Comparing Microsoft Sentinel vs. Splunk

As networks increase in scale and complexity, it becomes even more important for enterprises to have a security solution that they can trust. Two leading security solutions are Microsoft Sentinel and Splunk. Both Microsoft and Splunk are all-in-one security, orchestration, and event management platforms. However, the ways they work differ as do their pros and cons.

While both these solutions are feature-complete, your organization may find one better than the other. Let's look at some benefits of Sentinel vs. the benefits of Splunk.

What is Microsoft Sentinel?

Microsoft Sentinel is Microsoft's SIEM (security information event management) solution. Entirely built on the cloud, Microsoft Sentinel is a next-generation security solution that is built on machine-learning artificial intelligence. Through Microsoft Sentinel, organizations are able to detect and mitigate threats faster.

The Microsoft Sentinel platform collects data across the cloud, detecting potentially hidden threats and analyzing activity for threats that may still be unseen. Once threats have been discovered, the AI-based solution investigates and responds, with the potential to self-heal the network. Incidents are responded to both more completely and more rapidly, thereby reducing the damage done. Microsoft Sentinel includes built-in orchestration and the ability to automate tasks.

Microsoft Sentinel comes with advanced analytics services, artificial intelligence, and data collection that has been both optimized and streamlined. Further, it's an affordable solution that boasts predictable billing cycles.

What Are the Advantages of Microsoft Sentinel?

Microsoft's Microsoft Sentinel technology is proven. Not only are users satisfied with its security technology, but they also show great confidence in the company's overall direction. Microsoft Sentinel is firmly integrated into the Microsoft Sentinel ecosystem, making it an excellent choice for organizations already leveraging the power of Sentinel. Further, Microsoft Sentinel is backed by the resources and customer support services of Microsoft.

Enterprise users report being happy with Microsoft Sentinel's scalability, product design, stability, and integration. They are also impressed by its metrics gathering features, load balancing, and analysis solutions. Microsoft Sentinel isn't a hugely innovative new technology, but it is a solid, stable solution that can provide support and automation for many traditional security and management processes.

What is Splunk?

Splunk is a "data-to-everything" security platform for security, IT, and DevOps. The Splunk Security Cloud includes features such as security analytics and SIEM, automation and orchestration, investigation and forensics, security incident response, and unified security operations. Splunk is an all-in-one security solution that also uses big data and artificial intelligence to detect and mitigate threats.

Splunk was founded in 2003 and has since developed a wide array of cloud-based solutions which are designed to reduce administrative burden and improve security. Splunk's IT framework also includes DevOps and IT solutions which can be integrated into the Splunk Security Cloud, providing organizations with everything they need to protect and maintain their network.

What Are the Advantages of Splunk?

Splunk is a comparatively small company compared to Microsoft Sentinel, leading some customers to feel as though they get a more personalized and direct approach when working with the company. Though the technology is not as robust or well-integrated as Microsoft Sentinel, it's a solid platform that is still being improved upon and developed. Pricing information varies for Splunk as well as Microsoft Sentinel, so it's difficult to get a direct cost comparison between the two systems.

Enterprise users report that they enjoy the fact that the solution is a completely consolidated, all-in-one platform. Users most like the system's flexibility, thorough logging, user-friendliness, and data collection. It's a straightforward, intuitive solution that does most of what an organization will need to do for orchestrating its security.

Microsoft Sentinel vs. Splunk: Which Should You Choose?

Both Microsoft Sentinel and Splunk are similar in their product offerings. But there are some key differences that might factor into your decision-making:

• Microsoft Sentinel is generally rated as being easier to use, set up, and administrate.
• Splunk generally gets better ratings for quality of support and ease of doing business.
• Most people trust Microsoft's products more, including its Network Management, Incident Management, and Security Intelligence.
• The only areas Splunk tends to excel are in event management and incident reporting.
• Splunk can take a little while longer to learn due to its reliance on query language.

One area that may be a question mark for your organization is cost. The cost for both Microsoft Sentinel and Splunk vary depending on your organization's size and usage. It may not be possible for your organization to tell which will be more affordable for your company until you get quotes from either. Free trials aren't available for Microsoft Sentinel or Splunk, but walkthroughs and demos can be requested.

Overall, Microsoft Sentinel provides superior technology, but Splunk is a smaller business and carries with it some "small company" benefits, such as customer support. For enterprises that rely upon their security and reliability services, Microsoft Sentinel will likely come out ahead. Though Splunk does have higher marks in quality of support, it has lower marks in most of its technology — and an MSP will likely interface between your organization and your solution regardless.

Are you still not sure who wins the battle between Microsoft Sentinel vs. Splunk? Many organizations will find Microsoft Sentinel more robust and feature-complete — but every organization is different, with different needs. At R2 Unified Technologies, we can take a look at your existing infrastructure and determine the right solution for you.

Since 2008, R2 Unified Technologies has been ensuring that our clients get what they need — and we remain convinced that innovation is no accident. Contact us today to find out more about Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk, and the solutions that can help super-power your business.