Splunk Updated SPLK-5002 Exam Questions and Answers by irha

How to Improve Splunk’s Automation Efficiency?

Splunk's automation capabilities rely on efficient data ingestion, optimized searches, and automated response workflows. The following methods help improve Splunk’s automation:

????1. Using Modular Inputs (Answer A)

Modular inputs allow Splunk to ingest third-party data efficiently (e.g., APIs, cloud services, or security tools).

Benefit: Improves automation by enabling real-time data collection for security workflows.

Example: Using a modular input to ingest threat intelligence feeds and trigger automatic responses.

????2. Optimizing Correlation Search Queries (Answer B)

Well-optimized correlation searches reduce query time and false positives.

Benefit: Faster detections → Triggers automated actions in SOAR with minimal delay.

Example: Usingtstatsinstead of raw searches for efficient event detection.

????3. Employing Prebuilt SOAR Playbooks (Answer E)

SOAR playbooks automate security responses based on predefined workflows.

Benefit: Reduces manual effort in phishing response, malware containment, etc.

Example: Automating phishing email analysis using a SOAR playbook that extracts attachments, checks URLs, and blocks malicious senders.

Why Not the Other Options?

❌C. Leveraging saved search acceleration – Helps with dashboard performance, but doesn’t directly improve automation.❌D. Implementing low-latency indexing – Reduces indexing lag but is not a core automation feature.

References & Learning Resources

????Splunk SOAR Automation Guide: https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/SOAR ????Optimizing Correlation Searches in Splunk ES: https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/ES ????Prebuilt SOAR Playbooks for Security Automation: https://splunkbase.splunk.com

The GET method in the Splunk REST API is used to retrieve data from a Splunk index. It allows users and automated scripts to fetch logs, alerts, or query results programmatically.

Key Points About GET in Splunk API:

Used for searching and retrieving logs from indexes.

Can be used to get search results, job status, and Splunk configuration details.

Common API endpoints include:

/services/search/jobs/{search_id}/results– Retrieves results of a completed search.

/services/search/jobs/export– Exports search results in real-time.

Splunk SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) playbooks help SOC teams automate, orchestrate, and respond to threats faster.

✅Key Benefits of SOAR Playbooks

Automates Repetitive Tasks

Reduces manual workload for SOC analysts.

Automates tasks like enriching alerts, blocking IPs, and generating reports.

Orchestrates Multiple Security Tools

Integrates with firewalls, EDR, SIEMs, threat intelligence feeds.

Example: A playbook can automatically enrich an IP address by querying VirusTotal, Splunk, and SIEM logs.

Accelerates Incident Response

Reduces Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR).

Example: A playbook can automatically quarantine compromised endpoints in CrowdStrike after an alert.

❌Incorrect Answers:

A. Manually running searches across multiple indexes → SOAR playbooks are about automation, not manual searches.

C. Improving dashboard visualization capabilities → Dashboards are part of SIEM (Splunk ES), not SOAR playbooks.

D. Enhancing data retention policies → Retention is a Splunk Indexing feature, not SOAR-related.

????Additional Resources:

Splunk SOAR Playbook Guide

Automating Threat Response with SOAR

The sourcetype in Splunk defines how incoming machine data is interpreted, structured, and stored. Proper sourcetype configurations ensure accurate event parsing, indexing, and searching.

✅1. Event Breaking Rules (A)

Determines how Splunk splits raw logs into individual events.

If misconfigured, a single event may be broken into multiple fragments or multiple log lines may be combined incorrectly.

Controlled using LINE_BREAKER and BREAK_ONLY_BEFORE settings.

✅2. Timestamp Extraction (B)

Extracts and assigns timestamps to events during ingestion.

Incorrect timestamp configuration leads to misplaced events in time-based searches.

Uses TIME_PREFIX, MAX_TIMESTAMP_LOOKAHEAD, and TIME_FORMAT settings.

✅3. Line Merging Rules (D)

Controls whether multiline events should be combined into a single event.

Useful for logs like stack traces or multi-line syslog messages.

Uses SHOULD_LINEMERGE and LINE_BREAKER settings.

❌Incorrect Answer:

C. Data Retention Policies →

Affects storage and deletion, not data ingestion itself.

????Additional Resources:

Splunk Sourcetype Configuration Guide

Event Breaking and Line Merging