As cyber threats grow in scale and complexity, modern security teams need to move beyond traditional security information and event management (SIEM) tools. The shift to cloud-native infrastructure has brought with it a new generation of cloud-based SIEM solutions. These tools are scalable, open, and designed for real-time response.
Microsoft Sentinel and AWS Security Lake have emerged as two top SIEM tools that are leading security solutions. They are effective tools that diligently manage your enterprise security, whether on-premises or in the cloud.
While both aim to centralize, normalize, and analyze security data at scale, their approaches are fundamentally different. In this post, we dive deep into how each stacks up in capabilities, architecture, interoperability, and real-world use.
What are SIEM tools?
SIEM tools (Security Information and Event Management) help organizations detect, analyze, and respond to security threats by collecting and correlating data from across their IT infrastructure.
Most effective SIEM tools for security operations perform the following tasks:
- Log collection and management
- Event correlation and analysis
- Threat detection and alerts
- Compliance and reporting
Microsoft Sentinel and AWS Security Lake are among the best SIEM tools that offer visibility, detection, and response to any cybersecurity threat.
SIEM, reimagined for the cloud Era
Traditional SIEMs were built for static, on-prem environments. However, as businesses started to shift to cloud infrastructure, common SIEM tools were found lacking.
In the cloud-native era, the best SIEM tools must:
- Collect and normalize data from distributed, hybrid sources
- Scale to handle massive log volumes
- Use AI/ML for detection and response
- Integrate with SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response)
- Be open and interoperable
Microsoft Sentinel and AWS Security Lake reflect two ends of the modern SIEM spectrum. One is a full-stack managed SIEM/SOAR platform, while the other is an open, modular data lake built on standards like OCSF.
Microsoft Sentinel: Cloud-native SIEM and SOAR
Microsoft Sentinel is a fully managed SIEM and SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) solution built on Azure. It combines native Microsoft 365 and Azure telemetry with integration across third-party security data sources.
Key features of Microsoft Sentinel
- Data connectors: 100+ native integrations (Microsoft Defender, M365, AWS, Palo Alto, etc.)
- Log analytics workspace: Built on Azure Monitor + Kusto Query Language (KQL)
- Security playbooks: Built-in SOAR automation with Logic Apps
- ML & threat intelligence: Fusion AI + Microsoft Threat Intelligence
- Workbooks & dashboards: Customizable visualizations for SOC workflows
- UEBA: User and entity behavior analytics for insider threat detection
Microsoft Sentinel: Pros and cons
Pros
- Tight integration with Microsoft 365, Defender XDR, and Azure resources
- Mature SOAR workflows and automation
- Massive customer base, proven scalability
- Built-in compliance with ISO, FedRAMP, GDPR
Cons
- Pricing can grow rapidly with data ingestion
- Locked into Azure ecosystem for storage and automation
- KQL learning curve for non-Microsoft users
Microsoft Sentinel pricing
Microsoft Sentinel pricing model is transparent, and usage based.
| Function | Metric | Price (USD) |
| Data Processing | GB | $0.05 per GB |
| Data Lake Ingestion | GB | $0.10 per GB |
| Data lake Storage | GB/month | $0.026 per GB per month |
| Data Lake Query | GB | $0.005 per GB |
| Advanced Insights | Compuet Hour | $0.15 per computer hour |
AWS Security Lake with OCSF: Data-first SIEM architecture
AWS Security Lake is not a SIEM in the traditional sense. It’s an open, scalable data lake purpose-built for security telemetry, using the Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework (OCSF) to normalize data from multiple vendors.
Key features of AWS Security Lake
- Open schema (OCSF): A vendor-neutral standard for log formats (e.g., CrowdStrike, Palo Alto, Trend Micro)
- Amazon S3 as lake storage: Data is centralized in S3 buckets partitioned by source and region
- Integration with analytics tools: Amazon Athena, OpenSearch, SageMaker, third-party SIEMs like Splunk and QRadar
- Multi-account/multi-region support: Centralizes logging and monitoring across multiple AWS accounts and regions
- Event-driven architecture: Automates workflows and enables real-time detection through services like AWS Lambda and EventBridge
AWS Security Lake: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Open and flexible data ingestion model
- Avoids vendor lock-in; integrates with existing SIEMs or analytics tools
- Cost-effective storage using S3 lifecycle policies and tiering
- Ideal for building custom analytics or using modern data lakes
Cons
- No native SOAR capabilities (requires external orchestration)
- No centralized UI or incident management like Sentinel
- Requires more engineering effort to set up and operate
- Security analysis experience depends on external tools (e.g., QuickSight, OpenSearch)
AWS Security Lake pricing
AWS Security Lake pricing is pay-as-you-go with no upfront fees. You mainly pay for three things: the amount of log and event data you ingest into Security Lake, the normalization/conversion of that data into the OCSF format, and the storage used in Amazon S3.
Additional AWS services that Security Lake relies on like Glue, EventBridge, or Lambda may also add costs.
Microsoft Sentinel vs AWS Security Lake: Comparison
Microsoft Sentinel and AWS Security Lake are the most popular SIEM tools. They are the leading choices in any SIEM tools list for any business. But how do they compare?
Here is a guide to evaluate them against different factors:
1. Automation features
AWS Security Lake offers automated systems for compliance checks and integrates with other AWS services. However, users find Microsoft Sentinel’s automation features more advanced due to their AI-based threat detection.
2. User experience
Microsoft Sentinel has a steeper learning curve, and its initial setup can be complex. On the other hand, AWS Security Lake is easy to deploy and offers a smooth user experience. AWS also offers excellent customer service to resolve any queries or challenges.
3. Pricing
AWS Security Lake is more cost-effective with predictable pricing plans. Microsoft Sentinel has more advanced features, but that may also increase its costs for extensive use.
For the technical aspects, here is a table comparing the SIEM architecture of both tools.
| Feature/Capability | Microsoft Sentinel | AWS Security Lake + OCSF |
| SIEM Core | Full-featured SIEM & SOAR | Telemetry lake for SIEM tools |
| Data Normalization | KQL + Microsoft schema | OCSF (Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework) |
| Data Storage | Azure Log Analytics (pay-per-GB) | Amazon S3 (cheap, tiered, open format) |
| Analytics Engine | Kusto Engine (KQL) | Amazon Athena, SageMaker, OpenSearch |
| Automation / SOAR | Built-in via Logic Apps | Requires custom or third-party solutions |
| Detection and ML | Fusion AI, Microsoft Threat Intelligence | Bring-your-own models with SageMaker or ML tools |
| Multi-cloud Support | Yes (AWS, GCP connectors available) | Yes (ingest data from any cloud or on-prem) |
| Open Standards Support | Limited to Microsoft schema | OCSF-compliant, supports multi-vendor telemetry |
| Best For | Enterprises deep in Microsoft stack | Data-driven orgs building custom SIEM/analytics |
Real-world use cases
1. Microsoft Sentinel in action
- Global Retailer: Centralized incident management across 120+ geographies using Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and automated playbooks.
- Government Agency: FedRAMP-approved deployment with SOAR workflows for phishing and lateral movement detection.
2. AWS Security Lake in action
- Cybersecurity Startup: Ingesting EDR, firewall, and identity logs into Security Lake for AI/ML-based anomaly detection.
- Financial Services Firm: Using Athena to query petabytes of normalized logs across accounts, with alerts piped into Splunk.
When to choose Microsoft Sentinel or AWS Security Lake
| Use Case | Choose Sentinel if… | Choose AWS Security Lake if… |
| Full-stack SOC and SOAR workflows | You want a complete SIEM solution with detection & response | You already use other SIEMs and want open security telemetry |
| Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration | You’re invested in Microsoft 365, Defender, Azure AD | You’re cloud-native on AWS and want vendor-neutral data lake |
| Real-time detection and response | You need fast triage, automation, and case management | You’re building long-term analytics or AI/ML on security data |
| Custom data science or lake analytics | Less flexible; Sentinel is tightly coupled | Easily plug into Athena, OpenSearch, and SageMaker |
| Budget-sensitive log storage | Potentially expensive at scale (per GB) | S3 storage is significantly cheaper, especially at scale |
Convergence of open and managed SIEM
Microsoft and AWS are building tools that are defining how security will operate in a cloud-native, multi-cloud world:
- Sentinel leads in integrated response and enterprise-grade automation.
- Security Lake + OCSF champions openness, flexibility, and cross-vendor collaboration.
As OCSF adoption grows, expect increased interoperability across tools like CrowdStrike, Palo Alto, and Splunk. The future of SIEM is likely hybrid: centralized dashboards (Sentinel, Splunk) powered by open, normalized data lakes (OCSF, Security Lake).
Conclusion
Microsoft Sentinel and AWS Security Lake stand as powerful SIEM solutions. Sentinel offers an all-in-one platform with seamless SOAR integration. In contrast, AWS Security Lake’s open architecture and OCSF support make it the go-to for organizations prioritizing flexibility, scalability, and custom analytics.
Both are distinct tools with unique features. Microsoft Sentinel is ideal if your enterprise is deeply integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, while AWS Security Lake’s open architecture is a modern approach to SIEM operations. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your infrastructure, security maturity, and analytics goals.
Partner with Xavor to build a resilient, cloud-native cybersecurity foundation. We provide managed SIEM services that secure, scale, and simplify your enterprise across AWS, Azure, and hybrid environments.
Contact us today at [email protected] to perfect your SIEM strategy.
