Insights, tutorials, and best practices for detection engineering, threat hunting, and cybersecurity operations.
Learn how to become a SOC analyst with this comprehensive guide covering skills, training, certifications, and career path. Includes free resources and hands-on labs.
EpicDetect Team
15 min read
Detection EngineeringEvent ID 4624 is a successful Windows logon. See every logon type (2, 3, 10 and more), the fields to read, Logon ID correlation and how 4625 failures fit in.
Detection EngineeringEvent ID 4688 logs every new Windows process. How to enable command line logging, read token elevation and parent fields, and compare 4688 with Sysmon Event ID 1.
Detection EngineeringEvent ID 1102 means the Windows Security log was cleared; 104 means the System or another log was. See who did it, why it survives, and Splunk and KQL searches.
Detection EngineeringEvent ID 7045 (System log) and 4697 (Security log) both record a new Windows service. Compare fields, spot PsExec and persistence, and search Splunk and KQL.
Detection EngineeringEvent ID 4720 means a user account was created. Learn 4722, 4732, 4728 and 4756, the fields that matter, and Splunk and KQL to catch new admin accounts.
Blue TeamEpicDetect vs LetsDefend, from the EpicDetect team: free tiers, prices, alert queue vs story-driven cases, Security+ prep, and who should pick which in 2026.
Blue TeamLetsDefend vs TryHackMe for blue team training in 2026: prices, free tiers, SOC paths, SAL1 and certificates compared, plus which to pick for your stage.
Blue TeamIs LetsDefend part of Hack The Box? Yes, since Sept 2025. Compare LetsDefend plans with HTB Labs, Academy's new prices, CDSA and Sherlocks, and pick one.
Blue TeamLetsDefend vs CyberDefenders in 2026: alert-based SOC simulation vs in-browser DFIR and hunting labs. Free tiers, prices, CCDL1 and CCDL2, and who each suits.
CertificationsHTB CDSA in 2026: the SOC Analyst path requirement, cost routes before and after the 12 Oct Academy price change, CDSA vs BTL1, and the best alternatives.
Blue TeamCyberDefenders review for 2026: browser blue team labs, CCDL1 and CCDL2 (formerly CCD), who it suits, and the best CyberDefenders alternatives by goal.
CertificationsSecurity+ V8 (SY0-801) is expected around November 17, 2026. What CompTIA has confirmed, what changes from SY0-701, and whether to wait or test now.
Detection EngineeringSysmon Event ID 1 logs every process start with its command line, parent, hash and user. Learn what it catches and how to search it in Splunk and KQL.
Detection EngineeringSysmon Event ID 3 logs TCP/UDP connections per process. Learn its fields, how to spot LOLBin beaconing and odd ports, with Splunk and KQL searches.
Detection EngineeringSysmon Event ID 10 logs one process opening another. Learn the key fields, GrantedAccess masks, and how to catch LSASS credential dumping (T1003.001).
Detection EngineeringSysmon Event ID 11 logs file creation and overwrite. Learn its fields, the payload drops and persistence it catches, plus Splunk and KQL searches.
Threat IntelligenceFree threat intelligence practice for beginners. Learn how to pivot from one IOC to infrastructure and campaign attribution like an analyst.
Blue TeamThe Cyber Kill Chain breaks an attack into 7 stages. Learn each phase, how it compares to MITRE ATT&CK, and how SOC analysts use it to catch threats.
Incident ResponsePreparation to Lessons Learned - the 6-phase incident response lifecycle every SOC analyst needs to know, walked through with a real phishing example.
SOC OperationsTrue positive, false positive, false negative - learn the alert triage vocabulary every SOC analyst uses and how to tell a real threat from a false alarm.
Career AdviceNetwork+ or Security+ first? An honest breakdown of what each CompTIA cert covers, who it's for, and which one gets you a security job faster.
Incident ResponseFree endpoint investigation practice for beginners. Learn how to read a real process tree, spot persistence mechanisms, and think like an analyst.
Threat HuntingLateral movement is how a single compromised laptop becomes a network-wide incident. Here's how to actually spot it, and how to practice detecting it.
Incident ResponseBuilding an attack timeline is one of the most valuable SOC skills and one of the least taught. Here's how to actually do it, with a practice scenario to try.
SIEMQuerying a SIEM isn't the hard part — knowing what to correlate is. Here's how analysts actually think through log correlation, plus where to practice it.
Career AdviceSecurity+ gets you considered, not hired. Here is the gap between knowing security and doing it, and how to close it without a job or another cert.
Career AdviceFailed the Security+ exam? Here is exactly what to do next: read your score report, find the real gap, know the retake rules, and pass the second time.
SOC OperationsWhat a real SOC analyst day looks like, hour by hour: the alert queue, investigations, documentation, shift work, and the parts nobody warns you about.
SOC OperationsWant to actually practice phishing email analysis instead of just reading about SPF and DKIM? Here's a real walkthrough, plus where to get more reps.
Blue TeamWhat Blue Team Labs Online offers free and on PRO, plus LetsDefend, TryHackMe, HTB, CyberDefenders and EpicDetect: free tiers, October 2026 prices and formats.
Career Advice55 SOC analyst interview questions with model answers you can say out loud: Tier 1 to 3, Windows event IDs 4624/4625/4688, phishing triage, DNS tunneling.
Blue TeamIs LetsDefend worth it in 2026? Current prices, what the free tier includes, the Hack The Box acquisition, and the best LetsDefend alternatives by goal.
SIEM15 essential Splunk query examples for SOC analysts — failed logins, threat hunting, correlation, and incident investigation with real SPL you can run today.
Career AdviceEight realistic SOC interview scenarios with full walkthrough answers — phishing, suspicious logins, malware, lateral movement, exfil, and escalation decisions.
CertificationsBTL1 is £399 for training and exam from Centri. How it compares with SAL1, HTB CDSA, CCDL1 and Security+ in 2026, and who should take which cert first.
Blue TeamTryHackMe vs Hack The Box for blue team in 2026: current prices, SOC Level 1 vs HTB's SOC Analyst path and CDSA, Sherlocks, and which fits you.
Blue TeamTryHackMe SOC Level 1 facts, Premium and MAX prices as of October 2026, SAL1, and the best alternatives for blue team training depending on what you want next.
SOC OperationsWondering what a SOC analyst actually does all day? Here's an honest hour-by-hour breakdown of a typical shift — triage, escalation, and everything in between.
Career AdviceHonest ranking of SOC analyst certifications in 2026 — Security+, CySA+, BTL1, vendor certs, and GIAC — plus what actually matters more than certs.
SIEMA practical KQL cheat sheet for Microsoft Sentinel and Defender. 11 essential Kusto queries every SOC analyst should bookmark.
Detection EngineeringThe Sysmon Event IDs that actually catch attackers. A practical cheat sheet for SOC analysts on process, network, DNS, and persistence events.
SIEMSIEM collects logs from everything, EDR watches and acts on endpoints, XDR joins a vendor's tools. Side-by-side table, SOAR and MDR, and does EDR replace SIEM.
SOC OperationsTV makes SOC work look like fast typing and dramatic countdowns. Here is what a real investigation actually feels like, step by step.
Blue TeamWhat a SOC analyst simulator actually is in 2026: LetsDefend, TryHackMe's SOC simulator, HTB Sherlocks, BTLO, CyberDefenders and what none replicate.
Career AdviceStrong pay and real demand, but a crowded entry level and a hard first job. Who cybersecurity suits in 2026, and the realistic way to break in.
SOC OperationsThe Linux commands SOC analysts actually use to triage a host: processes, network connections, file investigation, and carving answers out of logs.
Career AdviceEvery SOC job wants 'experience' but won't give you any. Here's how to actually get hands-on practice without a job, a home lab, or a CS degree.
SIEMWhat is a SIEM, in plain English? How security teams collect, correlate, and alert on logs — with real examples and the platforms you should know.
Network SecurityThe 20 Wireshark display filters analysts use most: ip.addr, http.request, dns, tcp.port, tls, frame contains and more, with what each one finds.
Threat IntelligenceIOCs are quick to match and quick to go stale; TTPs describe attacker behavior and last. The Pyramid of Pain, a worked alert, and when IOCs still win.
Career AdviceAlready in IT support? Here's how to actually make the jump to SOC analyst — what transfers, what doesn't, and the honest timeline.
Career AdviceDegree vs. certs vs. self-taught — what employers actually care about and how to make the right call for your situation.
SOC OperationsAdventures are story-driven SOC training episodes where you actually work cases — not quizzes, not lectures. Here's how they work and why they prepare you for day one.
SIEMNew to Splunk? These five common SPL mistakes slow down almost every beginner — here's what to do instead.
Career AdviceCySA+ costs $395. Does it actually move your salary? Here's the honest breakdown of what the cert does—and doesn't do—for your paycheck.
Career AdviceNot another vague 'study networking and get Security+' guide. This is the specific 90-day breakdown—what to do, when to do it, and why it works.
Career AdviceNo degree, no experience, no problem—if you have a plan. Here's the exact path to landing your first SOC analyst job starting from zero.
SOC OperationsThe ATT&CK matrix has 200+ techniques. Here are the five you'll see on repeat as a SOC analyst—and what to look for when you do.
Detection EngineeringDetection engineering is building the rules that turn logs into alerts. Learn the lifecycle, detection-as-code, Sigma, frameworks, metrics and careers.
Career AdviceCerts teach you what things are. They don't teach you how to think. Here's the gap between passing a test and working a real SOC alert—and how to close it.
SOC OperationsEssential PowerShell commands for SOC analysts. Covers log analysis, process investigation, network triage, file hashing, registry checks, and incident response one-liners.
Career AdviceA realistic, day-by-day Security+ study schedule for the last 30 days before your SY0-701 exam. Covers all 5 domains, practice test strategy, and exam week prep.
SOC Operations4624 is a logon, 4625 a failed logon, 4688 a new process, 7045 a new service, 1102 a cleared log. 30+ Windows Event IDs grouped by attack, with MITRE mappings.
Threat HuntingLearn what threat hunting is, why it matters, and how to get started as a beginner. No fancy tools required—just curiosity and the right mindset.
SOC OperationsA quick guide to reading Windows Event Logs like a security analyst. Learn which logs matter and what to look for.
Career AdviceThe honest guide to landing your first cybersecurity job in 2026. No fluff, no BS—just what actually works in today's market.
Career AdviceStop wasting time on bad study methods. Here's the exact Security+ prep strategy that gets people passing on their first try.
Career AdviceSecurity+ practice test guide with proven strategies. Learn how many tests you need, what scores to aim for, and which platforms actually work. Start your prep today.
Career AdviceThe Security+ exam is $425 in 2026. What study materials, retakes and renewal add, what most people really spend ($450–$600), and how to pay less.
Career AdviceWhat the SY0-701 exam covers, how it is scored, what it costs, how hard it is, and a week-by-week study plan to pass on your first try.
Career AdviceComplete Security+ study guide with 8-week exam prep plan. Learn study strategies, resource recommendations, and proven methods to pass Security+ on your first try.
Career AdviceLearn what blue team cybersecurity is, how it differs from red team, essential skills, tools, and how to get started in defensive security.
GeneralMost people study CompTIA certifications wrong. Here's the proven active learning method that actually builds retention and helps you pass—backed by science and real results.
GeneralWorking 40+ hours a week and trying to study for Security+? Here's the realistic 8-week schedule that actually works—what to study each week, how to balance work and prep, and when to take practice exams.
GeneralUsually more than you think. How many practice tests to take for your experience level, what counts as one, and why 80% is the score to hit before you book.
GeneralAn honest look at Dion's Security+ practice exams on Udemy, plus Meyers, Messer and Prowse: what each gets right, and why scores climb from memorizing.
GeneralThinking about getting all three CompTIA certs? Here's whether you should do them in order, which ones you can skip, how long the full path takes, and whether the trifecta is still worth it in 2025.
GeneralExam is in 2 weeks and you're panicking? Here's the realistic cram plan that can still get you to passing—what to prioritize, what to skip, and whether you should reschedule or push through.
GeneralScoring 65% on Security+ practice tests and freaking out? Here's what that score actually means, how practice tests compare to the real exam, and whether you're ready to pass (or need more prep).
GeneralA home lab server costs $0 on a PC you own, about $150-$250 for a used mini PC, or $300-$500 for a 32GB workstation. October 2026 prices, RAM and power costs.
GeneralDoes CySA+ actually increase your salary? Here's the real ROI—by experience level, location, and compared to other certs. Plus, when it's worth the money and when it's not.
GeneralThese are the Security+ topics that trip up most candidates—cryptography, access control models, incident response, and more. Here's what makes them hard and exactly how to master each one before exam day.
GeneralWant to pass Security+ on your first attempt? Here's the exact study plan that works—complete with timeline, resources, practice strategy, and the mistakes most people make (so you can avoid them).
GeneralSOC analyst salary from BLS data: a $129,180 median for information security analysts, $75,090 at the 10th percentile, plus state figures and cert effects.
GeneralSecurity+ proves the fundamentals; CySA+ proves you can analyze threats. What employers ask for, what each costs, and which to take first for SOC jobs.
GeneralThinking about red team or blue team? Here's the honest truth about which path is actually easier to break into, what the job market looks like, and how to make a realistic decision for your career.
GeneralStuck on the help desk wondering if you're ready to make the jump to cybersecurity? Here are 5 clear signs you've got what it takes—and what to do next to actually make the transition happen.
GeneralYou've sent 50+ applications and heard nothing back. It's not just you—here's why your resume keeps disappearing into the void and what you can actually do to get noticed by hiring managers.
GeneralThe entry-level job paradox in cybersecurity is real—and it's frustrating. Here's why it happens, what hiring managers actually want, and how to bridge the experience gap without losing your mind.
GeneralWith all the certifications and the job market the way it is...is it even still worth it to get a Security+?
GeneralDo you actually need a degree from a college or university to get a job in cyber security? Learn fact vs fiction in this quick read before you make a big decision
Threat IntelligenceLearn what TTPs are, why MITRE ATT&CK matters, and how understanding them can help you land your first SOC job.
Incident ResponseLearn what digital forensics actually involves, why it matters for cybersecurity careers, and how to start learning without getting overwhelmed.
SOC OperationsA proven step-by-step plan to land your first SOC analyst role in 90 days. Includes free resources, hands-on labs, certification guidance, and a realistic study schedule that actually works.
Career AdviceEverything you need to know about earning your CompTIA Security+ certification, including study strategies, exam tips, and how to prepare effectively with hands-on practice.
Cloud SecurityBreaking into cloud security? Here's the honest truth about whether AWS certifications will actually help you land that first job.