Deployment Professional
Installing a Device Adapter on the QRadar Risk Manager
Today I was trying to install device adapters into the new QRadar Risk Manager 7.2. After sometime struggling (due the “incomplete” IBM documentation) I decided to create this post to help you guys to configure a new adapter in the Risk Manager. First things first, for those who don’t know, the QRadar Risk Manager need an adapter for each kind of device that you want to monitor the configuration. It means for example, if you have few Checkpoint Firewalls and few Cisco routers that you want to monitor the configuration, you will need to install the Checkpoint adapter and the Cisco adapter.
So, here’s the step by step to configure the adapters:
[All the files mentioned in this post can be found in this link, or at www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral ]
– Install the dependencies: (Only necessary in the first time configuration)
- Download the rpm files: “ziptie-server” and “adapters-common” in your machine;
- Connect to the Risk Manager server using SSH.
- Create a new folder: /tmp/adapters
- Copy the downloaded files from your computer into the new folder
- Execute: rpm -Uvh ziptie_filename.rpm (use the ziptie file that you just transferred)
- Execute: rpm -Uvh adapterscommon_filename.rpm (use the adapterscommon file that you just transferred)
- Execute: service ziptie-server restart
– Install the adapter: (Repeat it for all the necessary adapters)
- Download the rpm files for your adapter, example: cisco_adapter.rpm into your machine;
- Connect to the Risk Manager server using SSH;
- Copy the downloaded files from your machine to the folder /tmp/adapters ;
- Execute: rpm -Uvh cisco_adapter.rpm (Change the filename for the adapter downloaded)
- Execute: service ziptie-server restart
After those steps your adapter will be ready for use.
If you want, you can check the official IBM documentation in this link, but I found some missing steps on it.
QRadar Certification – Certified Deployment Professional (C2150-196)
IBM recently released the new “IBM Security QRadar Certified Deployment Professional” or also called ” IBM Security QRadar SIEM V7.1 Implementation”. For the most of the people certifications are just accomplishments to attach on their CV, but the real value of the certification is not the paper itself, but is the study to get the certification. Even people that work years with the product, when studying to the certification discover new features or new ways to work with the solution, and being certified (after the proper study) gives you the necessary confidence that at least you already saw all the features of the product and you are able to use the tool in its best way.
The new certification (code C2150-196) consists in a 90-minutes test containing 64 questions involving all the phases of the project. From installing the hardware to tuning the rules. As mentioned in the first paragraph, studying and getting certified will give you a broader vision about the product, not only the tasks that you are used. The test passing score is 70%, a high score compared to another certifications from IBM, and as it involves all phases of the project, you should dedicate part of you time to study the tool.
The best way to prepare yourself to the certification is exploring the tool. Don’t try to go to the certification having never even logged on QRadar. Another good source of information, is the study guide from IBM that you can find on this link. It basically provides you with all the topics of the certification.
A personal tip to you is focus in the following categories: Difference between the versions (SIEM, LogManager, etc); theory behind the offences (how it is generates, how to configure the rules, etc); Interface usage (where can you find the features, how to do things in the interface, etc); and Solution Architecture (Components).
Another suggestion for people who have budget for it, go for the IBM classes. I went to two QRadar courses (2 years ago) and both were very helpful and practical. The courses were filled with useful exercises and hands-on activities. The bad point is the prices, but usually the companies pays for the training. To learn more about the IBM QRadar course, check this link out.
After studying the study guide (or attending the official training), exploring the tool and practicing the theory, you will be good to go for the certification. To get more information about how to schedule your certification visit the official IBM learning center.
QRadar Insights 