What is SIEM as a Service? The Case for Azure SIEM That Actually Works 

Your security team works tirelessly, and threats never cease. You need a SIEM solution that matches their dedication, providing unwavering support every hour of every day. 

If you’re feeling underwhelmed by your current log management or shocked at the price tag on legacy SIEM tools, a Next-Generation SIEM. (especially through Azure) might be exactly what you need. But what is it? How does Azure SIEM stack up against more traditional options? And does it really solve the compliance and data headache, or just create new ones? 

Here’s your no-fluff, straight-talking guide to SIEM as a Service, with a real focus on Azure’s SIEM offering, how it works, and why it might actually make your cyber to-do list shorter (at last). 

What is SIEM as a Service? 

SIEM as a Service is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of buying and maintaining clunky on-prem software (and the hardware to run it), your provider handles everything for you. You get security event monitoring, log analysis, alerting, threat detection, and reporting. All delivered from the cloud, all managed by experts, all scalable as your business grows. And yes, it’s accessible from anywhere. 

Azure SIEM as a Service takes this a step further by using Azure Sentinel (now Microsoft Sentinel), Microsoft’s flagship cloud-native SIEM, to deliver all the bells, whistles, and AI-powered threat detection capabilities you could want. 

Why “as a Service” beats DIY 

• No patching, no upgrades, no babysitting servers. 

• High availability, real scalability. Need more resources? It scales up instantly. 

• Constant access to the latest features (and defences). There’s no lag between a critical update and your protection. 

• Genuine security experts monitoring your environment. Not just an alerting engine, but a real team with eyes on your dashboards 24/7. 

How does Azure provide SIEM as a Service? 

Straight to the point: Azure SIEM as a Service runs on Microsoft Sentinel. Here’s what you actually get: 

• A cloud-native SIEM platform. Forget on-prem hardware and maintenance. You’re up and running with just a few clicks. 

• Real-time threat detection and analytics. Leverages Microsoft’s global security intelligence, along with AI and machine learning, to catch threats faster (and with less noise). 

• Seamless integration with your Microsoft stack. If you run Microsoft 365, Azure, or both, everything clicks together like good LEGO. 

• Flexible data ingestion. Pull in logs and telemetry from servers, cloud apps, network devices, firewalls, and third parties. 

• Managed detection and response (MDR). Not just alerts. Azure SIEM as a Service from providers like Macquarie Cloud Services comes with an entire managed SOC (Security Operations Centre)—experts who investigate, triage, and respond 24/7. 

“Having everything concentrated in Azure with one service provider has removed complexity… The 24-hour cyber monitoring has increased assurances for Fleetwood at a time when cyber-attacks… are on the rise and skills shortages persist.”  

Hayden Slee, Group Head of Network & Cyber Security, Fleetwood

Read the full Fleetwood Customer story here.

Azure SIEM vs Other SIEM Tools 

You’re spoiled for choice (and sometimes overwhelmed) in the SIEM landscape. Splunk, IBM QRadar, Arcsight, Elastic, Rapid7, LogRhythm. The list goes on. 

Where does Azure SIEM stand out? 

1. Cloud-native from the ground up 

While legacy SIEM tools can be cloud-hosted or cloud-connected, Azure SIEM (Sentinel) is built for the cloud. There’s no messy migration or duct-taping features together. You get “born-in-the-cloud” benefits out of the box. 

2. Integration, integration, integration 

If your business is all-in on Microsoft, nothing touches the level of integration the Azure ecosystem offers. Sentinel connects natively with Azure AD, Microsoft 365, Defender, and hundreds of third-party tools. 

3. Scalability and cost control 

On-prem and traditional SIEM solutions require significant upfront investment. You need to size for peak load, and you’ll overpay most of the year. With Azure SIEM, you pay for what you use, and you can scale up or down instantly as your environment changes. 

4. AI-driven threat detection 

Microsoft pumps billions into cybersecurity every year. Azure SIEM taps into this threat intelligence, using machine learning and AI from the get-go. While other SIEMs might need extra modules or plugins, Sentinel bakes AI in as a core ingredient. 

5. Operational workload 

With a true “as-a-service” model, much of the operational grunt work (maintenance, tuning, updating) is handled by Azure and your managed provider. Your security team can focus effort where it matters. 

6. Compliance made simpler 

Azure’s SIEM delivers a collection of pre-built compliance dashboards, and its underlying platform is certified against dozens of global standards. This saves time (and headaches) during audits.

The Benefits of Azure SIEM as a Service 

Not here to hype. Here’s the real list: 

• Fast deployment. Get started in weeks, not months. 

• 24/7 Aussie-based SOC. With providers like Macquarie Cloud Services, real analysts have your back around the clock, not just a bot spewing alerts at you. 

• Reduced workload for internal IT. Your team can stop putting out fires and start focusing on strategy. 

• Consolidated security controls. Manage on-prem, hybrid, and cloud from one dashboard. 

• Cost savings, zero CapEx. All operational spend, no hardware, no surprise upgrade bills. 

• Future-ready. AI, machine learning, and worldwide Microsoft threat intelligence update continually in the background. 

• Trusted for Australian compliance. Used by Federal and State Governments, plus a healthy swathe of ASX-listed companies. 

And the “people” benefit? IT leaders and teams sleep better at night, knowing a human is watching their dashboard, even at 2am. 

How is Data Ingested and Processed in Azure SIEM? 

This is where SIEM solutions often get hairy. Azure SIEM keeps things slick. 

1. Data sources 

• Azure resources: VM logs, storage, SQL, AKS, App Service, LogicApps, and more 

• Microsoft 365 & Defender: Email, endpoint, identity 

• On-prem infrastructure: Servers, firewalls, intrusion detection, routers 

• 3rd party apps & appliances: Anything that can talk via syslog, REST API, or a data connector 

2. Data ingestion pipelines 

Azure SIEM supports high-volume, high-velocity log ingestion: 

• Native connectors for Microsoft sources (think click, connect, done) 

• Over 300+ connectors for third-party and custom apps 

• REST API for custom ingestion (for the truly bespoke needs) 

3. Processing & analysis 

• All logs funnel into Azure Log Analytics Workspace 

• Normalisation and correlation rules kick in 

• Continuous scanning for suspicious activity or known attack patterns using Kusto Query Language (KQL) 

• AI/ML models surface the “unknown unknowns”, catching new or subtle threats 

4. Alerting & response 

• Customisable dashboards for visibility 

• Automated playbooks (using Azure Logic Apps) for rapid response or escalation 

• Integration with ticketing, ITSM, and incident tracking systems 

Speed and clarity, not alert fatigue. 

Compliance Standards Supported by Azure SIEM as a Service 

Compliance isn’t glamorous, but it’s business-critical. 

Microsoft’s Sentinel and the Azure SIEM as a Service stack are assessed against a huge array of standards. Providers like Macquarie Cloud Services can offer extra assurance with Australian-based SOCs and additional frameworks. 

Supported standards include: 

• ISO/IEC 27001 

• SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3 

• PCI DSS 

• GDPR 

• IRAP (Australian Government security) 

• HIPAA 

• FedRAMP 

• Australian Privacy Act compliance 

And the “compliance dashboard” is more than just a pretty screen. Prebuilt templates, continuous log collection, and documentation make audit prep quicker and less painful. 

Local context matters 

Macquarie Cloud Services, as a Microsoft Accredited Security Provider, supports compliance needs for Australian businesses and government clients. Full visibility. Local SOC. Real-time investigation by analysts based onshore. 

Real-World Example: Fleetwood 

When Fleetwood, an ASX-listed leader in modular construction, needed to simplify their stretched IT team and tighten security across Australia, they migrated to Azure with fully managed SIEM. The result? Less complexity, more protection, and their IT team freed up for strategic work—not midnight log-diving. 

“Access to round-the-clock cyber protections has been a huge weight off our shoulders. If our team had to manage this burden completely, they’d be dragged away from other important aspects of their day-to-day roles.” 

Where to from here? Move security off your plate, not off your radar 

The old SIEM way? More dashboards, more ticketing, more headaches. 

Azure SIEM as a Service clears the clutter. It’s security, sorted—from data ingestion to incident response and compliance tracking. With 24/7 monitoring by real experts, you’re free to get back to your actual job. 

Curious if Azure SIEM as a Service fits your stack? Learn more about managed Azure SIEM and find out why Macquarie Cloud Services is Australia’s trusted Microsoft Accredited provider.