Check Point Security Management vs Splunk Enterprise Security comparison

Check Point Security Management is an advanced security management platform for enterprises. The platform integrates all aspects of security. A single platform manages the entire infrastructure, from data centers to private/public cloud deployments.

Check Point Security Management is a reliable and easy-to-use security platform. It integrates all aspects of your security environment to strengthen the security posture without impairing productivity. The system has a layered policy model. This means the security policy can be separated into layers for network segmentation. Different administrators can manage different policies. The policy layer automates the tasks.

The platform is extensible, scalable, and integrates easily with orchestration systems and change management.

Basic Components of the Infrastructure

1. Smart Console: The Check Point Graphical User Interface for connecting and managing Security Management Servers. The smart console provides an integrated solution via the following features:

• Security policy management
• System health monitoring
• Multi-domain management

The smart console offers several advantages. Changes in security policies and logs can be done with a click. You can navigate from an item within a log to the policy. There are also built-in multi-language support and accessibility features.

1. Security Management Server: The server manages security gateways with set security policies and monitors security events on the network.

The automation server is an integrated part of the management server. The API server is active by default on servers with 4 GB of RAM or more and on standalone servers with 8 or more GB of RAM.

The automation server communicates with the management server the same way as the Smart Console. This architecture allows the same validation errors and warnings to be presented when using an automation session.

The same audit logs generated using the Smart Console are also generated using an automation session. If you have a multi-domain environment, there is only one automation server that monitors all the IP addresses of the multi-domain management server.

2. Security Gateway is placed at the edge of the network. It monitors and filters traffic and enforces security policies.

Logging, Event management, and Monitoring

With Check Point Security Management, logging, reporting, event management, and monitoring are integrated. The platform features widgets and chart templates that optimize visibility. One of the best features is the one-click exploration. This simplifies going from a general overview to specific event details.

Benefits of Check Point Security Management

• The platform keeps pace with dynamic network changes
• Helps align security with business goals
• Helps with threat prevention.
• Reduces operational costs

The unified console also means a single policy for users, data, applications, and networks. The granularity control helps accelerate administration processes. This feature, together with automation, is key to achieving reduced operational overhead. Security teams can automate tasks and even create self-service security web portals with the Check Point Security Management platform.

Threat management is fully integrated, with reporting, logging, and monitoring all in one dashboard. This provides full visibility into the security of the network.

Security Management Suite

The Security Management Suite consists of the following modules:

• Policy Management: Includes central management of different security policies across multiple domains and browser-based security management.
• Operations Management: Includes compliance, provisioning, workflow automation, and user directory centralization.
• Threat Management: Includes centralizing security event correlation for enforcement points. Centrally monitors Check Point devices.

Reviews from Real Users

A Network Security Engineer/Architect at a tech services company says, "The features we like and find the most valuable are the ways we can manage the policy, create objects, and drag and drop objects in our daily operation. It makes our daily operation on the firewall management much easier than going, for example, to one firewall, then going to the other."

"The management API is the best new feature for me. It allows us to further automate our customers' automated server ordering," says a System Engineer Network & Security at OTTO GmbH & Co KG.

A Senior Infrastructure Services Specialist at St.George Bank Limited adds that "The solution is ideal for use and deployment in a large infrastructure environment."

Splunk Enterprise Security delivers powerful log management, rapid searches, and intuitive dashboards, enhancing real-time analytics and security measures. Its advanced machine learning and wide system compatibility streamline threat detection and incident response across diverse IT environments.

Splunk Enterprise Security stands out in security operations with robust features like comprehensive threat intelligence and seamless data integration. Its real-time analytics and customizable queries enable proactive threat analysis and efficient incident response. Integration with multiple third-party feeds allows detailed threat correlation and streamlined data visualization. Users find the intuitive UI and broad compatibility support efficient threat detection while reducing false positives. Despite its strengths, areas such as visualization capabilities and integration processes with cloud environments need enhancement. Users face a high learning curve, and improvements in automation, AI, documentation, and training are desired to maximize its potential.

• Log Management: Efficiently manages and organizes a vast amount of logs for better data handling.
• Rapid Data Search: Quickly retrieves relevant data for fast decision-making.
• Flexible Dashboards: Customizable dashboards provide clear data visualization.
• Comprehensive Threat Intelligence: Offers detailed insights to preemptively defend against threats.
• Real-Time Analytics: Analyzes data in real-time to enhance response times.
• Integration with Third-Party Feeds: Streamlines information flow from multiple sources.

• Efficient Incident Response: Enhances the ability to respond promptly to threats.
• False Positive Reduction: Minimizes incorrect threat alarms, making monitoring more efficient.
• Threat Detection Speed: Accelerates the identification and evaluation of security threats.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Potential savings through better licensing options and operational efficiency.
• User Adaptability: Enhancements in documentation and training resources aid in overcoming the learning curve.

In specific industries like finance and healthcare, Splunk Enterprise Security is instrumental for log aggregation, SIEM functionalities, and compliance monitoring. Companies leverage its capabilities for proactive threat analysis and response, ensuring comprehensive security monitoring and integration with various tools for heightened operational intelligence.