AWS CloudTrail Logs Ingestion in Splunk
Build a reliable CloudTrail ingestion pipeline for Splunk with AWS services like S3, SNS and SQS. Understand each component and how Splunk processes logs end-to-end.
Overview
This guide provides a complete walkthrough for forwarding AWS CloudTrail logs to Splunk using the AWS-recommended architecture. By following this documentation, you'll implement a production-ready logging pipeline that ensures reliable, scalable log ingestion.
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CloudTrail | Records AWS API calls and management events |
| S3 Bucket | Stores CloudTrail log files (.json.gz format) |
| SNS Topic | Publishes notifications when new logs arrive |
| SQS Queue | Queues notifications for Splunk to poll |
| DLQ | Captures messages that fail processing repeatedly |
| IAM User | Provides Splunk with AWS API credentials |
| Splunk TA-AWS | Polls SQS, downloads logs, and indexes events |
Why This Architecture?
This design follows AWS best practices for several reasons:
- Reliability: SNS provides durable message delivery with retry logic
- Scalability: SQS can handle high message volumes without data loss
- Decoupling: Components are loosely coupled, preventing single points of failure
- Visibility: DLQ captures failed messages for analysis
- Security: IAM policies enforce least-privilege access
What You'll Learn
-
CloudTrail to Splunk Ingestion Overview
A complete walkthrough of how CloudTrail logs move through SNS and SQS before reaching Splunk. Understand the full AWS pipeline and how Splunk ingests logs reliably from S3.
-
End-to-End Log Pipeline Implementation
Learn how to configure CloudTrail, SNS, SQS, IAM, and Splunk to build a production-ready ingestion setup. Each step is explained clearly with real configurations and best practices.
-
Architecture and Configuration Breakdown
Explore how each AWS service fits into the CloudTrail log delivery workflow toward Splunk. Get clarity on message flow, error handling, security, and Splunk integration.
-
Reliable CloudTrail Log Forwarding Setup
See how SNS, SQS, and S3 create a fault-tolerant pipeline for Splunk log ingestion. Learn the exact configuration Splunk uses to poll SQS and download CloudTrail files.
Lab Environment
Experience hands-on learning with our carefully designed lab environment that mirrors real-world scenarios.
- Real-world tools and interfaces
- Step-by-step guided instructions
- Interactive lab environment
- Hands-on practice with live systems
About Trainer
Aman Gupta
Aman Gupta is an emerging voice in automation-driven cybersecurity, combining strong engineering skills with a passion for knowledge sharing. He has worked on advanced projects spanning security monitoring, intelligent alerting, process automation, and AI-powered decision systems. With experience bridging software engineering and modern DevSecOps practices, Aman focuses on simplifying complex technologies into practical, real-world applications.
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