analysts
understand what happened in a system, monitor its activities, and optimize its
performance. This data can be used for marketing purposes, to plan advertising
campaigns, and increase conversions by observing users� behavior. Log analysis
tools are also a terrific weapon in the arsenal of any security team since they
allow for safeguarding access to vulnerable data, monitor IoT activity, and detect
and prevent fraud.

A LOG ANALYSIS SOLUTION FOR EVERY TYPE OF USE CASE

To know which specific log analysis tool to choose, you must first understand the
unique needs of your enterprise. What is your company�s use case?

Security - Identify all threats in the blink of an eye

Compliance & Audit - Cost-effectively store all your logs and quickly respond to
all queries
IT Operations - Keep your error logs and your entire infrastructure close at hand
DevOps - Use responsive log management to work in cloud and elastic environments
MSSP - Harness comprehensive solutions that integrate many devices to collect data
from all networks

SAAS ENTERPRISES
If your enterprise is a software as a service (SaaS) business, your first and
foremost priority should be to keep your service and website active at all times.
Service downtime is, in fact, a serious threat for all online enterprises that must
be avoided at all times, but for SaaS companies, it may cause you irreparable
damage. A huge crash will cost you more than just sales and customers since it may
negatively affect your reputation as well.

Solid log management software can help you test and troubleshoot your updates
before they�re rolled out, and check if the new features are properly functional.
It helps you spot and track errors before your users find them, or before they
cause any service disruption. Therefore, a log analysis tool tailored for SaaS
companies must be extremely agile and fast-reacting. It should be able to provide
real-time insights into server-side processes so you can react quickly if something
unexpected occurs. You want it to be as easy as possible. The last thing you want
to see is your IT team struggling with a clunky interface while they try to
pinpoint the root cause of your system issues.

STARTUPS AND SMBS

Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and startups do not usually enjoy the larger
budgets that bigger firms can handle. Pricing is always an issue, but in due time,
you may have access to better resources. A scalable solution that is flexible
enough to be expanded through a predictable model allows you to tailor its function
to your momentary needs and growth perspectives.

Open-source software that can be downloaded for free may save you the hassle of
paying for renting the service, but will leave you in charge of all the management
costs. This approach is a great idea if your hardware framework is solid enough
already, otherwise it may lead to higher upfront costs. Cloud-based solutions are a
little bit more expensive, but free the hands of your dev team who don�t need to
constantly work on the log management tools to customize them.

DIGITAL MARKETING AND SECURITY

Your systems can produce overwhelming volumes of data, but when you need to plan
your digital marketing strategy, you want to focus only on what�s relevant. If you
want to avoid dealing with too much noise, you want a tool that focuses on log
analysis rather than on crawling. Most log management tools just collect and
aggregate log files from different sources so they can be consumed later. However,
they provide no meaningful information on how this data can be consumed.

Analytics and data visualization are also critical for security purposes. Once they
are consolidated, events can be interpreted to find correlations, alerts, and
actionable insights. Event patterns can be spotted by performing a multidimensional
analysis rather than just collecting neutral data. For example, a sudden spike in
network traffic may signal a potential security breach in the form of repeated
brute-force login attempts. Log analysis tools usually support integration with
many third-party apps so you can make even better sense of your data.

FINDING THE RIGHT LOG ANALYSIS TOOL FOR YOU

In a nutshell, although all log management tools can more or less cover all bases,
they�re not all created equal. Each one has its own unique features, merits, and
flaws. So focus on what you really need before venturing into a labyrinth full of a
myriad of different solutions.