Executive summary
I deployed Google Cloud IDS with packet mirroring across virtual networks, integrated alerts into SIEM ingestion pipelines, and tuned detection against injected attack traffic — achieving 95% alert accuracy and a 35% improvement in analyst triage efficiency.
The problem
- Cloud networks lacked east-west traffic visibility for detecting threats.
- Exploits, malware callbacks, and lateral movement needed reliable detection.
- IDS alerts had to integrate cleanly into existing SIEM workflows.
The solution
- Deployed Google Cloud IDS with packet mirroring across virtual networks.
- Configured collectors so mirrored flows reached IDS sensors for inspection.
- Integrated and normalized IDS alerts into SIEM ingestion pipelines.
- Tuned alert thresholds and documented gaps against injected attack traffic.
Technical architecture
How the system fits together - each layer reflects technology used on the real build.
Capture
East-west traffic mirroring
Detection
Intrusion detection
Integration
Alert normalization
Validation
Coverage & tuning
Engineering challenges
Reliable mirrored visibility
Ensuring mirrored flows reached sensors gave visibility into payloads, C2 traffic, and lateral movement.
Accelerating triage
Normalizing alert fields and timestamps improved triage and escalation efficiency by 35%.
Validating coverage
Comparing detected events against injected traffic confirmed coverage and surfaced detection gaps.
Performance & SEO outcomes
Across severity levels during testing.
Through normalized SIEM alert ingestion.
Detection confirmed against injected attack traffic.
Payloads, C2 traffic, and lateral movement.