Security information and event management careers in 2025

With every firm under threat of cyber attack and specific risks like data theft a growing problem for businesses of all sizes, individuals with the skills to spot and block incidents early are set to be in higher demand than ever among employers this year.

The longer incidents go undiscovered, the more damaging they will be. Indeed, the recent high-profile spate of ransomware attacks on UK retailers – with Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods among those targeted – has highlighted the importance of improving threat detection and response capabilities, with the Co-op able to recover more quickly thanks to early decision-making.

Among the key skills that will be vital in these areas is security information and event management, or SIEM. Experience in this area is increasingly in demand, which is leading to a significant skills shortage as employers fight for talent. Indeed, the government’s most recent cyber security skills report noted that incident management skills gaps have increased from 27 per cent in 2020 to 48 per cent in 2024.

This article will explain:

• What SIEM skills are
• Why they matter
• What types of job you can apply to with these capabilities on your CV
• How you can stand out when applying for roles 

What is SIEM and why is it in demand?

SIEM refers to software, solutions and processes that help businesses detect, analyse and respond to potential threats before they have a chance to harm business operations. Professionals will be expected to use dedicated tools to collect, aggregate and examine data from across a system, looking for key signs of a breach or other attack.

Key activities that are part of this include:

• Log management 
• Event correlation
• Alerting and reporting
• Incident monitoring and response

SIEM is critical in spotting intrusions and data breaches in real time, especially when it comes to detecting advanced threats that may have evaded perimeter defences. This matters to businesses across all sectors, but especially those dealing with highly sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare and government. Coupled with the current skills shortage in the area, this offers great prospects for high salaries, career stability and opportunities for advancement.

Core components of SIEM you’ll need to know about

SIEM covers a wide range of roles and responsibilities. However, there are a few key day-to-day activities you’re likely to end up doing regardless of your employer or specific job title. The following are all important elements of SIEM you’ll need to be familiar with.

• Data aggregation and normalisation: This involves collecting data from diverse sources and converting it into a single format in order to ensure consistent analysis. Understanding this makes it easier to compare information, helping security teams spot unusual activity across all systems more effectively.
• Real-time event correlation: SIEM professionals must be able to connect the dots between events across systems to detect suspicious patterns of activity. This skill focuses on building and managing correlation rules that link seemingly benign activities to uncover complex attack chains in real time.
• Alerting and incident response: A critical SIEM function is turning these reports into actionable alerts that can respond to incidents and shut down intrusion. Professionals will need to separate real threats from potential false positives and deliver timely reports to ensure full investigation, containment and remediation of threats.
• Compliance reporting: Many organisations have to follow strict rules relating to data handling. Another job of SIEM is to ensure these requirements are being followed. Experts will need to not only use SIEM tools to create clear, accurate reports, but know how to present them effectively for audits and regulatory reviews.

Jobs and career pathways that need SIEM skills

SIEM skills are a core competency for a wide range of cyber security roles, from entry-level positions to senior roles.

At more junior levels, responsibilities will often include monitoring alerts, reviewing logs and responding to lower-level threats. As such, certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and the EC-Council’s CEH can help build the knowledge professionals need. Common job roles that will use these skills include:

• Security analyst
• SOC analyst (Tier 1)
• IT support specialist

For those moving to mid-level positions, their roles are likely to include aspects such as active threat hunting, refining alerting rules and conducting deeper investigations. Certifications such as Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) or GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) are often valuable. Common positions that use these skills include:

• Incident responder
• Threat intelligence analyst
• SOC analyst (Tier 2/3)

Finally, senior job titles where SIEM skills are important include:

• Security engineer
• SIEM architect
• Cybersecurity manager
• Chief information security officer

These include specialist positions that will oversee the full development and deployment of SIEM systems and manage more junior staff, as well as more general cyber security executive roles, where a deep understanding of strategy and compliance are important. High-level certifications like CISSP and CISM will be helpful for these roles.

Top SIEM tools professionals should learn in 2025

As cyber threats grow more complex, mastering some of the most commonly-used key SIEM tools is essential for security professionals. Being able to demonstrate a strong knowledge of the below will help you ace your interview and prepare for a future SIEM career.

• Splunk: A widely-used SIEM software known for its powerful search capabilities and data visualisation. It’s ideal for large-scale log analysis and security monitoring.
• IBM QRadar: Popular in enterprise environments, QRadar offers advanced threat detection, behavioural analytics and easy integration with other IBM security products.
• Microsoft Sentinel: A cloud-native SIEM built on Azure. Sentinel provides strong AI-driven threat detection, making it a top choice among organisations using Microsoft ecosystems.
• Elastic SIEM: Built on the Elastic Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana), this open-source option is flexible, cost-effective and highly customisable for advanced users.
• LogRhythm: Known for its ease of use and automation features, LogRhythm combines SIEM with security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) capabilities, helping teams respond to threats faster and more efficiently.

Real-world use cases SIEM professionals will work on

In practice, cyber security professionals will use SIEM skills and tools to combat several key threats faced by every business. Using essential capabilities such as behavioural monitoring, log analysis and pattern recognition helps with many core cyber security activities. These include:

• Malware and ransomware detection
• Stopping insider threats
• Preventing phishing attacks
• Blocking data exfiltration
• Identifying network anomalies
• Proactive threat hunting
• Monitoring cloud application security
• Preventing account takeovers
• Securing endpoints

5 SIEM skills that can help you meet any challenge

When applying for roles that ask for SIEM experience, there are a few essential capabilities you need to put on your CV and talk about in interviews to highlight your proficiency. Being able to demonstrate you have these five core skills will help make a good impression during the recruitment process.

• Log analysis: The ability to interpret and investigate log data is essential in detecting suspicious activity and identifying potential security incidents quickly.
• Threat intelligence: Understanding how threat actors work and indicators of compromise helps you make better sense of alerts and prioritise the biggest risks.
• Scripting: Basic scripting skills in the likes of Python or PowerShell let you automate tasks, create custom data analytics and enhance SIEM capabilities without relying solely on built-in functionality
• Knowledge of network protocols: Familiarity with protocols like HTTP, DNS and TCP/IP helps in spotting unusual traffic patterns that could indicate malicious behaviour.
• SOC workflows: Knowing how a Security Operations Centre (SOC) operates, including alert triage, escalation and reporting, makes you a more effective part of an incident response team.

A solid understanding of these will also help you handle some of the most common challenges faced by SIEM professionals in complex environments, such as managing large volumes of data, dealing with potential false positives and ensuring all tools are effectively integrated.

Key steps to break into a SIEM career

There are many transferable skills that IT professionals are likely to have that will lend themselves well to SIEM careers. Strong data analytics, a strong understanding of networking and knowledge of programming languages are all essential. If you have these skills, as well as a keen attention to detail and a passion for problem solving, SIEM could be the cyber security career path for you. 

In order to stand the best chance of making a move into these areas, also consider the following tips to build your skills and help you stand out.

• Use online courses and certifications to boost your skills
• Build foundational knowledge such as networking, security and log management
• Volunteer for SIEM-related projects – either at work or in your personal time
• Tailor your CV for junior SOC/SIEM roles
• Develop your ‘soft’ skills like communication, problem-solving and teamwork