Use Case Explorer for the Splunk Platform

The Use Case Explorer for the Splunk platform is designed to help inspire as you develop new use cases using either Splunk Enterprise or Splunk Cloud Platform. The Use Case Explorer will guide you to recommended use cases to help you realize more value from Splunk, no matter where you are in your data journey.

►Is this your first time using the Use Case Explorer for the Splunk Platform? Click here to learn how to use it.

Learning how to use the Use Case Explorer is important to help you successfully get started and to get the most out of your Splunk Security solution, as well as help you see incremental value when incorporating additional solutions. The following video provides a brief but informative overview of the three use case explorers in Lantern: Platform, Security, and Observability. Wherever you are in your resilience journey and whatever use cases you need to accomplish, the content in the explorers can help.

Learning how to use the Use Case Explorer is important to help you successfully get started, as well as help you see incremental value when incorporating additional solutions.

To use the Use Case Explorer effectively, you'll need to implement and follow a Value Realization Cycle within your organization. Two tools within the Use Case Explorer will help you do this - the Explorer Map and the Use Case Registry.

The Value Realization Cycle

The Value Realization Cycle is a continuous process for identifying, implementing, and evaluating the value of new use cases that your business adopts.

In order to get maximum value out of your investment in the Splunk platform, it's vital to intentionally put a Value Realization Cycle in place. We recommend that your organization establishes a use case planning session at least every other month to ideate and refresh new use cases to be deployed.

The Value Realization Cycle consist of a few different steps:

• Step 1 - Define a situation and goal. This can be a very targeted tactical challenge or a more expansive one.
• Step 2 - Identify and record use cases. There could be one or more use cases that help you improve the situation and achieve the goal you defined in step 1. Use the Explorer Map to help identify use cases you can apply.
• Step 3 - Deploy use case(s) and document the value achieved. Use the Registry to help you track and document your progress.

You can create the Use Case Registry in a spreadsheet or project management tool of your choice. Here is an example of a Use Case Registry you can use, or you can download this template file. You might want to add extra columns to these examples to track additional information such as status, prerequisites, or comments.

And then, repeat!

The Explorer Map

The Explorer map is categorized by specific industries as well as more ubiquitous security and IT operational applications. You can see the map at the top of this page. You'll find use cases and best-practice guidance within each of these areas which you can start to apply right away.

You can track your progress in achieving use cases with the Use Case Registry.

The Use Case Registry

The Use Case Registry is a tool used to track the specific use cases you want to deploy, along with the names of use case implementation owners and timelines for completion.

As well as running a regular use case planning session at least every other month, we recommend that you have weekly or bi-weekly team meetings focused on the Use Case Registry to checkpoint and track your progress in achieving the value you've identified from the use cases you choose to implement.

Workflow Stage	Use Case	Product	Expected Value	Owner	Target Date
Ingest Data	Onboarding data to Splunk Enterprise Security	Splunk Enterprise Security	Identify, ingest and centralize visibility for essential security, infrastructure and application data	Steve Striker	<date>
Monitor	Monitoring for indicators of ransomware attacks with Splunk Enterprise Security	Splunk Security Essentials	Grow security maturity using expanded use cases and content addressing current and emerging threats	Kenny Powers	<date>
Monitor	Implementing RBA in Enterprise Security	Splunk Enterprise Security	Reduce alert footprint and identify slow evolving threats	Stacy Rai	<date>
Analyze and Investigate	Using Splunk Enterprise Security to ensure GDPR compliance	Splunk Enterprise Security	Achieve GDPR Compliance	William White	<date>