Fighting Alert Fatigue in Security Teams and SIEMs

Alert fatigue is an increasingly common problem in Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) operations. With the sheer volume of alerts generated daily, many security teams struggle to manage and triage them effectively, leading to operational inefficiencies, stress, and an increased risk of missing genuine threats. When there aren’t enough staff or resources to handle the workload, analysts may experience burnout, which further hampers their ability to respond to critical incidents. 

Alert fatigue often arises from technology that is not optimally configured which causes a combination of high alert volumes, repetitive notifications, and the prevalence of false positives. This can mean that internal security teams overlook potential threats by wasting time on low-priority alert; or even ignoring alerts completely. These scenarios create significant vulnerabilities in an organisation’s security posture, potentially leaving them exposed to attacks that could have been mitigated. 

Key Contributors to Alert Fatigue 

The main contributor of alert fatigue is not configuring the technology optimally, this could be due to lack of resource or understanding, but without the correct configuration you will receive: 

High Alert Volumes: Excessive alerts, often numbering in the hundreds or thousands daily, overwhelming analysts and making triage unmanageable. 

False Positives: Many alerts that are flagged as suspicious turn out to be benign, wasting valuable time and attention. 

Lack of Context: Alerts that do not provide sufficient context force analysts to spend additional time investigating their relevance or severity. 

Resource Constraints: Insufficient staffing levels mean fewer people are available to handle the growing volume of alerts. 

Repetitive Alerts: Constant notifications for similar issues can desensitise analysts, reducing their responsiveness to legitimate threats. 

The above symptoms of poorly configured technology, if left unchecked can cause alert fatigue. Analysts may become disengaged, leading to missed threats or delayed responses. Persistent stress and burnout can result in high turnover rates within security teams, further exacerbating resource challenges. Not addressing alerts appropriately leaves significant gaps in an organisation’s security posture, increasing the likelihood of undetected breaches. 

Fighting Alert Fatigue 

Fortunately, there are several strategies organisations can adopt to manage and reduce alert fatigue. Adjusting alert configurations to minimise false positives can significantly reduce the volume of unnecessary notifications. Regularly reviewing and tuning SIEM rules ensures that only actionable alerts are generated. Establishing a tiered system helps analysts prioritise alerts based on their severity and potential impact.  

Enhancing alerts with additional context, such as detailed threat descriptions or affected assets, allows analysts to make quicker and more informed decisions. Automated triage and response mechanisms can handle routine alerts, enabling analysts to focus on more complex tasks. Machine learning tools can also help identify patterns and reduce repetitive tasks. 

Organisations with limited resources can outsource their configuration and alert monitoring to a Security Operations Centre (SOC), like Red Helix. We provide specialised expertise and around-the-clock monitoring, relieving internal teams of the burden. Training analysts to recognise and prioritise critical alerts, is essential and ensures they have the skills and confidence to manage high-pressure situations effectively. However, this training can be costly and time consuming. That is why outsourcing your SOC to a specialist can save your organisation time and money.  

“We train our staff to a high standard, which is essential not just for protecting our customers but the individual growth plans of our analysts at Red Helix. Training for accreditations and certifications equips our employees to serve customers more effectively as their first line of defence against cyber threats.” Imran Iqbal, Operations Centre Manager at Red Helix.  

Managing alert fatigue in SIEM operations requires a proactive approach that combines process optimisation, advanced technologies, and sufficient staffing. By refining alert rules, automating repetitive tasks, and leveraging external resources where necessary, organisations can reduce the strain on their security teams and improve their overall defence posture.  

If you are struggling with alert fatigue within your team, contact Red Helix today, to find out how we can help lighten the load.