Monitoring is most valuable when it drives action, and in this episode, we explore foundational activities that turn data into defense—starting with log aggregation, alerting, and scanning. Log aggregation involves collecting logs from diverse systems—servers, firewalls, applications, cloud platforms—into a central platform for correlation and analysis. Alerting systems evaluate these logs in real time, flagging deviations from normal behavior based on thresholds, signatures, or heuristics. We also examine the importance of routine vulnerability scanning to proactively identify misconfigurations, missing patches, or exposed services before attackers can find them. These activities form the operational layer of most security operations centers (SOCs), feeding into dashboards, incident queues, and escalation workflows. Done correctly, they help teams move from reactive firefighting to informed, proactive security monitoring. It’s not about collecting more data—it’s about connecting the dots faster and more intelligently.