Identify the prerequisites for a Microsoft Sentinel data connector

Microsoft Sentinel is a scalable, cloud-native solution that provides security information event management (SIEM) and security orchestration automated response (SOAR) capabilities, enabling enterprises to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to security threats across their digital estates. Data connectors are an integral part of the Microsoft Sentinel infrastructure. They enable Sentinel to collect data from different sources such as users’ devices, servers, network equipment, and cloud services. In preparation for the SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst exam, it’s crucial to understand the prerequisites for configuring Microsoft Sentinel data connectors.

Prerequisites for Configuring Data Connectors

Before setting up any Microsoft Sentinel data connector, certain prerequisites need to be in place. Here is a general checklist to ensure you can deploy these connectors effectively:

• Azure Subscription: An active Azure subscription is necessary to deploy Microsoft Sentinel. The data connectors are part of the Sentinel service, which runs on Azure.
• Microsoft Sentinel Workspace: You need to have a Microsoft Sentinel workspace configured. This workspace is where all data that Sentinel ingests is stored, analyzed, and queried.
• Permissions: Appropriate permissions are essential for setting up data connectors. Typically, you will need to be assigned the role of ‘Contributor’ or ‘Owner’ on the Azure subscription, and you may also need additional permissions specific to the data source you’re connecting to.
• Data Source Access: Depending on the specific data source, you might have to configure access permissions separately. For instance, if you’re connecting to Office 365, you would need access to the data source with the necessary permissions to read logs and events.
• Licensing Requirements: Some data connectors might require specific licensing. Ensure you have the correct licenses for both Sentinel and the products or services you intend to connect. Some Office 365 data connectors, for instance, might require an Office 365 E5 license.
• Agent Installation: Certain connectors require the Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA) or the Azure Log Analytics agent to be installed on the target systems from which you want to collect data, such as servers or virtual machines.
• Network Configuration: Adequate network configuration is important to ensure connectivity between the data sources and Microsoft Sentinel. This can involve configuring firewalls and network security groups to allow the necessary traffic.
• API Access: For services that provide data through APIs, such as cloud application and service providers, you will need to have API access set up, possibly with a dedicated app registration in Azure Active Directory.
• Prerequisites for Specific Data Connectors: Each data connector has its own set of specific prerequisites, which might include additional software, configuration, or permissions. Examples include:
  • Microsoft 365 Defender Connector requires permissions in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal.
  • Azure Active Directory Connector may need Azure AD reports and log access to work correctly.
  • AWS CloudTrail Connector necessitates setting up an AWS account and appropriate permissions to access CloudTrail logs.

Detailing a Common Data Connector

Example: Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Data Connector

• Azure Permissions: Global Administrator or Security Administrator role in Azure AD.
• Workspace Permissions: Permissions to link the Azure AD logs to the Sentinel workspace.
• Licensing: Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 for sign-in logs, and Office 365 E3 or E5 for audit logs.
• Configuration: Azure AD audit and sign-in logs need to be enabled.

When preparing for the SC-200 exam, understanding these prerequisites and how they apply to different data connectors will be essential to achieving the certification. Keeping those key considerations in mind will help ensure successful deployment of data connectors and maximize the effectiveness of Microsoft Sentinel.