Sigma Detection Engineering
Write portable, testable behavior detections with explicit telemetry assumptions and response context.
On this page · 4 sections
Operating context
Sigma can express detection intent, but field mappings, backend semantics, and environment baselines determine whether a rule works in practice.
- Define the security decision that sigma detection engineering must support.
- Assign accountable owners, escalation paths, service levels, and privacy boundaries.
- Measure signal quality, response consistency, operational cost, and improvement over time.
Operational workflow
- 01
Establish scope, dependencies, normal behavior, and a documented baseline.
- 02
Collect the minimum telemetry and context needed for sigma detection engineering.
- 03
Correlate independent signals and state confidence before taking disruptive action.
- 04
Document the decision, evidence, containment or control action, and responsible owner.
- 05
Review the outcome, tune the process, and validate the improvement with a safe test.
Signals, evidence & decisions
| Signal or artifact | Decision it supports |
|---|---|
| versioned Sigma rule and test cases | Establish event sequence and affected scope. |
| field mapping and backend query | Confirm identity, asset, or control context. |
| alert samples and analyst feedback | Support containment, recovery, or tuning. |
Record source, timestamp, collection method, confidence, owner, and disposition. Preserve the smallest useful evidence set and document any uncertainty.
Implementation & improvement
- Document log source and required fields.
- Test positive, negative, and noisy cases.
- Track ATT&CK mapping as context, not proof of coverage.