Introduction to KQL for SOC Analysts
Kusto Query Language (KQL) is an essential tool for Security Operations Centre (SOC) analysts seeking to effectively investigate and analyse security data. Developed by Microsoft, KQL is a powerful query language used to interact with various data sources, such as Azure Monitor Logs, Azure Data Explorer, and Microsoft Sentinel. In this blog post, we’ll get into the basics of KQL and explore how it can enhance your security analysis capabilities.
What is KQL?
KQL is a read-only query language designed to help users retrieve, filter, and analyse large volumes of structured and semi-structured data. Its syntax is similar to SQL, making it relatively easy for those familiar with SQL to learn and adopt KQL. However, KQL offers additional features and functions specifically tailored for log analysis and security investigations.
Why use KQL in a SOC?
As a SOC analyst, you often deal with vast amounts of security data from various sources, such as event logs, network traffic, and threat intelligence feeds. KQL enables you to efficiently query and analyse this data to identify potential security threats, anomalies, and incidents. By leveraging KQL, you can:
- Quickly search for specific events or patterns across multiple data sources
