What is the primary role of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems?

The primary role of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems is to aggregate and analyze security data for threat detection. SIEM systems collect log and event data from a wide variety of sources across an organization's infrastructure, including servers, network devices, domain controllers, and more. This integration allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of security incidents and vulnerabilities.

By correlating and analyzing this vast amount of data, SIEM solutions can identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate a security threat, such as intrusion attempts, malware infections, or data breaches. This capability is critical in enabling organizations to respond quickly to potential security incidents, thereby reducing the time to detect and mitigate threats.

The other options presented focus on different aspects of security management. Storing sensitive data securely relates to data protection initiatives rather than real-time monitoring and response. Physical security measures concern safeguarding physical assets, rather than the digital threats tracked by SIEM systems. Managing user access controls deals more with identity and access management, which is separate from the core functions of SIEM technology. Thus, the role of SIEM is distinct and vital for a proactive security strategy aimed at identifying and responding to threats effectively.