TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– Security information management (SIM) has emerged recently as a strong need to ensure the ongoing security of information systems. However, deploying a SIM and the associated sensors is a challenge in any organization, as the complexity and cost of such a project are difficult to bear. This paper aims to present an architecture for outsourcing a SIM platform, and discuss the issues associated with the deployment of such an environment.Design/methodology/approach– The paper is an overview of the typical SIM and a possible architecture for its outsourcing.Findings– The paper explains that the day‐to‐day operation of a SIM is beyond the financial capabilities of all but the largest organizations, as the SIM must be monitored constantly to ensure timely reaction to alerts. Many managed security services providers (MSSP), therefore, propose outsourcing the alert management activities. Sensors are deployed within the customer's infrastructure, and the alerts are sent to the outsourced SIM along with additional log information.Originality/value– The paper illustrates that intrusion detection and SIM as two important and active research domains for information systems security. VL - 14 IS - 5 SN - 0968-5227 DO - 10.1108/09685220610707430 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/09685220610707430 AU - Debar Hervé AU - Viinikka Jouni ED - Sokratis K. Katsikas ED - Stefanos Gritzalis PY - 2006 Y1 - 2006/01/01 TI - Security information management as an outsourced service T2 - Information Management & Computer Security PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 417 EP - 435 Y2 - 2024/04/24 ER -