Windows Event Log Analysis for Security Beginners

Windows system logs are the key to understanding what happens on an endpoint, whether you are troubleshooting a system failure or investigating a security breach. Knowing how to locate, read, and analyze these logs is an essential skill for any aspiring system administrator or security analyst. This text-based course guides you from absolute beginner concepts to a solid working knowledge of Windows logging mechanisms. You will learn how to parse log structures, recognize critical event IDs, and understand how logs flow into security information and event management (SIEM) systems for central analysis. What you'll learn: Understand the core architecture, formats, and channels of Windows Event Logs; Navigate the Event Viewer interface to filter, find, and analyze critical system and security events; Identify key Event IDs associated with user logons, process creation, and potential threats; Configure Sysmon to capture advanced endpoint telemetry for deeper security visibility; Correlate distributed events to reconstruct timelines of system activity; Apply basic log-querying concepts to prepare data for SIEM ingestion and analysis. Starting with foundational definitions and logging terminology, the course walks you through manual log inspection before introducing structured query methods and SIEM correlation principles. Each module includes written scenarios and analysis walkthroughs to reinforce your learning. This course is designed for beginner IT support specialists, aspiring security analysts, and system administrators with no prior logging experience. Start reading today to unlock the power of Windows telemetry and elevate your analytical skills.