How a Balanced SIEM Approach Is Helping SMBs Regain Control of Security Operations Through On-Demand Expertise

For many public-sector IT departments, managing security operations can become an increasingly demanding responsibility, layered on top of an already full workload. This is where the collaboration between Sun Management and Logpoint has become an accessible option for smaller public entities.

The model centers on providing a security information and event management system (SIEM) with predictable, node-based pricing, rather than fluctuating consumption-based costs. Because organizations can determine exactly which devices they want covered, they retain control over both the scope and the budget. “Predictable pricing allows teams to plan confidently,” Jim Vanderzon, President of Sun Management, notes. “They can choose what they need and adjust as their environment evolves.”

According to Vanderzon, state, county, and educational networks are expected to monitor activity across servers, endpoints, and applications, a task essential for meeting various audit, reporting, and incident-response requirements. “Yet most of these teams consist of only a few individuals supporting an entire environment, often while juggling network maintenance, user support, and system administration,” he says.

This challenge can become especially visible in agencies and school systems where state and county mandates emphasize logging, reporting, and timely incident notification. “Different states have various requirements, such as logging expectations, annual reporting standards, or rapid incident-reporting obligations, which can create pressure for consistent oversight,” Vanderzon explains. “While the mandates differ, the underlying message is a need for organizations to demonstrate visibility into activity across their systems.”

For larger enterprises, Vanderzon notes, meeting these expectations can typically involve building full internal security teams and investing heavily in premium tools. However, this approach is rarely attainable for smaller agencies. “There are organizations that simply do not have the time, staffing, or budget to manage a full security program internally,” says Vanderzon. He explains that many of these teams want to remain hands-on; they just need support that respects their autonomy.

Another element of Logpoint and Sun Management’s collaboration is the ability for small organizations to access engineering expertise only when required. Rather than fully outsourcing security operations, agencies can retain day-to-day control while receiving targeted assistance. “For many organizations, the value might lie in having someone review logs daily or weekly, reconcile information from servers and firewalls, or examine configurations on a monthly or quarterly schedule,” Vanderzon says. He describes the approach as comparable to maintaining personal responsibility while having periodic professional oversight when it counts.

Logpoint’s platform supports this model by consolidating logs across the environment into a consistent taxonomy, aiming to reduce the time agencies spend sorting through disparate formats. This organization of information helps teams stay aligned with mandates that require log visibility and incident reporting. “State and county IT leaders require tools that can simplify compliance without requiring large internal teams to manage them,” Vanderzon notes.

From Logpoint’s perspective, the goal has been to offer a SIEM that scales with smaller and mid-sized organizations rather than overwhelming them. “We built the platform to be accessible for teams that need structure without excess complexity,” says Andreas Föhringer, Director, Global Business Development of Logpoint. The platform’s integration of SIEM, SOAR, and NDR creates a foundation that IT staff can rely on while still steering their own security process. “Our focus is giving organizations a tool that respects where they are today and can grow with them when the time is right.”

According to Vanderzon, the combined model can be relevant for teams that prefer to avoid completely outsourcing their security responsibilities. “We often hear from IT directors that turning over the entire operation would keep them too far from their own environment,” Vanderzon explains. “Sun Management’s approach offers support without displacing internal staff.”

This blend of autonomy and expert availability has also resonated with counties managing broad infrastructures on lean resources, Vanderzon says. Daily log optimization, periodic configuration reviews, and optional playbook guidance can help strengthen security posture without requiring a full in-house security staff.

Vanderzon and Föhringer note that with evolving IT requirements across states and school districts, the need for clarity, visibility, and structured reporting is expected to grow. Sun Management and Logpoint’s model reflects a shift toward practical support: accessible pricing, flexible engineering expertise, and a SIEM platform that keeps internal teams in the driver’s seat.