The KQL Mysteries Season 1: Chapter 7
Combining forces
Catch up on this series by going to: https://aka.ms/KQLMysteries
New chapters release weekly.
In the heart of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, amidst the bustling city of Dammam, lies a state-of-the-art data center, a fortress of technology and innovation. It is here, within these walls of reinforced concrete and steel, that Jordan Alghamdi sits, the soft hum of servers a constant backdrop to her focused presence.
The data center, operated in partnership with global tech giants and local oil magnates, represents the pinnacle of Saudi Arabia's push towards modernization while still rooted deeply in tradition. The facility is a beacon of progress, standing tall against the frequent sand and dust storms that sweep across the arid landscape.
Jordan, a skilled data analyst, is a product of this new era, blending the rich heritage of her Alghamdi lineage with the cutting-edge demands of her profession. Her abaya, the traditional ankle-length garment, is a crisp white, reflecting the bright LED lights that line the aisles of server racks.
As she monitors the streams of data flowing through the network, Jordan is a picture of concentration. Her fingers dance across the keyboard, crafting complex KQL queries to extract meaningful patterns from the sea of information. The cool, controlled environment of the data center is a stark contrast to the heat that envelops the city outside, where temperatures soar, and life moves to the rhythm of ancient customs and modern aspirations.
The data center itself is a marvel, equipped with the latest in cloud technology and cybersecurity measures. It is a hub that connects Saudi Arabia to the world, with fiber-optic links stretching out like lifelines to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
In this sanctuary of silicon and circuitry, Jordan Alghamdi is more than just an employee; she is a guardian of the digital realm, a bridge between the past and the future, ensuring that the data entrusted to her is safe, secure, and serves the vision of a nation boldly stepping into a new dawn.
The dim glow of the monitor cast long shadows across the room as Jordan sat hunched over the keyboard, the rhythmic tapping of keys the only sound breaking the silence. This recent case had taken a turn for the complex, and the only way forward was through the dense thicket of data that lay before her.
“KQL, you’re my only hope,” Jordan muttered, fingers flying across the keys as she constructed the query that would, hopefully, bring clarity to the chaos.
let startTime = ago(7d);
let endTime = now();
SecurityEvent
| where TimeGenerated between(startTime .. endTime)
| where AccountType == 'User' and EventID == 4625
| summarize Count = count() by Account
| order by Count desc
| take 10The query executed, and rows of data filled the screen. Jordan’s eyes narrowed as she scanned the results, looking for the anomaly that would point her in the right direction.
And there it was, a user account with an unusually high number of failed login attempts. It was subtle, but to a trained eye like Jordan’s, it stood out like a sore thumb.
“This could be our insider,” Jordan thought, their mind already racing with the implications. “Time to dig a little deeper.”
With a few more keystrokes, Jordan expanded the query, pulling in related logs from other sources, correlating data points to build a timeline of events.
let suspectAccount = "J.Doe";
union SecurityEvent, Syslog, AuditLogs
| where TimeGenerated between(startTime .. endTime)
| where Account has suspectAccount
| extend Source = iff(EventSource == 'SecurityEvent', 'Windows Logs', iff(EventSource == 'Syslog', 'Linux Logs', 'Azure Logs'))
| project TimeGenerated, Activity, Source, Account
| sort by TimeGenerated ascThe pieces were coming together, forming a clearer picture of what had transpired. It was meticulous work, the kind that required patience and an analytical mind. But Jordan was up to the task.
As the night wore on, the case that had once seemed impenetrable began to unravel, thread by thread, until the truth lay bare before her. It was a moment of triumph, a testament to the power of KQL and the determination of one analyst to uncover the truth.
Jordan leaned back in the chair, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Another mystery solved; another threat thwarted. But she knew this was just one battle in an ongoing war—a war where data was the weapon, and KQL was the key to victory.
Jordan’s satisfaction was interrupted by a vibration at her side. Jordan picked up her cellphone and happily recognized the caller. It was Jon Block, her colleague and friend from the US.
“Good day, Jon!” Jordan answered, expecting Jon’s usual bouncy demeanor.
Jordan hesitated, waiting for Jon to start. She had become accustomed to Jon always leading their conversations with a couple jokes. But this time, the conversation started with a pause, and she then heard the sound of being put on speakerphone as the background noise changed to an echo.
“Jordan,” Jon started, “I have Sofia here with me. We need your help.”
Stay tuned for Chapter 8…
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