Automated IT Connector Configuration via Event Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Analyzing and searching massive quantities of machine data generated in IT environments is challenging due to the vast variety and format of data types, leading to inefficiencies in data processing and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
An event-based data intake and query system with a flexible schema allows for the collection, indexing, and searching of machine data as events, enabling late-binding schema application during search time, which facilitates the extraction and analysis of diverse data types across disparate sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pre-specified data items are extracted and stored in a database during pre-processing, then efficient retrieval and analysis of those data items is facilitated, but the rest of the machine data is discarded and cannot be analyzed later
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary indexing of all machine data during ingestion, creating a searchable structure for every data item rather than only pre-specified items. This preliminary action enables both efficient retrieval (by having data ready-indexed) and flexible analysis (by retaining all data for future queries)
Solution Approach 2:
The database structure is designed to store and index all machine data items universally, not just pre-specified ones. This universal storage capability allows the system to serve multiple functions: efficient retrieval of known items and flexible analysis of any data item, making the system adaptable to various analysis needs
2Adaptability or versatility
If massive quantities of minimally processed machine data are stored for later retrieval and analysis, then greater flexibility is provided for searching all machine data, but analyzing and searching this data presents significant challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments machine data into discrete events with structured fields during ingestion. Each event is parsed into standardized components (timestamp, source, severity, etc.), creating manageable units that can be efficiently stored and searched. This segmentation reduces processing complexity while maintaining flexibility
3Reliability
If connectors are manually configured for each computing asset in an IT environment, then communication and control capabilities are established, but the configuration process becomes time-consuming and complex as the number of assets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically discovers computing assets in the IT environment and self-configures appropriate connectors without manual intervention. The automated configuration process identifies assets, determines required connector types, and establishes communication parameters, eliminating time-consuming manual configuration while maintaining reliable connections
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors IT environment data to identify computing assets and automatically triggers connector configuration based on detected assets. This feedback loop ensures connectors are created only when needed and configured with accurate, up-to-date information about the target assets
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for automatically identifying and configuring IT and security application connectors relevant to users' IT environment by obtaining and analyzing data reflecting activity within an IT environment. The identification of types of assets within an IT environment may be based on analyzing a “source type” field included in events associated with the IT environment, where the source type field included in each event provides an indication of a type of device or service to which the event relates. The values stored in the source type field of events associated with a user's IT environment might indicate, for example, the presence of various types of computing devices, software applications, network devices, and so forth. Based on the identification of types of assets present in an IT environment, an IT and security operations application automatically configures corresponding connectors for those types of assets.