Microsoft SentinelData Connectors & Log Ingestion

Data Connectors & Log Ingestion

25 mins

Understanding the Concept

Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM and SOAR solution built on Azure Log Analytics. Data connectors bring security data from Microsoft services, third-party vendors, and custom sources into Sentinel for centralized analysis.

First-party connectors (Microsoft Defender XDR, Entra ID, Azure Activity) provide seamless integration with minimal configuration. Third-party connectors support formats like CEF, Syslog, and REST API. Custom connectors can be built using the Log Analytics API.

Data ingestion costs are a key consideration. Sentinel uses pay-per-GB pricing, and data comes into specific tables (SecurityEvent, CommonSecurityLog, custom tables). Commitment tiers and basic logs provide cost optimization options.

Key Points

  • Cloud-native SIEM built on Azure Log Analytics
  • First-party, third-party, and custom data connectors
  • Common formats: CEF, Syslog, REST API
  • Pay-per-GB pricing with commitment tier discounts
  • Basic logs for high-volume, low-value data at reduced cost
  • Microsoft Defender XDR connector for unified XDR+SIEM

Sentinel Data Flow

Step 1

Data Sources

Microsoft, third-party, custom logs

Step 2

Connectors

CEF, Syslog, API, native integration

Step 3

Log Analytics

Data stored in workspace tables

Step 4

Analytics

Rules detect threats in ingested data

Step 5

Automation

Playbooks respond to detections

Why This Matters in Real Organizations

Security visibility is only as good as the data you collect. Sentinel aggregates security data from the entire environment - on-premises, multi-cloud, and SaaS - into a single platform for correlation and analysis.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ingesting all available data without considering cost
Not using basic logs for high-volume, low-value data
Forgetting to enable the Defender XDR connector for unified incidents
Not monitoring data ingestion health and anomalies

Interview Tips

  • Discuss data connector configuration experience
  • Explain strategies for cost optimization with commitment tiers and basic logs

Exam Tips (SC-200)

  • Know the types of data connectors available
  • Understand pricing: pay-per-GB vs commitment tiers
  • Know basic logs vs analytics logs differences

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