July 11, 2025

Microsoft Sentinel

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In today’s dynamic digital environment, cyber threats are more complex, persistent, and damaging than ever. Businesses across Australia—particularly those with 20 to 120 staff—must strengthen their security posture with advanced tools that go beyond traditional defences. That’s where Microsoft Sentinel, a cloud-native SIEM and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) solution, comes in.

As the founder of an Australian IT Managed Services Provider, I frequently assist businesses in securing their digital environments using Microsoft’s cutting-edge security ecosystem. In this guide, we explore Microsoft Sentinel’s role in mitigating security threats, its architecture, and how it fits into modern threat defense strategies like Zero Trust and extended detection and response (XDR).

Understanding Microsoft Sentinel

What is Microsoft Sentinel?

Microsoft Sentinel (formerly known as Azure Sentinel) is a cloud-native SIEM and SOAR platform that combines security information and event management (SIEM) with intelligent automation. It delivers real-time threat detection, incident response, Threat Intelligence, and proactive threat hunting across your digital estate.

Built on Microsoft Azure, it uses powerful Log Analytics, AI and machine learning, and behavior analytics to provide unified security insights from various data sources, including cloud workloads, on-premises data, Microsoft 365 Defender, and Azure Monitor.

Why Rebrand from Azure Sentinel to Microsoft Sentinel?

The rebrand reflects broader integration with Microsoft’s ecosystem and a commitment to simplifying Security Orchestration and Automation and Response across platforms. Microsoft Sentinel now ties deeply into tools like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Microsoft Defender ATP, Microsoft Defender portal, Microsoft 365 E5, and Cloud App Security.

By doing so, Microsoft reinforces its Zero Trust strategy and expands capabilities across SIEM tools, XDR platforms, and Identity and Access Management.

Key Components and Architecture

Cloud-Native Approach

Microsoft Sentinel is natively built on Microsoft Azure, which means it scales effortlessly, integrates seamlessly, and eliminates on-premises complexity. It leverages:

  • Azure Monitor Log Analytics
  • Azure Activity Log
  • Azure Firewall
  • Azure Event Hub
  • Azure Lighthouse

This cloud-native security model ensures your Log Analytics workspace is always up-to-date, reliable, and secure.

Core Components

  • Data Connectors: Ingest security data from Microsoft and third-party tools via built-in and custom data connectors. Integrate with Microsoft 365 Defender, Azure Log Analytics, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer logs.
  • Log Analytics & Azure Logic Apps: Power security automation using Azure Logic Apps, Security Orchestration, and rich analytics rules for real-time alerts.
  • Jupyter Notebooks: Use Kusto Query Language (KQL) in Jupyter Notebooks for deep Threat Hunting and investigation.
  • Threat Intelligence: Incorporate feeds from Microsoft and external sources for broader Threat Actor and Credential Stuffing detection.
  • Dashboards & Visualization: Build customized data workbooks for real-time monitoring, security compliance, and reporting.
  • AI Capabilities: Advanced AI and machine learning models offer User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) and Customizable anomalies for proactive monitoring.

Microsoft Sentinel vs Traditional SIEM Systems

Feature Microsoft Sentinel Traditional SIEM (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)
Cloud-native Yes Rare or hybrid
Security Orchestration Integrated (SOAR) Often requires add-ons
AI & Behavior Analytics Yes Limited
Integration with Microsoft Stack Full Partial
Scalability Elastic (Cloud-based) Hardware-dependent
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping Built-in Add-on or manual

How Microsoft Sentinel Works

Step-by-Step Overview

  1. Collect Data: Use data connectors to ingest logs and telemetry from Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Azure Monitor, on-premises tools, and third-party services.
  2. Normalize & Store in Log Analytics: Schema is standardised in the Log Analytics workspace using Azure Monitor Log Analytics.
  3. Detect Threats: Apply analytics rules, MITRE ATT&CK® framework, and AI models to uncover threats.
  4. Incident Response: Automatically trigger Logic Apps and playbooks for rapid incident response.
  5. Threat Hunting & Forensics: Use Jupyter Notebooks, Threat Search, and behavior analytics to investigate events and identify anomalies.

 

Features and Business Benefits

Core Features

  • Real-time threat detection using AI and behavioral analytics
  • Automated Security Orchestration Automated Response (SOAR) via Azure Logic Apps
  • Integration with Microsoft Defender, Cloud App Security, and other Microsoft 365 tools
  • Scalable log ingestion, data retention, and compliance dashboards
  • Custom security analytics rules, search queries, and anomaly detection

Benefits for Mid-Sized Australian Businesses

  • Fast incident resolution through automation
  • Visibility across your entire digital estate
  • Advanced threat detection using Artificial Intelligence
  • Compliance with industry regulations
  • Reduced false positives and alert fatigue
  • Access to SIEM Plus XDR Workshop resources from Microsoft

Real-World Use Cases

  • Security Operations Centres (SOCs): Streamline workflows, leverage Azure Lighthouse, and automate using Logic Apps
  • Finance and Healthcare: Comply with privacy regulations through secure, immutable logging and reporting
  • Enterprises with Hybrid Environments: Correlate activity across on-premises data and cloud workloads
  • MSPs: Use Sentinel with Azure Lighthouse and Daymark Solutions to manage multiple tenants securely
  • Incident Response Teams: Quickly detect and respond to Double Extortion Ransomware and Credential Stuffing attacks

Sentinel vs Competitor Platforms

Criteria Microsoft Sentinel Splunk Enterprise IBM Security QRadar
Cloud-native SIEM Yes Partial Partial
AI and Machine Learning Advanced Moderate Moderate
Microsoft Stack Integration Full Limited Limited
Built-in SOAR Capabilities Yes Add-on Add-on
MITRE ATT&CK Integration Native Limited Add-on
Licensing Pay-as-you-go Complex Subscription-based

Getting Started with Microsoft Sentinel

Setup Steps

  1. Sign up for Azure Account: Start with Azure free or Pay as you go tiers
  2. Provision Sentinel: Launch via the Azure Portal and select/create a Log Analytics workspace
  3. Connect Data Sources: Use built-in data connectors or APIs to integrate with Microsoft Security and third-party tools
  4. Create Analytics Rules & Playbooks: Use built-in templates or customize using Azure Logic Apps
  5. Monitor & Tune: Use dashboards, Auxiliary Logs, customized workbooks, and KQL queries to fine-tune detection

(Insert Visual: Microsoft Sentinel Setup Checklist)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is Microsoft Sentinel only for Azure?
    No. It supports hybrid, on-premises, and multi-cloud environments.
  • What’s the pricing model?
    Microsoft Sentinel uses a pay-as-you-go model based on the volume of data ingested and retained.
  • Does Sentinel support custom detection?
    Yes, via custom analytics rules, Kusto Query Language, and integration with Jupyter Notebooks.
  • Can Sentinel replace my existing SIEM system?
    For most mid-sized Australian businesses—yes. Sentinel offers competitive features, native Microsoft integration, and SOAR capabilities.
  • Does it work with Microsoft Defender and 365 E5?
    Absolutely. Sentinel pairs perfectly with Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and other Microsoft Security tools.

Additional Resources

Conclusion

For businesses navigating today’s complex cyber threat landscape, Microsoft Sentinel provides a future-ready solution that is scalable, intelligent, and integrated. With support for Threat Intelligence, AI-powered security analytics, Log Analytics, and automated incident response, it helps organisations stay ahead of Threat Actors, comply with regulations, and minimise security risks.

Whether you’re looking to replace legacy SIEM systems, enable Zero Trust frameworks, or manage threats across your Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 environments—Sentinel is a powerful, centralised tool.

Ready to deploy Microsoft Sentinel?

We help Australian businesses roll out, configure, and manage Sentinel as part of our fully managed cybersecurity services. Contact Us or Book a Strategy Session.

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