Splunk Core Certified User Practice Exam

When using Splunk ES, which index would you most likely start a search with?

1. index=notable

2. index=main

3. index=all

4. index=events

The correct answer is: index=notable

In Splunk Enterprise Security (ES), starting a search with the index designated as "notable" is often the most effective approach. The notable index is specifically designed to store notable events that have been identified through various correlation searches or alerts. These are significant security incidents that require further investigation and analysis, making them a primary focus for security analysts using Splunk ES. Using this index enables users to quickly access events that have already been escalated due to their importance in the context of security monitoring. Analysts can efficiently filter and investigate these critical events without having to sift through all other data points stored in different indexes, which might not be as relevant to immediate security concerns. While other indexes like "main," "all," and "events" do contain data, they generally hold a broader range of information. The "main" index contains regular log data from different sources that might not necessarily pertain to security concerns. The "all" index isn't a standard practice in Splunk as a direct search target; it's more of a conceptual grouping. The "events" index varies based on the types of events being logged and could include irrelevant information that doesn’t pertain to notable incidents. Therefore, starting with the notable index aligns most closely with the intent and functionality