Splunk Query Language and Data Analysis (Coursera)

What you'll learn

• Explore search techniques to extract meaningful insights, Splunk's Machine Learning Toolkit (MLTK), Master the Splunk Query Language (SPL)

This course is part of the SIEM Splunk Hands-On Guide Specialization.

Learning Objectives:
1) Understand essential basic commands, create and utilize custom fields, and transform data
2) Understand the concept of macros in SPL, advanced statistical functions, and advanced data manipulation techniques
3) Learn how to design and build interactive dashboards, understand the importance of scheduled searches and alerts, gain proficiency in creating and customizing Splunk reports
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
• Recognize basic SPL commands like search, eval, and stats for data analysis
• Discover data transformation and calculated field creation with the eval command
• Formulate and apply custom fields, tags, and event types for efficient data categorization
• Examine advanced SPL techniques for complex data transformations and statistical analysis
• Apply time-based analysis with functions like time-chart, chart and event-stats
• Manipulate complex data structures and nested fields
• Use macros to simplify complex queries and promote reusability
• Design interactive, visually appealing dashboards in Splunk using the dashboard editor
• Compile Splunk reports for effective presentation of search results
• Schedule searches and alerts for proactive data monitoring and notifications

Module 1: Introduction to SPL (Splunk Query Language)
Description: The “Introduction to SPL (Splunk Query Language)" module provides an overview of the essential concepts and syntax of SPL, the powerful query language used in Splunk. You will gain a foundational understanding of how to construct searches, filter and transform data, use functions for aggregation, and visualize results, enabling them to extract valuable insights and analyze data effectively within the Splunk platform. You will demonstrate essential basic commands like search, eval, and stats, allowing you to perform simple data analysis tasks and retrieve specific information from the data. You will Identify how to transform data and compose calculated fields using the eval command, developing data analysis and enabling the discovery of valuable insights. You will identify, compose and utilize custom fields, tags, and event types, enabling you to categorize and enhance data for more efficient analysis and visualization.

Module 2: Advanced SPL Techniques
Description: The "Advanced SPL Techniques" module delves into more sophisticated and powerful techniques in the Splunk Query Language (SPL). You will explore complex data transformations, advanced statistical and time-based functions, subsearches, and joint operations to perform intricate data analysis tasks. You will demonstrate to leverage the full potential of SPL, allowing you to tackle complex data scenarios and gain deeper insights from their data in the Splunk platform. You will Illustrate advanced statistical functions like timechart, chart, and eventstats in SPL to perform complex data aggregations and time-based analysis. Discover advanced data manipulation techniques in SPL, such as multikv, spath, and streamstats, to handle complex data structures and nested fields effectively. Identify the concept of macros in SPL and how to create and use them to simplify complex queries and promote reusability.

Module 3: Splunk Dashboards and Reporting
Description: The "Splunk Dashboards and Reporting" module focuses on teaching you how to design and create interactive and visually appealing dashboards in Splunk. You will design search results, visualizations, and custom components to present data insights effectively. Furthermore, the module covers various reporting techniques to generate scheduled and ad-hoc reports, enabling users to share critical information with stakeholders and make informed decisions. You will learn how to design and build interactive and visually appealing dashboards in Splunk using the dashboard editor. Gain proficiency in creating and customizing Splunk reports to present search results in tabular format effectively. Identify the importance of scheduled searches and alerts for proactive data monitoring and event-driven notifications.

Target Learners:
This course is suitable for IT professionals, data analysts, and anyone interested in harnessing the power of Splunk for data analysis and insights.

Learner Prerequisites:
Basic understanding of Splunk is required, along with a basic understanding of data analysis concepts is an added advantage.
Reference Files: You will have access to code files in the Resources section.

Course Duration:
The course spans three modules, with each module designed to be completed in approximately 3-4 weeks, depending on individual learning pace.

Syllabus

Introduction to SPL (Splunk Query Language)
The ""Introduction to SPL (Splunk Query Language)"" module provides an overview of the essential concepts and syntax of SPL, the powerful query language used in Splunk. Learners will gain a foundational understanding of how to construct searches, filter and transform data, use functions for aggregation, and visualize results, enabling them to extract valuable insights and analyze data effectively within the Splunk platform."

Advanced SPL Techniques
The "Advanced SPL Techniques" module delves into more sophisticated and powerful techniques in the Splunk Query Language (SPL). Learners will explore complex data transformations, advanced statistical and time-based functions, subsearches, and join operations to perform intricate data analysis tasks. This module empowers users to leverage the full potential of SPL, enabling them to tackle complex data scenarios and gain deeper insights from their data in the Splunk platform.

Splunk Dashboards and Reporting
The "Splunk Dashboards and Reporting" module focuses on teaching learners how to design and create interactive and visually appealing dashboards in Splunk. Participants will learn to combine search results, visualizations, and custom components to present data insights effectively. Additionally, the module covers various reporting techniques to generate scheduled and ad-hoc reports, enabling users to share critical information with stakeholders and make informed decisions.