sysmon VS AdvancedEventViewer

• Detailed Event Logging
  Sysmon provides granular visibility into system activity by logging process creation, network connections, file creation time changes, and other events with rich detail including process GUIDs, hashes, and command lines, which is invaluable for security monitoring and forensic analysis.
• Free and Lightweight
  As part of the Sysinternals suite, Sysmon is free to use and has a relatively small footprint on system resources, making it accessible for organizations of all sizes without licensing costs.
• Highly Configurable
  Sysmon supports XML-based configuration files that allow administrators to customize which events to capture, apply filters, and exclude noise, enabling tailored monitoring strategies specific to an organization's needs.
• Seamless Windows Event Log Integration
  Sysmon writes its logs directly into the Windows Event Log, allowing easy integration with existing SIEM tools, log forwarding solutions, and other security infrastructure without requiring specialized agents.
• Strong Community and Threat Detection Support
  There is a large community around Sysmon, including publicly shared configuration files (like SwiftOnSecurity's config) and mappings to MITRE ATT&CK techniques, which helps organizations quickly implement effective threat detection rules.

Possible disadvantages

• High Volume of Log Data
  Sysmon can generate a very large number of events, especially with verbose configurations, which can overwhelm log storage, increase costs for log ingestion in SIEM platforms, and make analysis more challenging without proper filtering.
• Requires Expertise to Configure Effectively
  Getting the most value out of Sysmon requires deep understanding of its configuration schema and threat detection use cases; poorly configured instances can either miss critical events or produce excessive noise.
• No Built-in Alerting or Analysis
  Sysmon only collects and logs events; it does not provide built-in alerting, correlation, or analysis capabilities, meaning organizations must pair it with a SIEM or other log analysis tool to derive actionable insights.
• Potential for Evasion
  Advanced attackers who are aware of Sysmon's presence may use techniques to evade detection, such as process hollowing, unhooking, or directly tampering with or disabling the Sysmon service if they gain sufficient privileges.
• Windows-Only Tool
  Sysmon is only available for Windows systems, so organizations with mixed environments need separate solutions for monitoring Linux, macOS, or other non-Windows endpoints.

• Centralized Log Management
  AdvancedEventViewer allows users to view event logs from multiple Windows systems in a single interface, simplifying the process of monitoring and analyzing events across different servers.
• User-Friendly Interface
  The software provides an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for system administrators to efficiently access and interpret event logs.
• Real-Time Monitoring
  AdvancedEventViewer offers real-time monitoring of event logs, enabling administrators to quickly respond to critical events and potential issues.
• Comprehensive Filtering
  The tool includes robust filtering options that allow users to customize and focus on specific events or types of logs, enhancing the ability to track relevant information.
• Improved Security Monitoring
  By consolidating event logs, AdvancedEventViewer helps to quickly identify security threats and anomalies, enhancing overall security management.

Possible disadvantages

• Windows-Only Compatibility
  AdvancedEventViewer is designed specifically for Windows systems, limiting its use to environments that also utilize non-Windows systems.
• Learning Curve
  Despite a user-friendly interface, there might still be a learning curve for users unfamiliar with event log analysis, potentially requiring training.
• Cost Considerations
  The software might involve a financial investment, which could be a consideration for small businesses or organizations with limited budgets.
• Dependency on Network Connectivity
  To collect logs from multiple systems, reliable network connectivity is necessary, which could be a limitation in unstable network environments.
• Resource Usage
  Running AdvancedEventViewer on multiple systems could result in increased resource consumption, impacting system performance if not managed properly.

• How to Detect Ransomware with Machine Learning

  Sysmon gives you the raw material: event ID 1 (ProcessCreate), 11 (FileCreate), 23 (FileDelete archived), and 26 (FileDeleteDetected). The Sysmon documentation covers the config schema, and you will want to filter aggressively at the... - Source: dev.to / 12 days ago

Tracking AdvancedEventViewer since Mar 2021.